Beverage consumption in FSU

[mendeleyev]

So that the reading signs thread isn't derailed over how much tea or how much beer certain segments of the populations consumes, I'll respond here.

Some researchers consider tea to be the de facto national beverage of Russia. (Martinchik AN, Baturin AK, Martinchik EA, Tutel'ian VA (2005). "[Tea and coffee consumption among Russian population]". Vopr Pitan (in Russian) 74 (3): 42–6.)

As published in the Russia & India Report, the WTO has done studies on how the removal of tariffs on tea imports will impact the Russian economy. The World Trade Organization seems to have concluded that the Russian tea market is "mature" in that over 90% of all Russians already drink tea, averaging 3.5 cups daily. When the import tariffs are lifted next year it is expected to have a 2 Billion dollar hit on the economy. Russians love good quality teas and there are tea importers who would love to compete on a level playing field for the 5th largest tea market in the world.

Not everyone believes that the tea market has matured however. Citing Euromonitor International, the Russia & India Report claims that tea consumption is on the rise, having grown to $3.3 billion in 2011.

Russia is also a strong beer market as 68% of the population is said to have consumed a beer in the last 30 days. Production of beer in Russia was down by 5.1% in 2010 and 2011 according to the international Beer Business magazine however this could be explained by the growth of imports to the Russian market.

The Russian Federal Service of State Statistics claims that new restrictions on beer sales and increased taxes on alcohol are part of the slowdown in beer production.

Supposedly if one can believe the statistics, Canadians drink more beer than Russians:  In 2010, the average Russian drank 68 litres of beer, 12 litres of spirits and 7 litres of wine. In comparison, the average Canadian consumed 50 litres of beer, 4.3 litres of spirits, and 10 litres of wine in the same year.

At least Russians still lead the Canadians in vodka consumption.   

[Ooooops]

Sorry, Mendeleev, I just found it too funny when you compared tea with vodka.       Although, I've heard that recently beer was finally moved in "alcohol" category and isn't sold next to juice in stores of Russia.   About time...

[mendeleyev]

You have nothing to be sorry about, Ooooops. You have a cool name, you obviously are comfortable with the language and if you aren't careful I'm going to recruit you to assist with the sign reading thread even more so it is all good!

Besides, I agree with you on the seriousness of where and to whom alcohol is sold. As you know we're coming up to the "last bell" at the end of this month and it is good to see that markets near schools are required to suspend alcohol sales at that time. Last year there were markets and kiosks where the beer inventory was boxed up in an aisle and then plastic wrapped so that it could not be purchased.

This year kiosks are not supposed to sell beer at all but we all know that it can be obtained at home but as often the "last bell" school activities take place before kids go home, hopefully the incidents of teen drinking will continue to drop.

[CanadaMan]

Supposedly if one can believe the statistics, Canadians drink more beer than Russians:  In 2010, the average Russian drank 68 litres of beer, 12 litres of spirits and 7 litres of wine. In comparison, the average Canadian consumed 50 litres of beer, 4.3 litres of spirits, and 10 litres of wine in the same year.

At least Russians still lead the Canadians in vodka consumption.   

Now I'm more confused than before.
Canadians drink more beer or wine than Russians?

[Ooooops]

You have a cool name, you obviously are comfortable with the language and if you aren't careful I'm going to recruit you to assist with the sign reading thread even more so it is all good!

Oooops...   Busted!       But you are doing such a great job with lectures on sign reading, that no help needed, me think...   

Besides, I agree with you on the seriousness of where and to whom alcohol is sold. As you know we're coming up to the "last bell" at the end of this month and it is good to see that markets near schools are required to suspend alcohol sales at that time. Last year there were markets and kiosks where the beer inventory was boxed up in an aisle and then plastic wrapped so that it could not be purchased.

Not too long ago I watched few episodes of Russian TV series "Школа" -  http://seasonvar.ru/serial-717-SHkola.html    OMG!!!   I grew up in a Petri dish, comparing to this...   

[Ooooops]

Now I'm more confused than before.
Canadians drink more beer or wine than Russians?

