War on alcohol in Russia
Some regions are restricting sales due to the rise in alcohol-related deaths following the invasion of Ukraine.
Moscow"The war has restored the historical function of alcohol to Russia as a universal remedy for stress, fear, and grief. Traditional Russian alcoholism has returned," writes journalist Sergei Xelin. In 2024, Russians consumed the highest amount of hard alcohol in eight years. Putin had managed to drastically reduce the consumption of these beverages, and between 2010 and 2021 The number of new patients diagnosed with this addiction had been reduced by halfBut in 2022, the trend broke, and the statistics rose again. The Ministry of Health attributes this to "stress from the pandemic," but psychiatrists add a more important factor, the war.
To combat this epidemic, one region has declared war on alcohol: Vologda, about 400 kilometers north of Moscow. Its governor, Georgy Filimonov, has decreed a law that only allows the sale of alcoholic beverages in stores between twelve and two in the afternoon on weekdays, and all day on weekends. He argues that 71% of deaths among working-age men are related to alcohol consumption.
"If our population is dying like in a war, who will replace them?" asks Filimonov, a controversial politician, famous for having inaugurated a statue of Stalin a few months ago. His obsession is not only to curb mortality but also that the birth rate will rise, and he believes that this measure will achieve it. That's why he also wants to make his region the first in Russia to ban abortion.
Increase in illegal abortion sales
The governor is proud of the success of the semi-dry law, as it is popularly known, in effect since March 1, because it has reduced alcohol sales by nearly 20%. However, the consequence is that half of the liquor stores have had to close, and a black market has been created that operates at full capacity.nalivaiqui, some persecuted establishments that are usually located on the ground floors of residential buildings, clandestinely sell containers without caps or pour their contents into glasses. Of course, at double or triple the price paid in the supermarket. A report byKommersanteHe has even seen how taxi drivers earn extra income by hiding bottles in their trunks. "This isn't about money; it's to help people," explains one driver.
The population is divided. One of the complaints from residents on citizen forums is that if you are forced to stockpile supplies, then you consume more. Oleg from Nikolsk warns that "those who don't want to drink won't drink, but those who want to will find a way." Galina from Txerepovets also warns that people "will drink anything that even vaguely resembles alcohol." In fact, pharmacists admit that prescriptions for alcohol-based remedies above 65% have increased. Tatiana from Vragovo, on the other hand, supports the ban: "What's the point of vodka? It only brings trouble."
Other regions, such as Nizhny Novgorod, have also announced they will follow Vologda's lead, but the Kremlin, on the other hand, rules it out at the federal level. However, Filimonov's pilot project has been met with some disappointment, and recent initiatives have emerged, such as that of the Russian Investigative Committee, a sort of analogue of the Prosecutor's Office, which wants to ban the sale of alcohol to those under 21. Or, for example, a member of the Duma's Health Committee is in favor of prohibiting the purchase of alcohol on weekends.
Young people no longer drink vodka
However, the reality is that during the first quarter of 2025, vodka production across Russia fell by more than 25%, and alcohol sales in general decreased by nearly 15%, according to data from the Interfax news agency. For experts, the cause is the increase in taxes passed on to customers. Half a liter of vodka now costs around 3.75 euros, compared to 3.20 a few months ago, an unaffordable increase for many Russians. If this trend continues, economists also warn that it could critically affect government revenue.
Experts highlight yet another reason for the decline in consumption: young people no longer drink vodka like their parents or grandparents. According to sociologist Aleksei Firsov, people under 30 have healthier habits that could counteract the negative trend of rising alcoholism.
