Hard alcohol production in Russia has collapsed - even though data shows citizens are drinking stronger alcohol than ever, writes "Politico".
Russia's Federal Service for Alcohol Market Regulation said this week that spirits production fell by more than 16 percent in the first half of 2025.
Official data shows that vodka production fell by 10.9 percent year-on-year, from 33.40 million decaliters in 2024. to 31.38 million decaliters in the corresponding period of 2025.
However, while production is declining, consumption is increasing.
Russians drank more in 2024 than at similar stages in the past eight years. And more people are opting for rum, whiskey, brandy and tequila, Russian financial audit firm Finexpertisa reported in May. At the same time, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russians are starting to drink less, claiming that more and more of them are opting for sports. "Stop drinking and start skiing," he joked.
Sales of these products grew by 10.2% to 3.2 liters per capita per year, surpassing vodka consumption in some regions. But vodka is still the most popular drink in the country, accounting for 60% of annual sales.
The decline in vodka production in Russia has been driven by rising alcohol prices and a ban on the export of alcoholic beverages to the EU, the US and other countries due to Western sanctions.
This ban has significantly reduced export revenues for Russian vodka producers, the Rostov region's state product quality control service reported in June, citing data from consulting agency Strategy Partners.