To buy a bottle of vodka most of Russians are ready to pay the price higher or equal to the minimum legal price ; however today every fourth consumer pays less than 170 rubles for half a litre.
MOSCOW, March 13, 2014. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data concerning the consumption of alcohol among Russians.
Beer is the most popular alcoholic beverage of Russians; it is consumed once per week; 28% drink one bottle of beer per month. Rarer Russians drink vine (26%), vodka or homemade alcohol (20%). Least popular alcohol drinks are cocktails and cognac: the shares of those who have never tried these drinks are 80% and 60%, respectively.
Those who have consumed vodka over the recent half a year bought it at the supermarkets (28%), at the nearby stores (23%). Only 8% bought strong alcohol at alcomarkets. Other 2% report that they bought alcohol at kiosks despite the fact that selling alcohol at kiosks is prohibited. Half of respondents (50%) have not recently consumed alcoholic beverages.
Every second vodka consumer (49%) paid 199 rubles for half a litre. At the same time, more than one-quarter of Russians (28%) recognize that the average price that they paid for half a litre was below 170 rubles, i.d. below the minimum legal price. Other 42% paid 200-300 rubles for a bottle of vodka.
More than one-third of Russians (37%) are ready to pay not more than 199 rubles for half a litre of vodka which is a new legal minimum price that has been set since March 11, 2014. Those who report so are mainly respondents with low income (40%), and elderly respondents (37%).
Half of Russians believe that the increase in excise duty will lead to the increase of consumption of low-quality surrogate alcohol (52%). It may also cause the growth of illicit trade in alcohol (39%). Every third respondent (34%) is afraid of the growth in mortality. However, there may also be positive consequences such as increased tax revenues (22%), reduced alcohol consumption (12%), or reduced availability of alcohol to minors (10%).
The VCIOM opinion poll was conducted on February 15-16, 2014. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 130 communities in 42 regions of Russia. Data are weighted by gender, age, education, working status and type of settlement. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.
How often do you consume…? (close-ended question , one answer) | |||||
| Beer | Vine (dry, semi-dry, sparkling) | Vodka, homemade alcohol | Cognac | Low alcohol beverages, cocktails |
Once per week or more than 2-3 times per month | 12 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 16 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 3 |
Approx. once per month | 12 | 15 | 11 | 7 | 5 |
Rarer than once per month | 16 | 34 | 29 | 29 | 9 |
Never | 44 | 40 | 51 | 60 | 80 |
Don`t know | - | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Have you consumed vodka over the recent half a year? If yes, where? (close-ended question, any number of answers) | |
Total respondents | |
No | 50 |
Supermarket | 28 |
Small store close to my house or work | 23 |
Special store, alcostore | 8 |
Kiosk, stand, mobile shop | 2 |
Restaurant, bar | 1 |
Privately | Less than 1 |
Internet | Less than 1 |
Other | Less than 1 |
Don`t know | 1 |
How much did you pay for half a litre of vodka? (close-ended question , one answer, % of those who bought vodka) | |
| Total respondents |
Less than 100 rub | 2 |
100-119 rub | 5 |
120-149 rub | 8 |
150-169 rub | 13 |
170-199 rub | 21 |
200-249 rub | 31 |
250-300 rub | 11 |
More than 300 rub | 3 |
Don`t know | 6 |
Imagine you need to buy half a litre of vodka? What is the maximum price that you are going to pay for that? (close-ended question , one answer) | ||||||
Total respondents | Low income | Income below average | Average income | Income above average | High income | |
Less than 100 rub | 7 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 7 | 6 |
100-169 rub | 13 | 17 | 16 | 12 | 11 | 8 |
170-199 rub | 17 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 12 |
200-249 rub | 21 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 24 | 23 |
250-300 rub | 14 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 23 |
More than 300 rub | 9 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 12 |
Don`t know | 19 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 16 |
In your opinion, what may the increase of excise duty on alcohol lead to? (close-ended question , note more than three answers) | |
| Total respondents |
Increased consumption of low-quality surrogates | 52 |
Illicit trade in alcoholic beverages | 39 |
Increased mortality | 34 |
Increased production of homemade alcohol | 26 |
Increased tax revenues | 22 |
Decreased alcohol consumption | 12 |
Reduced availability of alcohol to minors | 10 |
Reduced number of diseases caused by alcohol consumption | 7 |
Other consequences | 1 |
Don`t know | 5 |
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