Russians switched to cognac: why alcohol sales are growing

Probably, in Russia once again it is time to announce an anti-alcohol campaign. So to speak, drunkenness – fight! So what to do? In Gorbachev’s times, we did not achieve visible success in this field. But today the green serpent rears its head again. According to Rosalkogolregulirovanie, for the 1st quarter of this year, the total volume of alcohol sales increased by 2.4% compared to the corresponding period last year.

Perhaps, such an increase – by 2.4% – will not seem very significant to someone. But here, for example, the sale of cognac increased over this period by 8.5% – up to 3.24 million decaliters. And almost 15% increased the use of low-alcohol drinks. Except that the sales volumes of vodka have practically not changed.

In general, the green serpent advances on all fronts with slight variations. In 2022, sales of vodka increased by 6%, now cognac has taken over the palm.

If we take into account that in 2022 sales of alcoholic beverages with a strength of more than 25 degrees, compared to 2021, rose by 7.5%, then a bleak picture emerges that Russians prefer to drown their everyday and financial problems in wine. Note that people are buying more alcohol, even despite the fall in real incomes and the rise in price of almost all types of alcohol.

Although here about the finances it is not entirely clear. Drinking is not included in the consumer basket of Russians, because its prices fluctuate by themselves, they do not have marginal markups, as, for example, for dairy products. On the other hand, a minimum retail price has been set for many types – as, for example, for the same vodka. Be that as it may, the cost of alcoholic beverages is constantly growing – excises have risen again this year. Now the minimum retail price of half a liter of vodka is 281 rubles, and cognac is 517 rubles.

But, as we see, this rise in price does not particularly stop our fellow citizens.

Doctors, of course, will say that drinking is harmful. And they will name dozens of chronic diseases that are exacerbated by excessive enthusiasm for “outpourings”. Sociologists and psychologists will add that there is uncertainty in society, uncertainty about the future. The unpredictability of one’s future is a fertile environment for nervous stress. Which many prefer to shoot “only through the store.”

We contact the Center for Research of the Federal and Regional Alcohol Markets. We ask: isn’t it time for us to start fighting with the whole world against drunkenness again?

– What for? – answers the head of the Center Vadim Drobiz. – There are no prerequisites for this. We drink much less than in European countries. According to official data, Russia is not even in the top ten in terms of alcohol consumption. And the main consumers are the European Union and the USA. With all our desire, we are not able to catch up with them and overtake them. Let me give Germany as an example. It is littered with wines priced at 1.5-2 euros. The unemployment benefit there is about 800 euros, that is, one benefit can buy 400 bottles. In relation to our salaries and retail prices, our alcoholic drinks are about 5 times more expensive.

– But why is it cognac that “rushed” now, because our old tradition is vodka?

– There is no phenomenon here. In Russia, whiskey sales are falling, their place is taken by cognacs. In my opinion, this is a good trend and I predicted it two years ago. Ordinary Russians cannot afford 500-600 rubles for a bottle of cognac, they drink vodka for 300 rubles. Cognac is middle class. Now we have reached the peak, I believe that the consumption of strong alcoholic beverages this year will grow compared to last year. But little by little, the market has more or less stabilized.

– What about moonshine?

– Where to go? They drive. Despite the fact that many in the regions receive a salary of 15-16 thousand rubles, people simply do not have the opportunity to go to the store for a bottle of vodka for 300 rubles. What is he drinking? Illegal vodka at 150 or moonshine at 70.

The illegal circulation of alcohol is fueled by low wages and high retail prices. I have already talked about the availability of alcoholic beverages in Germany, and in other European countries as well. Will they go with their income – salary or allowance – to look for alcohol-containing liquids? A rhetorical question…

…Fortunately, the statistics show an increase in the consumption of cognac, and not alcohol-containing swill. Although we do not know the objective picture. According to a study that appeared in December last year, the illegal market of various chatterboxes not only lives in Russia, but also thrives, accounting for 20-25% of the total alcohol turnover.