Medvedev: “We Drink More Now than in the 1990s”

MOSCOW. July 1. VOSTOK-MEDIA – A national programme on alcohol and drug abuse policy should be launched in Russia, said Dmitry Medvedev at the meeting with Minister of Public Health and Social Development Tatyana Golikova.
“We drink more now than in the 1990s, although those were difficult times. Therefore we need to prepare a corresponding programme and take appropriate measures.“ – said Dmitry Medvedev.
Golikova said that Ministry of Public Health and Social Development in association with Ministry for Sport, Tourism and Youth Policy of the Russian Federation are implementing a programme on popularization of healthy lifestyle.
Speaking of demographic situation in the country the Minister stated that 699.9 thousand children have been born for the last five months of this year that is 3 percent more than for the same period last year. Moreover, death rate decreased 28.3 percent, which is, according to Golikova, mainly due to 13 percent decrease in vehicular homicides and 5 percent decrease of fatal cases caused by cardiovascular diseases.
Besides, 356,000 marriages have been contracted in Russia for the last five months, which is 6.1 percent more than for the same period last year. The number of divorces decreased 3.7 percent.
“These figures are really good. This means that people understand that a crisis may come and go, but family is a very solid thing.” – said Medvedev.
The president also believes that such vital rates are due to Health national project that has already been implementing for several years.