Vodka and Russian Male Life Expectancy
Steven L. Taylor
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Sunday, February 2, 2014
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8 comments
Via the the BBC, some pretty stunning numbers: Vodka blamed for high death rates in Russia:
The high number of early deaths in Russia is mainly due to people drinking too much alcohol, particularly vodka, research suggests.
The study, in The Lancet, says 25% of Russian men die before they are 55, and most of the deaths are down to alcohol. The comparable UK figure is 7%.
Causes of death include liver disease and alcohol poisoning. Many also die in accidents or after getting into fights.
In chart form:
About Steven L. Taylor
Steven L. Taylor is a Professor of Political Science and a College of Arts and Sciences Dean. His main areas of expertise include parties, elections, and the institutional design of democracies. His most recent book is the co-authored
A Different Democracy: American Government in a 31-Country Perspective. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Texas and his BA from the University of California, Irvine. He has been blogging since 2003 (originally at the now defunct Poliblog).
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Another chapter in “Annals of the Unexpected”. It’s sad but hardly a surprise.
If I lived in Russia, I’d drink too
so the ussr fell apart 6 years after they restricted alcohol, coincidence? time for a vodka tonic anyway.
They should only allow bottles 1 pint or less. That’s sure to stop the problem!
Vodka really is a rot-gut “beverage” – just nasty.
@John Peabody:
I assume that people think that’s funny, and those are the up-votes?
Actually, this would strike me as a sad example of human irrationality, and yes, things like a pint-ban would have to reduce the mortality.
But ha, ha, who cares.
Related:
@john personna: I think it can both be funny and true.