Abstract
Toxicity of some legally sold alcoholic beverages has contributed to enhanced mortality in Russia since 1990. Widespread drunkenness during the early 1990s facilitated privatization of economy: workers and some intelligentsia did not oppose privatizations because of drunkenness and involvement in illegal activities. Apparently, alcohol consumption and heavy binge drinking have been decreasing in Russia since approximately the last decade. Exaggeration of alcohol-related problems tends to veil shortages of the health care system. There are motives to exaggerate consumption of nonbeverage alcohol in order to veil the problem of toxicity of some legally sold beverages. It is essential to distinguish between legally and illegally sold rather than between recorded and unrecorded alcohol because sales of poor-quality alcoholic beverages in legally operating shops and kiosks occurred generally with knowledge of authorities.
Highlights
Toxicity of some legally sold alcoholic beverages has contributed to enhanced mortality in Russia since 1990
Alcohol consumption and heavy binge drinking have been decreasing in Russia since approximately the last decade
The study [1] was based on a survey performed in the Republic of Belarus, but the discussion pertains to Russia, where the pattern of alcohol consumption has been largely similar
Summary
Toxicity of some legally sold alcoholic beverages has contributed to enhanced mortality in Russia since 1990. Alcohol consumption and heavy binge drinking have been decreasing in Russia since approximately the last decade. There are motives to exaggerate consumption of nonbeverage alcohol in order to veil the problem of toxicity of some legally sold beverages.
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