Alcohol Consumption in Russia Drops Below 8 Liters per Capita for the First Time in 25 Years

For the first time since 2000, per capita alcohol consumption in Russia has fallen below 8 liters, Sputnik news reported. At the end of June 2024, per capita alcohol consumption in Russia in the past 12 months was 7.98 liters, down from 8.44 liters in 2023, and 8.01 liters before that. This is the lowest per capita alcohol consumption in Russia since 2000. Despite this, annual alcohol consumption per capita in Russia is still quite high, at around 11.7 litres (in pure alcohol terms). This figure far exceeds the world average and makes Russia one of the countries with the highest alcohol consumption in Europe.

The main factors leading to this phenomenon include the following:

1. Deeply Rooted drinking culture: Russia has a long tradition of drinking, making alcohol a central part of social gatherings and entertainment.

2. Economic incentives: The relatively low price of alcohol products reduces the economic threshold of public consumption and promotes the generalization of alcohol consumption.

3. Lack of health awareness: the society as a whole lacks sufficient awareness and vigilance of the harm that excessive drinking may bring.

4. Limited regulatory effectiveness: Although the government has issued relevant restrictive policies, the control effect on excessive drinking is still insufficient in actual implementation.

This high level of alcohol consumption poses a significant threat to the public health system and the overall development of society in Russia, as shown by:

1. There has been a marked increase in the number of cases of alcoholism and its complications.

2. It has caused a series of serious social problems, such as frequent domestic violence and increased traffic accidents.

3. It has had a negative impact on the health status of the population as a whole and has exacerbated the downward trend in health.

As a result, Russia is implementing more comprehensive and stringent policies aimed at reducing per capita alcohol consumption and raising public health awareness. This requires the joint efforts of the government and all sectors of society. It is important to note that the pre-2008 figures only reflect alcohol sales, with actual total consumption often a third higher than recorded. There are significant differences in alcohol consumption in different regions of Russia. For example, per capita consumption in the Republic of Chechnya is only 0.11 liters, while in the Sverdlovsk region it is as high as 12.23 liters.

Experts point out that the decline in alcohol consumption in Russia may be related to health education and restrictions introduced by the government in recent years. But overall, alcohol consumption in Russia remains high, and the government needs to take further measures to reduce the harm caused by alcohol.