Alcohol Consumption in Russia is Staggering

VLADIVOSTOK. December 23. VOSTOK-MEDIA – A recent study revealed that Russians spend about 10 percent of their money on alcohol. Since the figure doesn’t count consumer sentiment to the economic downturn as well as drop in income, the actual figure may be considerably higher, Willbe.ru website wrote. As a comparison, people in Western countries spend no more than 5 percent of their incomes on alcohol.

Tsifra (Digit) Information Agency has carried out the study, which covered 12 countries, comparing the variations in the quantity of 100 % vol. alcohol, which can be purchased with 1 % of an average family budget. The survey showed that in Russia only 1.03 liters of pure alcohol may be purchased with 1 percent of an average family income, whereas in the USA – 1.64 liters. With 2.4 liters per 1 % of family income, Germany topped the ranking.

Russia holds first place in the world for annual per capita consumption of pure alcohol, which is 15 liters. As a comparison, Canada consumes 4.5 liters per capita, Italy – 2.8. In Italy, however, wine consumption per person makes 50 liters annually, whereas in Russia only 6 liters.

Britain holds the first place in beer consumption with 97 liters per person annually. With 90 liters per capita, the USA beer consumption ranks second highest. Russia is the third largest consumer of beer (81 liters per capita).

In Russia, the consumption of surrogate alcohol intended for industrial, technical and medical purposes as well as alcohol-containing lotions in November, 2009 has increased to 1.275 liters, 9 % up from October 2009.