Are Russians falling out of love with vodka? Share of domestic demand plunges to single-digit [Video]

It is the alcoholic beverage most stereotypically identified with Russia, but vodka seems to be losing its charm for the people of the country, with its share of the domestic market in 2024 plunging to single-digit figures, as per sales data.

Vodka accounted for just six per cent of sales of alcoholic beverages in this year so far, said the Moscow city news agency, citing data by IT company Atol which manufactures equipment and software solutions for the retail sector, RT reported.

The stereotypical national drink’s place has been taken by lower-strength alcoholic beverages, like beer and wine, which together accounted for nearly three-fourths of the total alcohol sales in the year, with the former the most popular by far as it is favoured by over half of the consumers.

Beer (pivo in Russian) has become the most popular alcoholic beverage among Russians, accounting for 51 per cent of total alcohol sales since the …