Russia announced that effective January 1st of 2014 they’ll again be raising the price of vodka in an attempt to curb the country’s alcohol problems.
Russia announced that effective January 1st of 2014 they’ll again be raising the price of vodka in an attempt to curb the country’s alcohol problems.
An estimated 30 percent of those that die each year pass as a result of alcohol abuse.
Furthermore, the price of vodka will be going up 30 percent throughout the year.
The first hike will be for 17 percent, and in August prices will again increase.
Currently, the cheapest vodka available in the country costs about $6.
Serious efforts to curb the nation’s drinking have been underway since 2009 when the problem was declared a ‘national disaster’, but few have proven to have any significant effect.
In 2011 the World Health Organization reported that the average Russian consumed 4 gallons of pure alcohol a year. That’s 70 percent higher than the consumption rate in the US.
Given the reality of how deeply imbedded Russia’s attitudes towards alcohol are – for example, vodka’s literal translation is ‘water’ – some are concerned making alcohol financially prohibitive will backfire.
Rather than quit, they feel it more likely that people will turn to buying lower-priced illegal liquor.
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