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Vodka is the main cause of death among Russian men
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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According to an international group of scientists, the main cause of death among Russian men is vodka. For the first time in the history of this type of research, scientists monitored the lives of Russians; previously, experts only analyzed statistical data, based on which they made the appropriate conclusions. According to statistics, in 2012, 25% of men died before the age of 55, and the scientists believe that addiction to alcohol is to blame.
The research group, headed by member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences David Zaridze, monitored the mortality rate of the male population in three Siberian cities: Biysk, Tomsk, Barnaul. The project involved 200 thousand people, aged 35 to 74 years. In 1991, a survey of volunteers was conducted, during which the project participants talked about their lifestyle, existing bad habits, in particular their attitude to alcohol and smoking. By 2010, eight thousand men who were participants in the study were no longer alive. In addition, the scientific group studied the causes of death of about 50 thousand people living in these cities and who died shortly before the start of the research project.
As it turned out, men who prefer cigarettes and alcohol have a higher chance of dying before the age of 60. Among the total number of deaths, 30% were frequent smokers, which was 2.5 times more than those who regularly smoke and drink occasionally. Smoking is recognized as an aggravating factor, since nicotine increases the harm of alcohol to the heart and liver of a person.
Based on all the data obtained during the study, the scientists made a mortality forecast from excessive alcohol consumption, as well as those caused by diseases. As it turned out, the chances of dying from alcohol increase with age. Among men who drank occasionally between the ages of 35 and 54, the mortality rate was 16%, and among those who drank more than 3 bottles of strong alcohol per week - 35%. In the older group, where the men were aged 55 to 74, among men who drank occasionally, the rate was at 50%, and among "lovers" of drinking - 64%.
According to the authors of the research project themselves, since 2006 the mortality rate among the male population has begun to decrease noticeably, i.e. after the “alcohol” reforms began to take effect.
The fact that vodka influences life expectancy is exemplary because the majority of the drinking population prefers this strong alcoholic drink. As can be seen from the data of the scientific research institute, among the total number of patients in drug addiction hospitals, 76% are "vodka lovers".
Only 3-4% of the population are alcoholics, while 40% are drunkards who drink a little but regularly.
As scientists note, addiction to vodka does not have a permanent and irreversible effect, as the researchers themselves assure, when you stop drinking alcohol, the likelihood of premature death begins to decrease.