Comment on “Some Aspects of Nonbeverage Alcohol Consumption in the Former Soviet Union”

Abstract EN

The paper by Jargin [1] addressed highly relevant topic: the phenomenon of nonbeverage or surrogate alcohol consumption.

In Russia, the consumption of homemade spirits (samogon) and surrogate alcohols (i.e., products that contain alcohol but are not intended for consumption), also referred to as noncommercial or unrecorded alcohol, is somewhat common [2, 3].

Among the most common surrogates are industrial spirits, antiseptics, lighter fluid, and medications containing alcohol.

Unrecorded alcohol also includes alcohol produced by distilleries but sold without the payment of taxes and counterfeit beverages that are passed off as commercial brands.

According to WHO statistics [4], unrecorded alcohol accounts for one-third of all consumption in Russia, while some estimates show a figure as high as 50% [5].

One study indicated that the prevalence of past year surrogate alcohol consumption in an average Russian city was 7.3% [2].

A recent study found that the vast majority of Russians cited their lower cost and greater availability as important reasons for drinking noncommercial alcohol beverages [6].

This is why the low-income groups of the population and heaviest drinkers in Russia are the likeliest to consume noncommercial alcohol, and this effect is intensified during periods of economic recession [7].