Russian Alcohol Consumption Down 43%: WHO Report

Moscow: Alcohol consumption in Russia decreased by 43 per cent from 2003 to 2016, a World Health Organization (WHO) report said.

The report attributed the decline in what was considered to be one of the heaviest-drinking countries in the world to a series of alcohol-control measures implemented by the state, especially under then President Dmitri Medvedev, and a push towards healthy lifestyles.

According to the WHO, the drop in alcohol consumption was linked to a significant rise in life expectancy in the country.

"Alcohol consumption has long been recognised as one of the main driving factors of mortality in the Russian Federation, especially among men of working age," the report said, adding that from 2003 to now, both alcohol consumption and mortality rate decreased.

In 2018, life expectancy in Russia reached a historic peak, at 68 years for men and 78 years for women.

Alcohol-control measures introduced under then President Medvedev included advertising restrictions, increased taxes on alcohol and a ban on alcohol sales between certain hours.