Alcohol policy impact case study: the effects of alcohol control measures on mortality and life expectancy in the Russian Federation

Alcohol consumption has long been recognized as one of the main driving factors of mortality in the Russian Federation, especially among men of working age. The introduction of various evidence-based alcohol control measures at the beginning of the 2000s resulted in a decrease in all-cause mortality, with the most pronounced relative changes occurring in causes of death that are causally linked to or closely associated with alcohol consumption. Since 2003, both alcohol consumption and mortality were declining in parallel. In the period 2003–2018, all-cause mortality decreased by 39% in men and by 36% in women – a trend that was mirrored by an increase in life expectancy. In 2018, Russian life expectancy reached its historic peak, standing at almost 68 years for men and 78 years for women. The experience gathered by the Russian Federation in reducing the burden of disease stemming from alcohol represents a powerful argument that effective alcohol policy is essential to improving the prospects of living long and healthy lives.