Beverages Vodka Research Articles

Was the Alcohol Psychoses Decline in Russia Attributable to Alcohol Control Policy?

Introduction Since 2003, Russia has experienced steep decline in alcohol psychoses incidence rate (APIR) and a parallel downward trend in the population drinking, driven mainly by a decrease in vodka (spirits) consumption. A coincidence in these trends allows us to hypothesize that the reduction in the APIR during recent decade might be attributed to the shift in the structure of consumption from vodka towards beer as a result of alcohol policy reforms. Objectives In this study we will test the hypothesis of beverage-specific effect on APIR by analyzing Russian's time series data. Methods Time-series analytical modeling techniques (ARIMA) were used to examine the relation between the sale of different alcoholic beverages (vodka, wine, beer) and APIR between 1980 and 2010. Results The analysis suggests that of the three beverages vodka alone was associated with APIR. The estimated effect of vodka sale on the alcohol psychoses rate is clearly statistically significant: a 1 liter increase in vodka sale would result in a 27.4% increase in the APIR. Conclusions The findings from this study provide support for the hypothesis that the shift in the structure of consumption from vodka towards beer as a result of alcohol control measures has had a positive impact on bringing down the APIR in Russia during recent decade. This research evidence also suggest that Russian government's attempt to curb the high level of alcohol-related problems have been successful and provide additional evidence that pricing policy may be an effective strategy to reduce an alcohol-related burden.

The effect of beverage type on alcoholic psychoses rate in Russia.

To test the hypothesis of beverage-specific effect in Russia on the incidence rate of alcoholic psychoses (a known indicator of a population's alcohol-related problems). Time series analytical modeling techniques (ARIMA) were used to examine the relation between the sales of different alcoholic beverages (vodka, wine, beer) and alcoholic psychoses incidence rate between 1970 and 2013. The analysis suggests that of the three beverages vodka alone was associated with alcoholic psychoses incidence rate. The estimated effect of vodka sales on the alcohol psychoses rate is statistically significant: a 1 l per person per year increase in vodka sales would result in a 23.4% increase in the alcoholic psychoses incidence rate. The incidence of alcoholic psychoses is more responsive to changes in vodka sales per capita than wine or beer sales.

EPA-0278 – Aggregate-level effect of alcohol on alcohol-related mortality rate in russia: does the type of alcohol matter?

Introduction The harmful use of alcohol was identified as a major contributor to premature deaths toll in Russia. Research evidence has suggested that the consumption of different types of alcoholic beverage may have a differential effect on alcohol-related mortality rate. Objective The aim of this study was to examine the relation between the consumption of different beverage types and alcoholism/alcohol psychoses mortality rates in Russia. Method Age-standardized male and female mortality data for the period 1970–2005 and data on beverage-specific alcohol sales were obtained from Russian State Statistical Committee. Time-series analytical modeling techniques (ARIMA) were used to examine the relation between the sale of different alcoholic beverages (vodka, wine, beer) and alcoholism/alcohol psychoses mortality rates. Results The analysis suggests that of the three beverages vodka alone was associated with alcoholism and alcohol psychoses mortality in Russia. The estimated effects of vodka sales on the alcoholism and alcohol psychoses mortality rates are clearly statistically significant for both sexes: a 1 liter increase in vodka sales would result in a 32.5% increase in the male alcoholism and alcohol psychoses mortality rate and in 37.7% increase in female mortality rate. Conclusions The present study indicates that alcoholism and alcohol psychoses mortality tends to be more responsive to changes in spirits consumption per capita than to the wine or beer consumption. The findings from this study suggest that public health efforts should focus on both reducing overall consumption and changing beverage preference away from distilled spirits in order to reduce alcohol-related mortality rates in Russia.

Beverage Specific Effect of Alcohol on Stroke Mortality in Russia

Background: Stroke is one of the major causes of death in the developed world and a top ten contributor to the global burden of disease. Russia has one of the world’s highest stroke incidence and mortality rates. Several studies have emphasized the role of binge drinking as important determinant of high stroke mortality rate in Russia. Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the relation between the consumption of different beverage types and stroke mortality rates in Russia. Method: Age-standardized male and female stroke mortality data for the period 1970-2005 and data on beverage-specific alcohol sales were obtained from Russian State Statistical Committee. Time-series analytical modeling techniques (ARIMA) were used to examine the relation between the sale of different alcoholic beverages (vodka, wine, beer) and stroke mortality rates. Results: The analysis suggests that of the three beverages vodka alone was associated with stroke mortality in Russia. The estimated effects of vodka sales on the stroke mortality rate are clearly statistically significant for both sexes: a 1 liter increase in vodka sales would result in a 3.1% increase in the male stroke mortality rate and in 1.7% increase in female stroke mortality rate. Conclusions: The findings from this study suggest that public health efforts should focus on both reducing overall consumption and changing beverage preference away from distilled spirits in order to reduce cerebrovascular mortality rates in Russia.