Making sense of alcohol consumption among Russian young adults in the context of post-2009 policy initiatives

Abstract

In 2009, the Russian government adopted a new policy designed to support a twofold reduction in overall alcohol consumption. This chapter provides an overview of this new policy with a particular emphasis on restrictive measures that might influence young adults’ alcohol consumption. Data on different age cohorts are collected from 1994 to 2016 from the nationwide annual Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey representing the Russian population. Evidence suggests that, combined with the two economic crises of 2008-2009 and 2014-2016, the policy restrictions have contributed to a decline in alcohol use in Russia. In particular, young adults aged 18-30 years drink less than older generations, exhibiting lower percentage of drinkers, lower volumes of alcohol consumption, and less excessive drinking.