There is a saying in Russia - "Beer without vodka means waisted money".   Hence less beer, but more vodka for Russians.   (I'm kidding, it's not a written rule  )

[Vasilisa]

The observation I made about MYSELF (not about all Russians) is that I tend to drink less alcohol in Russia. In the US we went out a lot and every time Americans ordered wine or beer so I ordered the same. In Russia I tend to eat at home  more often and don't drink anything unless I go to some Birthday party or a close friend.

[Shadow]

There is a saying in Russia - "Beer without vodka means waisted money".   Hence less beer, but more vodka for Russians.   (I'm kidding, it's not a written rule  )

MrsShadow still wonders about why people produce alcohol-free beer. 

[Vasilisa]

Now I'm more confused than before.
Canadians drink more beer or wine than Russians?

What is so surprising? Russian drink more strong liquor but as for beer I am not sure. I have heard stories of my Russian friends who went to Ireland or CR or Germany or saw english men or Germans drinking beer in Turkey and it was WOW.
I have seen Americans who were MDs and top managers, they drank 2-7 cans of beer every day after work and came home on Friday and drank 20 cans of beer and didn't consider themselves being alcoholics. In my opinion they were, in Russia we have a term "beer alcoholism" but when I tried to look for the information about the US American doctors don't use this term, they only have "alcoholism", so I guess drinking a box of beer after work is ok.

[GoodOlBoy]

Not too long ago I watched few episodes of Russian TV series "Школа" -  http://seasonvar.ru/serial-717-SHkola.html    OMG!!!   I grew up in a Petri dish, comparing to this...   

 
 
I love it Ooooops!
The old goat had a seizure when he saw those pictures. 
 
GOB

[Ozzimusician]

There is a saying in Russia - "Beer without vodka means waisted money".   Hence less beer, but more vodka for Russians.   (I'm kidding, it's not a written rule  )

The saying is - Пиво без водки деньги на ветер "Beer without vodka is money on the wind" - I know it well.  My father-in-law would question me on how much I'd drank when getting home whilst over there in Russia visiting.  He seemed proud when I'd had a skin-full! 

[Vasilisa]

 
 
I love it Ooooops!
The old goat had a seizure when he saw those pictures. 
 
GOB

Somehow many WM manage to find this particular category of women when they look for a wife in the FSU.

[Vasilisa]

Not too long ago I watched few episodes of Russian TV series "Школа" -  http://seasonvar.ru/serial-717-SHkola.html    OMG!!!   I grew up in a Petri dish, comparing to this...   

Last year I gave a link to "Краткий курс счастливой жизни" and the men are still looking for RW/UW.

[Ooooops]

Last year I gave a link to "Краткий курс счастливой жизни" and the men are still looking for RW/UW.

 

[CanadaMan]

MrsShadow still wonders about why people produce alcohol-free beer. 

For people like me! 

I'm don't drink much alcohol. I prefer to keep whatever brain cells I have left and I can get hangovers from just a glass of wine or a can of beer.

So when I was in the FSU last year and found a SANS alcohol Amstel beer I was in heaven!
It tasted great and of course 0% alchohol.

The problem was when I returned home the beer was no where to be found! They don't sell it in Canada. 

[Ooooops]

The problem was when I returned home the beer was no where to be found! They don't sell it in Canada. 

I'm sure you can find some other alcohol free beer in Canada.   This one is really good, actually - http://www.bcliquorstores.com/node/87857

[CanadaMan]

I'm sure you can find some other alcohol free beer in Canada.   This one is really good, actually - http://www.bcliquorstores.com/node/87857

I checked out the LCBO (Ontario) and they didn't have any. They recommended I check with the grocery stores.
They only had Beck. I tried it and it was horrible. 

[mendeleyev]

I don't often drink, but when I do, I prefer Dos Equis.

On a more serious note, beer without alcohol is like vodka without windshield fluid. 

