JRL NEWSWATCH: “Russians drinking less, living longer, WHO says” – Reuters/ Tom Balmforth

October 3, 2019 JRL Russia List Health, Epidemics, Substance Abuse, Population Disaster, Demographics

Man in Silhoette with Bottle of Alcohol and Head in Hand

“Russia remains a nation of heavy drinkers, but alcohol consumption has fallen 43 percent from 2003 to 2016, a key factor in the country’s rapid rise in life expectancy, the World Health Organization said …. Russians consume the equivalent of 11-12 liters worth of pure ethanol a year, among the world’s highest consumption levels, but the reduction since 2003 has substantially reduced mortality …. Male life expectancy sank to a low of 57 years in the 1990s …. It now stands at almost 68 … for men and 78 … for women. Mortality resulting from all causes dropped by 39 percent from 2003 to 2018 in men and by 36 percent for women ….”