Russia's alcohol market has fallen by 1.6 percent compared to 2015, government statistics have revealed.
The country's whisky market is among the hardest hit, with sales tumbling by 8.2 percent in the first nine months of 2016. Revellers also turned their backs on champagne and brandy, sending figures spiraling by 4.2 percent and 2.3 percent respectively.
"Russians are no longer interested in alcohol in the same way,” said Vadim Drobiz, president of the Alcohol Market Research Center. “It's very noticeable in the whiskey market, where casual buyers have all but been washed away,” he told the RBC newspaper.
Sectors bucking the trend include Russia's cider and mead market, where sales continue to rise after explosive growth in 2014.
Figures grew by 34.8 percent in 2015, following phenomenal growth of 316.8 percent just one year earlier.
Of the 816 million decaliters of alcohol bought by Russians in the first nine months of 2016, cider made up just 3 million decaliters — but retailers expect its popularity to keep on rising as the country's ongoing economic crisis forces Russians to tighten their belts.
Strong cider costs four times less than drinks of a similar strength made with hard spirits, RBC reported.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
