Vodka blames as alcohol now kills more than half of Russians in their prime

Daily Mail (U.K.) ^ | June 27, 2009

[Schnucki]

Alcohol kills more than half Russian men and women in their most productive years, according to new research.

The international study found three quarters of deaths among men and half of deaths among women aged 15-54 could be attributed to alcohol abuse.

Such a mortality rate for this age range is five times higher for men and three times higher for women when compared to Western Europe.

Professor David Zaridze, who led the research, worked out that alcohol had killed three million in the country since the failed attempt to restrict sales in 1987.

Some 30,000 people - twice the number the Soviet Union lost in its 10-year war with Afghanistan - now die from alcohol poisoning in Russia every year.

The research focused in three industrial cities - Tomsk, Barnaul and Biysk - and found alcohol was responsible for 52 per cent of deaths - 13 times the world average.

It said 'excess mortality from liver cancer, throat cancer, liver disease, and pancreatic disease is largely or wholly because alcohol caused the disease that caused death'.

The study, published in The Lancet medical journal, calls on the Russian government to stop or tax cheap alcohol.

This would mean 'confrontation with organised criminals and corrupt officials ... All that is needed is the political will to make public health a priority', it said.

Prof Zaridze, head of the Russian Cancer Research Centre, said: 'Each year 1.3 million people die from cardio-vascular diseases in Russia.

'Based on our investigation, it is possible to suggest that at least a third of these deaths is linked to alcohol consumption and not to any specific heart pathology.'

A United Nations report said in April that poor diet, leading to heart disease, heavy drinking and the high incidence of violent deaths may cut Russia's present

[goat granny]

lol I suggest a good Kentucky Bourbon....thats what I drink....

[PJ-Comix]

You can drink all the liquor down in Costa Rica

I tried when I was down in Costa Rica. They have a great bar service down there. When you order a beer they give you a plate of free cerviche. Three beers and three plates of cerviche and you had enough for a supper at a very reasonable price.

[RC2]

I’ve had Russian Vodka........what the Russians drink. It’s 100% better than our Vodka.

[tlb]

The problem the Russians had is they never got to watch Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, and Bing Crosby warn them about Mr Booze.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv4N5g2GYMA