Russian anti-drinking groups say a better understanding of alcoholism is needed to combat historically high rates of alcohol consumption as the country marks International Day Against Drug Abuse.
Russia has the fourth highest alcohol consumption rates in the world - around 15 litres per person per year, with spirits making up half of the alcohol consumed compared to 12 per cent in Australia.
“As of today, the last 10 years, we’ve seen a decrease in mortality and alcohol consumption and increase in life expectancy. But still Russia maintains the highest level in Europe in terms of mortality across males of working age,” says Valeriy Doronkin Director of Alcohol Prevention and Sobriety Centre in Moscow.
Bars serving beer in Russia during the World Cup. Source: Reuters
“And of course alcohol consumption is one of the leading factors contributing to higher death rates among this cohort.”
Sergey (not his real name) is among those Russians with a drinking problem. Now in his 50s, he explains he’s been an alcoholic since his 20s.
“I’ve been sober just short of 500 days,” he says, sitting in a small Alcoholics Anonymous bunker-room beneath a chapel in central Moscow.
“I actually had some misperceptions about AA when I first had exposure to the society,” he says.
Half of the alcohol consumed in Russia are spirits says the World Health Organisation. Source: AAP
AA is still spreading its wings in Russia amid some scepticism of the fellowship, some accusing it of being a sect, others a money making exercise.
Sergey says it highlights the difficulties some Russians face seeking help for their drinking problem.
“We see these misperceptions in the medical professionals and official medical institutes, ministries, hospitals, doctors,” he says.
Russia also has a high rate of binge drinking - almost 20 per cent say they do it once a month. While alcohol, vodka in particular, is extremely cheap. A bottle can costs as little as AU$4.
The clandestine production of moonshine is also an ongoing challenge for the Russian authorities.
The government says overall drinking rates are dropping because of stricter laws and a rollback of alcohol advertising
But Valeriy Doronkin says this could be attributed to an increased consumption of cheap, illegal booze that doesn't show up in official statistics.
“We need some original, more creative approach. Punitive actions or limitations aren’t enough to overcome the problem. We need to make sober lifestyles more popular. This is more important than limiting measures,” he says.
“It’s not a matter of not having enough law enforcement, it’s about people not talking enough about the problem, not being outspoken, including our public officials and leaders.”
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