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JULY 12, 2021. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the findings of a survey devoted to alcohol consumption in Russia.
More than one-third of Russians do not consume alcohol (38%); they are often respondents aged 60 and older (51%). Every fourth respondent drinks alcohol less often than once a month (25%). Fourteen and 18% of Russians drink alcohol once a month or 2-3 times a month (+4 p.p. since 2018). Those who tend to drink once a month are predominantly young Russians aged 18-24. Respondents aged 25-44 are more likely to drink 2-3 times a month. The percentages of Russians who drink every day or several times a week are 1% and 4%.
The alcoholic drink most of Russians consume on a weekly basis or once or twice a month is beer (7% and 16%). Wines and champagne, as well as strong alcohol are consumed less often than once a month (24%; 18%). Alcoholic cocktails are not popular with Russians: 91% of respondents say that they do not drink them.
The share of those who believe that all types of alcohol, in varying degrees, are harmful to health has increased again - from 55% in 2018 to 81% in 2021. Fifteen percent of respondents agree that certain amounts of alcohol can be safe (24 p.p. lower than in 2018).
Respondents consider wine as the “safest” alcoholic drink (39%; -12 p.p. since 2018). This is followed by beer and vodka (14% and 12%, respectively). There has been a decline in the shares of those who consider cognac and homemade wines/liquors least harmful (from 13% in 2018 to 8% in 2021; from 11% in 2018 to 4% in 2021, respectively).
Russian nationwide VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on June 19 and July 7, 2021. A total of 1,600 of Russians aged 18 and older took part in the survey. Results are based on telephone interviews. Stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of Russian landline and mobile phone numbers was used. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes to the wording of questions and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
The 2009-2011 results are based on household surveys.
Do you drink alcohol? If so, how often? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |||||
2009 | 2011 | 2017 | 2018 | 2021 | |
Every day | -* | -* | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Several times a week | 8 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 4 |
2-3 times a month | 19 | 20 | 16 | 14 | 18 |
About once a month | 19 | 16 | 12 | 16 | 14 |
Less often than once a month | 26 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 25 |
I do not use alcohol | 26 | 28 | 39 | 40 | 38 |
Don’t know | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
*In 2009 and 2011 this answer option was not offered.
Do you drink alcohol? If so, how often? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||
Total respondents | Ages 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 + | |
Every day | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Several times a week | 4 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 |
2-3 times a month | 18 | 9 | 20 | 23 | 18 | 15 |
About once a month | 14 | 27 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 9 |
Less often than once a month | 25 | 23 | 24 | 28 | 29 | 21 |
I do not use alcohol | 38 | 39 | 35 | 31 | 32 | 51 |
Don’t know | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
I will list different alcoholic drinks. Can you tell me how often you drink them? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |||||
Beer | Alcoholic cocktails | Wines, champagne | Strong alcohol (vodka, cognac, whisky, rum, absinthe, etc.) | Other | |
Every week | 7 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 |
1-2 times a month | 16 | 3 | 10 | 12 | 1 |
Less often than once a month | 13 | 5 | 24 | 18 | 2 |
I do not drink it | 63 | 91 | 62 | 66 | 86 |
Don’t know | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 |
There is a viewpoint that there are certain amounts of alcohol safe to drink, not harmful to health. Do you agree with that, or not? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |||
| 2017 | 2018 | 2021 |
Likely to agree | 15 | 39 | 15 |
Likely to disagree | 80 | 55 | 81 |
Don’t know | 5 | 6 | 4 |
What are those types of alcohol? (open-ended question, up to 5 answers; answers of at least 2% of respondents; % of those who agree that there are amounts of alcohol not harmful to health) | ||
| 2018 | 2021 |
Wine | 51 | 39 |
Beer | 14 | 14 |
Vodka | 14 | 12 |
Alcohol-free drinks | 3 | 12 |
Cognac | 13 | 8 |
Homemade wines, infused liquors | 11 | 4 |
Samogon (homemade vodka) | 8 | 6 |
Champagne | 4 | 4 |
Kvas (fizzy bread drink) | 2 | 4 |
Whisky | 1 | 3 |
Liquors | 1 | 3 |
Grain alcohol | 1 | 2 |
Any quality alcohol | 1 | 2 |
Other | 3 | 3 |
Don’t know | 15 | 14 |
