December 20, 2023

Russia Wines Down Drinking


Russia Wines Down Drinking
Mihail Tregubov, Unsplash.

The Russian government has unveiled a new plan aimed at curbing alcohol consumption over the next seven years. According to an announcement made by the Ministry of Health, the goal is to reduce the current average annual alcohol consumption per person from 8.9 liters to 7.8 liters by 2030, a drop of 12.3 percent.

The plan would crack down on alcoholism through stronger prevention and early detection measures, limit access to ethanol-containing medicines and cosmetics used in unintended ways, and combat illegal alcohol production and sales channels. Additionally, the plan calls for partnerships with NGOs focused on societal well-being to change cultural attitudes around drinking. It also aims to propagate existing municipal, regional, and corporate programs that have successfully demonstrated a reduction in harmful alcohol consumption among citizens.

A similar concept to curb alcohol consumption was first introduced in 2009 (and, notoriously, in the early Gorbachev era), when alcohol intake reached peak levels of 18 liters per capita annually. By 2021, concerted policy efforts had succeeded in bringing consumption levels down to 8.8 liters per person for the year. However, the progress seen in recent years has now marginally reversed, with consumption rising over the past year back up to 8.9 liters as per capita alcohol intake continues to remain a public health concern.

The announcement comes at a time when alcohol abuse continues to inflict a heavy burden on Russian society, and is linked to high rates of premature mortality and health issues for adults of working age.

You Might Also Like

Hoppy Endings
  • August 30, 2023

Hoppy Endings

Heineken has completed its withdrawal from Russia, settling its operations for €1.
The Booze Must Flow
  • November 15, 2022

The Booze Must Flow

Russians hankering for foreign alcohol can now rest easy: state ministries will oversee the delivery of international alcohol products through a parallel import system.
A Debilitating Drought
  • July 30, 2022

A Debilitating Drought

Following the Ukrainian invasion, Russian bars and restaurants are expecting to face foreign liquor shortages. 
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of Our Books

Russian Rules

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.
Steppe / Степь (bilingual)

Steppe / Степь (bilingual)

This is the work that made Chekhov, launching his career as a writer and playwright of national and international renown. Retranslated and updated, this new bilingual edition is a super way to improve your Russian.
Maria's War: A Soldier's Autobiography

Maria's War: A Soldier's Autobiography

This astonishingly gripping autobiography by the founder of the Russian Women’s Death Battallion in World War I is an eye-opening documentary of life before, during and after the Bolshevik Revolution.
Murder at the Dacha

Murder at the Dacha

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin has a problem. Several, actually. Not the least of them is the fact that a powerful Soviet boss has been murdered, and Matyushkin's surly commander has given him an unreasonably short time frame to close the case.
The Moscow Eccentric

The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.
Life Stories: Original Fiction By Russian Authors

Life Stories: Original Fiction By Russian Authors

The Life Stories collection is a nice introduction to contemporary Russian fiction: many of the 19 authors featured here have won major Russian literary prizes and/or become bestsellers. These are life-affirming stories of love, family, hope, rebirth, mystery and imagination, masterfully translated by some of the best Russian-English translators working today. The selections reassert the power of Russian literature to affect readers of all cultures in profound and lasting ways. Best of all, 100% of the profits from the sale of this book are going to benefit Russian hospice—not-for-profit care for fellow human beings who are nearing the end of their own life stories.
Fearful Majesty

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.
Bears in the Caviar

Bears in the Caviar

Bears in the Caviar is a hilarious and insightful memoir by a diplomat who was “present at the creation” of US-Soviet relations. Charles Thayer headed off to Russia in 1933, calculating that if he could just learn Russian and be on the spot when the US and USSR established relations, he could make himself indispensable and start a career in the foreign service. Remarkably, he pulled it of.
The Little Humpbacked Horse (bilingual)

The Little Humpbacked Horse (bilingual)

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.
The Little Golden Calf

The Little Golden Calf

Our edition of The Little Golden Calf, one of the greatest Russian satires ever, is the first new translation of this classic novel in nearly fifty years. It is also the first unabridged, uncensored English translation ever, and is 100% true to the original 1931 serial publication in the Russian journal 30 Dnei. Anne O. Fisher’s translation is copiously annotated, and includes an introduction by Alexandra Ilf, the daughter of one of the book’s two co-authors.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955