Moscow
Russians are now drinking more beer than vodka, a Russian marketing survey has found. In 1996, the average Russian drank four gallons of beer a year and 4.1 gallons of vodka. Now, with tasty imported beers available, the average figure is 11 gallons of beer and 3.8 gallons of vodka. Official figures might not reflect Russians’ true drinking habits, because many Russians drink moonshine vodka. Still, the trend is unmistakable and may be partly fueled by advertising. Nearly a quarter of TV commercials are for beer, while vodka ads have long been banned in Russia, which is plagued by rampant alcoholism. The vodka industry is now pushing for a ban on beer commercials.
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