Russian men fail to medal in drinking restraint

Soviet Russia jokes aside, a recent study demonstrated that the consumption of vodka severely decreases Russian lifespans. Nearly a quarter of Russian men die before the age of 55. Most of these deaths can be attributed to acute alcohol poisoning, liver disease or alcohol-related external conditions, such as suicide, alcohol-related accidents and violence while intoxicated.

Historical data shows that the pre-55 death rate for Russian men has risen and fallen in response to governmental regulations on alcohol as well as the overall economic state of the country.

Key events that marked a decrease in life expectancy were the collapse of the USSR in 1991 and the inflation of the Rouble in 1998. When alcohol regulations were imposed in 1985 and then again in 2006, the overall death rate decreased and the total life expectancy increased.

A recent study published in the Lancet tracked the drinking habits of 151,000 adults from 1999 to 2008. The participating adults also had to provide information on related factors, such as familial perceptions of drinking and smoking habits.

Despite drastic changes in social conditions during the time of the study, vodka prices and usage were the most consistent factor in determining death rates. Another relevant factor was the purchase of vodka while intoxicated. These results are quite specific, as vodka, rather than alcohol in general, was the factor driving the numbers.

Consumption habits vary between men and women. In general, Russian women consume far less alcohol than men, and they have far lower mortality rates. Overall alcohol consumption has decreased by about a third since 2006, and the death rate among men under 55 has followed this pattern.

In 2011, the average Russian adult drank 13 liters, or about 3.5 gallons, of pure alcohol per year. Of this 13 liters, about 8 liters were from spirits, mostly vodka. Since most vodka is about 40% alcohol by volume, the average adult in the study would have imbibed about 200 liters of vodka over the ten year period. Heavy drinkers consumed about a liter and a half of vodka per week during the study. Additionally, the researchers found that most consumption occurs during drinking binges rather than through the gradual buildup of more moderate habits.

Heavy vodka consumption seems correlated to low life expectancy for all males in Russia, a dismal 64 years. According to WHO standards, this is among the lowest 50 countries in the world. Decreasing the male mortality rate is likely to present significant problems to Russian culture, as curbing vodka consumption would not simply rid the country of a toxicity, it would unroot a cultural symbol of Russian life.