Moscow alcohol sales UP 148% amid coronavirus lockdown, but some Russian regions are RESTRICTING booze purchases

There are definitely healthier ways of dealing with loneliness and self-isolation. Nevertheless, many Russians – and countless others across Europe – are reaching for a reliable old crutch to pass the time under quarantine.

After all, some people aren't cut out for yoga or running laps around their apartments. In Moscow, alcohol sales have increased by 148% and barbecue purchases have risen by 60% after the introduction of a strict partial lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus. That's according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, which announced the news at a meeting of the working group of the State Council. In a sign of the times, it was held via videoconferencing.

Meanwhile, authorities in some other parts of Russia are feeling less tolerant of the rush to the bottle. In north-western Karelia, which borders Finland, alcohol will only be sold from 10am to 2pm as of Wednesday. On the other side of the country, authorities in far-eastern Yakutia have temporarily banned or limited sales in some towns and villages, following a spike in crimes committed by intoxicated locals. "During the weekend, drunken crime increased sharply and there are also human casualties, so I am guided by the interests of the majority of residents,' regional head Arsen Nikolaev told news agency RIA Novosti.

A great many Russians aren't working this week after President Vladimir Putin announced paid time off in an attempt to prevent further spikes in Covid-19 infections. Exceptions apply to key workers and those who can carry out their tasks from home. There were concerns that some people would see the period as a holiday and indulge in parties and other group activities.

For his part, Sultan Khamzaev, director of the ‘Sober Russia’ organization, saw the warning signs. In an appeal to the government, he urged them to limit the sale of alcoholic beverages during the quarantine period, citing the potential damage from uncontrolled drinking. In most of Russia, bars and restaurants are now shut, but home alcohol consumption is arguably more dangerous.

While levels of alcoholism remain a problem in Russia, the country is no longer an outlier. According to the WHO, liquor consumption fell by 43% between 2003 and 2016, and Russians now drink less than their French and German counterparts. Both Putin and former Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev have been prominent in promoting the adoption of healthy lifestyles, and the government has introduced measures to control the sale of booze, along with major restrictions on marketing and advertising.

The total number of reported coronavirus cases across Russia is now 2,777, 1,880 of which are in Moscow.

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