Russia is sobering Europe up

Alcohol consumption in Europe has decreased due to measures taken by Russia, namely the increase of excise taxes on alcohol and the limits placed on its availability, according to the World Health Organization. The Russian Deputy Prime Minister earlier noted that alcohol consumption in Russia has decreased from 14 liters in 2009, to 8 liters per year in 2024. Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly expressed his personal attitude towards alcohol, saying he just about excludes it from his diet, and prefers sports instead. At important world events, the president is more often seen with a thermos flask instead of a glass of liquor. At a press conference in 2020, Putin said he had tea with Siberian herbs in a thermos.