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Changes in Alcohol Consumption and Governmental Alcohol Policy in Russia
[Изменение Структуры Потребления Алкоголя В Контексте Государственной Алкогольной Политики В России]

Author

Listed:
  • Radaev, Vadim V. (Радаев, Вадим)

    (National Research University Higher School of Economics)

  • Kotelnikova, Zoya V. (Котельникова, Зоя)

    (National Research University Higher School of Economics)

Abstract

This paper focuses on structural changes in alcohol consumption observed in Russia since the late 20th century. It explores the Soviet structural patterns of alcohol consumption shaping in the 1960–1980s. Governmental attempts to combat illegal production and sales of homemade distilled spirits (samogon) are overviewed. We analyze how the Soviet drinking patterns were broken down by two exogenous political and economic shocks and how the new trends in consumption of manufactured and homemade alcohol emerged in the 2000s. We also discuss an impact of the ongoing anti-alcohol campaign on changes in alcohol consumption. Three complementary data sources are used. They include the Rosstat official statistics on the level of alcohol consumption, expert statistics on illegal alcohol consumption in the Soviet period, and data on percentage of drinkers of main alcoholic beverages collected from the RLMS-HSE nationwide panel survey of individuals aged 15+ years in 1994-2015. Both statistical and survey data demonstrate similar trends. We observe recurrent cycles in consumption of licit and illicit alcohol that may move in parallel or in opposite directions in different periods of time. These changes in alcohol consumption are explained by the combined impact of economic and policy factors that may vary over time. The new trends were interrupted, and new patterns of alcohol consumption emerged in Russia in the 2010s. These patterns are not sustainable yet. However, they gradually move away from the traditional Northern style of drinking.

Suggested Citation

  • Radaev, Vadim V. (Радаев, Вадим) & Kotelnikova, Zoya V. (Котельникова, Зоя), 2016. "Changes in Alcohol Consumption and Governmental Alcohol Policy in Russia [Изменение Структуры Потребления Алкоголя В Контексте Государственной Алкогольной Политики В России]," Ekonomicheskaya Politika / Economic Policy, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, vol. 5, pages 92-117, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:rnp:ecopol:ep1655
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Evgeny Yakovlev, 2012. "Peers and Alcohol: Evidence from Russia," Working Papers w0182, Center for Economic and Financial Research (CEFIR).
    2. de Goeij, Moniek C.M. & Suhrcke, Marc & Toffolutti, Veronica & van de Mheen, Dike & Schoenmakers, Tim M. & Kunst, Anton E., 2015. "How economic crises affect alcohol consumption and alcohol-related health problems: A realist systematic review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 131-146.
    3. Jukkala, Tanya & Mäkinen, Ilkka Henrik & Kislitsyna, Olga & Ferlander, Sara & Vågerö, Denny, 2008. "Economic strain, social relations, gender, and binge drinking in Moscow," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 66(3), pages 663-674, February.
    4. Vladimir Treml, 1982. "Death from alcohol poisoning in the USSR," Europe-Asia Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(4), pages 487-505.
    5. Andrienko Yury & Nemtsov Aleksandr, 2005. "Estimation of individual demand for alcohol," EERC Working Paper Series 05-10e, EERC Research Network, Russia and CIS.
    6. Jay Bhattacharya & Christina Gathmann & Grant Miller, 2013. "The Gorbachev Anti-alcohol Campaign and Russia's Mortality Crisis," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 5(2), pages 232-260, April.
    7. Steven Stillman, 2001. "The Response of Consumption in Russian Households to Economic Shocks," William Davidson Institute Working Papers Series 412, William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan.
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    Cited by:

    1. Maria Neufeld & Anna Bunova & Boris Gornyi & Carina Ferreira-Borges & Anna Gerber & Daria Khaltourina & Elena Yurasova & Jürgen Rehm, 2020. "Russia’s National Concept to Reduce Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol-Dependence in the Population 2010–2020: Which Policy Targets Have Been Achieved?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-53, November.
    2. Elena V. Iadrennikova & Ralf A. Busse, 2020. "Comparative Analysis of Alcohol Excise Taxation and State Alcohol Policies in Russia and Germany," Journal of Tax Reform, Graduate School of Economics and Management, Ural Federal University, vol. 6(1), pages 54-72.
    3. Marina Kolosnitsyna & Natalia Khorkina & Anton Volkov, 2017. "Alcohol Policies and Crime Rates in Russian Regions," HSE Working papers WP BRP 11/PSP/2017, National Research University Higher School of Economics.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    alcohol consumption; homemade alcohol; alcohol policy; panel studies; Russia;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • P23 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist and Transition Economies - - - Factor and Product Markets; Industry Studies; Population
    • P36 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist Institutions and Their Transitions - - - Consumer Economics; Health; Education and Training; Welfare, Income, Wealth, and Poverty
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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