(08/14/09) -

Russians Back Measures to Curb Drinking

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Many people in Russia express support for introducing measures that would help tackle alcohol abuse, according to a poll by the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center. 63 per cent of respondents would support banning the sale of alcohol to people under the age of 21.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Many people in Russia express support for introducing measures that would help tackle alcohol abuse, according to a poll by the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center. 63 per cent of respondents would support banning the sale of alcohol to people under the age of 21.

Additionally, 57 per cent of respondents would agree with a ban on alcohol advertising, 47 per cent would support a campaign promoting a healthy lifestyle, 34 per cent would criminalize drinking in public spaces, 31 per cent would ban alcohol sales in the morning, 29 per cent would agree with compulsory treatment for alcoholism, and 19 per cent are in favour of increasing the price of alcoholic beverages.

On Aug. 12, Russian president Dmitry Medvedev declared: "Alcoholism in our country is a national disaster. (…) It is a centuries old problem and one cannot hope to solve it overnight."

Russian health minister Tatyana Golikova said at the same time that the government wants to launch a new anti-alcoholism campaign.

Russian doctors claim that alcohol-related diseases are to blame for close to half of all deaths of Russians between the ages of 15 and 54.

Polling Data

Would you support or oppose the introduction of these measures to deal with alcohol abuse? ("Support" listed)

Source: All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center
Methodology: Interviews with 1,600 Russian adults, conducted on Jun. 28 and Jun. 29, 2009. Margin of error is 3.4 per cent.