A Pilot Study Examining the Frequency of Alcoholic Vending and Advertising on the Streets of a Few Russian Cities

Objective: Easy access to relatively inexpensive alcohol and excessive advertising can lead to over consumption. This study sought to gather preliminary information on the frequency of alcohol vendors and advertising on the street as well as price information. Method: An observational study of alcohol vending and advertising on street segments measuring one kilometer in length in select Russian cities, including Moscow and St. Petersburg. The data was collected from May-June 2008. Results: Within each Kilometer surveyed, and average of 6 off premise partition street retailers were found. These off premise retailers had a partition between the buyer and seller which meant that no visual contact was need to purchase alcohol or tobacco. Inexpensive beer, which was the cheapest beverage at some retailers, was readily available for pedestrians from these “walk away” stands during most hours of the day. It was also observed that the large majority of alcoholic advertisements visible from the street were for beer. Conclusion: Since it is well documented that availability, price and marketing play large roles in the consumption of alcohol, it appears that high frequency of street vendors and advertisements might be accentuating the amount of alcohol consumed, especially among the adolescent population. Off premise partitioned retailers provide an easy way for minors to obtain alcohol. Implications: Russian public health officials should follow the lead of other nations and attempt to regulate easy availability of alcohol on the street.