The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on alcohol consumption in Russia (territorial aspect)

The analysis of changes in alcohol consumption by the population of Russia for the period from January 2019 to December 2020 in the context of the development of the COVID-19 pandemic was made. The main psychological and social reasons for the increase in the amount and frequency of alcohol consumption during this period are considered, and a discrepancy between the annual dynamics of alcoholic beverages sales and the development of the epidemic is revealed. It is shown that during the coronavirus epidemic sales of strong alcoholic beverages – vodka and liquor products with an alcohol content of more than 25% – are increased. Groups of regions with positive and negative dynamics of alcohol sales during the pandemic were identified.