One in four Russians say no measures taken to fight alcohol abuse will be effective against the national vice and commonest stereotype about Russia.
A survey carried out by the recruitment portal SuperJob.ru showed 24% of Russian citizens believe the introduction of anti-alcohol measures in the country would not improve the situation, which President Dmitry Medvedev said was tantamount to a national security threat.
Russia's chief sanitary doctor recently proposed a ban on sales of all alcoholic beverages after 9 p.m. and raising the legal age for drinking alcohol from current 18 to 21.
A quarter of Russians said restrictions on the sales of alcohol would simply increase the number of people who obtain vodka through illegal means or get their alcohol from substances not intended for human consumption. As a result, the nation's health may come under even greater threat.
Alcohol consumption in Russia is more than double the critical level set by the World Health Organization, a WHO report said last fall. . . . .
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