A Threat to Putin’s Imperial Ambitions

New York – Besides the coronavirus pandemic is still making inroads into the Russian population, Vladimir Putin still has to confront the most serious threat to his imperial ambitions: vodka addiction, which has a long history in the country.

Vodka probably arrived in Moscow in the 14^th century, brought by Genovese merchants to Prince Dmitry Ivanovich. Legend says that monk Isidore, who lived in the Chudov Monastery, inside the Kremlin, made a recipe for Russian vodka around 1430. He probably didn’t anticipate the devastating effect that vodka addiction would have on Russians’ health and quality of life, and on the country’s economy and on its social fabric.

Vodka’s unique allure

How to explains Russian strong addiction to alcohol, particularly vodka? One reason is that the government at various times promoted vodka drinking to increase revenues from taxes on alcohol. Some Marxist historians however, contend that heavy alcohol consumption was promoted as a way to eliminate dissent. Other observers claim that alcohol is, for many Russians, the only escape to the drabness of everyday life.

When the Bolshevik Party came to power its leaders tried -without much success- to reduce alcohol consumption in the Soviet Union. Joseph Stalin, however, reestablished state monopoly to generate revenue. In 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev increased controls on alcohol consumption, and imposed a partial prohibition through a massive anti-alcohol campaign.

The campaign, which included severe penalties against public drunkenness and excessive alcohol consumption, as well as restrictions on liquor sales, was temporarily successful. It reduced per capita consumption and improved quality of life measures such as life expectancy and reduced hospital admissions. However, the population reacted against this policy and ultimately it had to be abandoned.  The negative consequences of this measure were felt soon afterwards.

The curse of samogon

Reports periodically surface on the media on the great number of people who die as a result of consuming fake vodka and other alcohol substitutes. It is estimated that more than 40,000 Russians die every year after drinking such toxic liquids which include medical disinfectants, after-shave lotions and other dangerous substances.

It is estimated that the average Russian drinks 4 gallons (15 liters) of alcohol a year. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), this level of consumption is far above what is considered safe to drink, and higher also than in any other nation in the world. The government wants to reduce present consumption to 8 liters, following the WHO guidance.

Most of the alcohol consumed in Russia is vodka and other black-market beverages, such as the Russian moonshine called samogon, which is particularly toxic. In December 2016, for example, 49 people in Irkutsk died in a mass methanol poisoning. Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s former Prime Minister, called for a ban on non-traditional alcoholic liquids like the bath lotion involved n this case, stating that “it’s an outrage, and we need to put an end to this.”

Health consequences of excessive alcohol consumption

Russia has now one of the highest rates of alcohol-related illnesses. In the short term, binge drinking provokes several kinds of injuries as a result of violent social and risky sexual behavior (including unprotected sex,) and alcohol poisoning. On the long term, vodka abuse causes neurological, cardiovascular, psychiatric and liver problems, and miscarriage and stillbirth in pregnant women.

The connection between excessive drinking and interpersonal violence cannot be underestimated. For example, among male perpetrators of spousal homicide, 60-75% of offenders had drunk heavily prior to the incident. However, due to social tolerance of violent behavior and incomplete or inaccurate information, official statistics only record a small percentage of violent acts.

The risk of suicide is five times higher for heavy drinkers and nine times higher for alcoholics among young men. Among women, excessive alcohol consumption during pregnancy can result in the child developing fetal alcohol syndrome or show effects which are associated with delinquent and violent behavior later in life.

Russians poor health status has translated in a short life expectancy. 2017 World Bank figures indicate that life expectancy in Russia is 72.12 years, compared to 76.47 in China and 78.54 in the United States. The high number of deaths due to alcohol abuse in Russia highlights a very serious consequence, since the country is going through a severe demographic crisis. It is estimated that Russia’s population will drop by 20 percent by 2050.

Economic costs

The economic costs of alcohol abuse can be considerable. Among the economic costs one has to consider the medical costs borne by governments, and the costs to families as a result of diseases caused by excessive alcohol consumption. One should also take into account the loss of workers’ productivity. In 1985, during Gorbachev’s campaign to reduce drinking, it was estimated that alcoholism resulted in $8 billion in lost production. According to Harvard scholar Boris Segal, economic losses from alcoholism were one third of the country’s GNP in 2012.

Perspectives

Both punitive measures and increase in alcohol taxes have proven to be of limited effect. What the government needs now is a sustained mass communication and education campaign mainly addressed to the younger sectors of the population, accompanied by more restrictive government measures on alcohol consumption.

There is a clear need for the involvement of medical, public health, community, labor and legal organizations in the prevention of excessive alcohol consumption in Russia. Unless more effective measures are taken, Vladimir Putin’s dreams of a greater Russia will not be realized.

Dr. César Chelala is an international public health consultant and a co-winner of an Overseas Press Club of America award.