I was about to recommend reading the article on 11 awesome Russian beers until realizing that they didn't know that KBAC (kvas) isn't a real beer. It is sold on the streets and in markets. Children drink it. Otherwise, a decent summary except they recommend Baltika other than #3, again a very light version. It would be so much more impressive if they had tasted Baltika 8 or 9, etc.

http://www.thrillist.com/drink/nation/11-awesome-russian-beers

[OlgaH]

There are many documentaries on beverage consumption in Russia (unfortunately only in Russian)

Women alcoholism has become a national problem.



Children alcoholism is also a catastrophic situation as the Russian specialists comment.





More children born with birth defects and health problems (physical and mental) including alcohol syndrome.



Translation: Mommy, who is "a stupid pussy?" or (Mommy, what does it mean "stupid pussy?")

[Vasilisa]

There are many documentaries on beverage consumption in Russia (unfortunately only in Russian)

Women alcoholism has become a national problem.



Children alcoholism is also a catastrophic situation as the Russian specialists comment.





More children born with birth defects and health problems (physical and mental) including alcohol syndrome.



Translation: Mommy, who is "a stupid pussy?" or (Mommy, what does it mean "stupid pussy?")

"pussy" does not mean "п$$a', "p--a" is a pretty strong vulgarism and is normally used by low-class people or people with anger management issues. Olga, you must really hate other RW Thank you for the links though, that's something really new as we were sure that Russian women don't drink at all, only men do.

[OlgaH]

"pussy" does not mean "п$$a', "p--a" is a pretty strong vulgarism and is normally used by low-class people or people with anger management issues. Olga, you must really hate other RW Thank you for the links though, that's something really new as we were sure that Russian women don't drink at all, only men do.

Yes, Vasilisa, I agree that the word is a pretty strong vulgarism and I don't know an English  equivalent But I don't blame a Russian veteran with his chest full of gold medals who went through the horror of the War and used exactly the same phrase when he addressed to a drunk mother with a baby and a bottle of beer in her hands smoking right into the baby's face.

Other RW? Who exactly do you mean saying "other RW"?  I don't have any respect to such women as in the photo with a strong vulgarism and such women usually use the vulgarism. I love my Russian female friends and relatives and I have many very well respected Russian women in my acquaintance circle.

[Ranetka]

Yes, Vasilisa, I agree that the word is a pretty strong vulgarism and I don't know an English  equivalent

That will be c@nt, dear     (for the sake of linguistic). Since you have no problem posting it (in a picture) in Russian 

[Belvis]

That will be c@nt, dear     

Reading the forum is so educational 

[OlgaH]

That will be c@nt, dear     (for the sake of linguistic). Since you have no problem posting it (in a picture) in Russian 

Thank you, Ranetka, you just reminded me that I have Talkin' American" dictionary published by ITP Global rights group, USA, and yes they have the word in the dictionary. 

Ranetka, did you read Alexander Pushkin's Poetry not for ladies 

http://www.litmir.net/br/?b=136353&p=1

by Alexander Pushkin
http://rvb.ru/pushkin/01text/01versus/03juv_misc/1817l/0256.htm

Vladimir Mayakovsky, Apolon Grigoryev, Nikolai Nekrasov and some other prominent Russian poets and authors did not hesitate to use the vulgarism that is also a folklore language )) Very interesting from linguistic and literature point of view, though it is not for sanctimonious people (or canting hypocrites)

"Pudency of morose fools" Lovely article.

Reading the forum is so educational 

Yes, it is

[Ranetka]

Thank you, Ranetka, you just reminded me that I have Talkin' American" dictionary published by ITP Global rights group, USA, and yes they have the word in the dictionary. 

Ranetka, did you read Alexander Pushkin's Poetry not for ladies 

http://www.litmir.net/br/?b=136353&p=1

by Alexander Pushkin
http://rvb.ru/pushkin/01text/01versus/03juv_misc/1817l/0256.htm

Vladimir Mayakovsky, Apolon Grigoryev, Nikolai Nekrasov and some other prominent Russian poets and authors did not hesitate to use the vulgarism that is also a folklore language )) Very interesting from linguistic and literature point of view, though it is not for sanctimonious people (or canting hypocrites)

"Pudency of morose fools" Lovely article.

Yes, it is

Да уж, Алескандр Сергеевич любитель был и пошалить, и высказаться...