Alcohol consumption doubled in north Russian regions

An analysis by the publication If byt'chnom has identified the Russian regions with the highest levels of alcohol consumption and alcohol-related mortality. According to the study, the most serious problems are concentrated in the Far North, Siberia and the Russian Far East.

The Nenets Autonomous Okrug and Chukotka Autonomous Okrug top the national ranking for alcohol consumption. In the Nenets Autonomous Okrug, annual consumption rose from 16 litres of pure alcohol per adult in 2019 to 35 litres in 2024. Chukotka saw a similar increase, from 14 to 29 litres, while consumption in the Jewish Autonomous Oblast climbed from 19 to 25 litres. Together, these three regions recorded the highest per capita alcohol consumption in Russia in 2024.

The study highlights that alcohol misuse is particularly acute in northern regions, where heavy drinking is accompanied by a high consumption of spirits. Areas with large Indigenous populations are especially vulnerable, owing to limited access to healthcare and the social disruption caused by the erosion of traditional ways of life.

In Chukotka, the problem is compounded by weak legal retail infrastructure. Poor transport links have allowed illicit alcohol sales to flourish, while in the Republic of Tyva high consumption is linked to persistent socioeconomic deprivation.

The analysis also finds elevated alcohol consumption in a number of industrial regions, where a long-standing culture of heavy drinking remains common in traditionally male-dominated occupations. However, this pattern is largely confined to regions experiencing population decline.

By contrast, industrial development in regions with growing populations tends to be associated with lower alcohol consumption. One possible explanation is that expanding regions attract more migrants, while greater professional and social mobility is generally linked to healthier lifestyles and better access to healthcare. In regions experiencing sustained outmigration, those who remain are less likely to prioritise their health. The situation is particularly severe in single-industry towns and heavily industrialised cities.

Among the ten regions with the highest alcohol consumption, only the Altai Republic and the Nenets Autonomous Okrug did not experience population decline between 2010 and 2024. The Kirov and Kurgan regions, together with the Jewish Autonomous Oblast, recorded the steepest declines, each losing more than 15 per cent of their population. On average, all of these regions experienced net population losses driven by migration.

The study also examines the impact of restrictive alcohol policies. In the Vologda region, which introduced some of Russia’s strictest sales restrictions—allowing weekday alcohol sales only between noon and 2 p.m.—overall consumption has remained largely unchanged. Over the past five years, annual consumption has edged up only marginally, from 13.5 to 13.7 litres of pure alcohol per person.

On 8 July, alcohol sales are also banned across the Vologda region to mark the Day of Peter and Fevronia, celebrated nationally as the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity. According to the study, however, such one-day bans have little measurable effect on overall alcohol consumption.

The lowest levels of alcohol consumption are found in the North Caucasus, where Islamic traditions, cultural norms and strong community oversight discourage drinking. Consumption is also relatively low in Moscow and St Petersburg, where higher incomes and better access to healthcare are believed to contribute to healthier lifestyles.

Overall, the study argues that blanket restrictions on alcohol sales can have unintended consequences, potentially increasing alcohol-related deaths as people with alcohol dependency turn to illicit or surrogate alcohol. Instead, the long-term decline in alcohol consumption in Russia appears to be driven primarily by changing attitudes among younger generations, who place greater emphasis on health and wellbeing.