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Roman offers about thirty beers but grimaces when we talk to him about vodka. RFI / Daniel Vallot

Alcohol consumption in Russia is declining year by year, according to a study by the World Health Organization. So far, the Russians drink on average less than the Germans or the French.

With our correspondent in Moscow, Daniel Vallot

Beard well cut, tattoo on the forearm, Roman is active behind his bar. He offers, all smiles, about thirty different beers. But when we talk to him about vodka, he grimaces. " Vodka is the drink for young people because it's the cheapest. Or for the old, because it's the tradition! But between 20 and 40 years, we prefer beer or cocktails, he explains. Vodka is only used to get drunk. "

We are here far from clichés about a Russia focused on alcohol in general, and vodka in particular. " Before it was different, people drank a lot more. But the trend now is sport, healthy living. People pay more attention to them, "observes a customer. " It's better to have a sober nation than a drunk and crazy nation ," he smiled.

The decline in alcohol consumption in Russia is due to increasingly restrictive legislation: higher prices, the ban on advertising and sales to minors. The result is impressive. According to the World Health Organization , alcohol consumption has fallen by more than 40% in the country since the early 2000s.

Reduced alcohol consumption in Russia: listen to the report 04/10/2019 - by Daniel Vallot Listen