Russians are drinking about 25 percent less alcohol than they did in 2008, state news agency RIA Novosti reported Wednesday, citing the Health Ministry.
Russians on average consumed 16.2 liters of pure alcohol in 2008, but that figure gradually declined to 11.78 liters last year, the report said.
The Russian government has been trying to lower alcohol consumption in the country in an effort to raise the life expectancy, the Health Ministry was cited as saying.
The consumption figures were presented in a report handed out to guests at a Health Ministry meeting, the news agency said.
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