Alcohol consumption in Russia during the past 50 years

There is abundant literature about alcohol consumption and alcoholism in Russia. The problem is immense; but nonetheless there is a tendency to exaggerate it, which is visible for inside observers. Such exaggeration tends to veil shortcomings of the health care system, with responsibility for the low life expectancy especially among men shifted onto the patients, that is, self-inflicted diseases caused by excessive alcohol consumption. The purpose of this review is to draw attention to this and other problems related to the alcohol consumption, such as the instable quality of alcoholic beverages, which have sometimes caused poisonings even after consumption in moderate doses, and offences against alcoholics and people with alcohol-related dementia aimed at appropriation of their immobile or other properly. © Nova Science Publishers, Inc.