Skip to main content
Vodka and violence: alcohol consumption and homicide rates in Russia – Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Survey of HSE

Vodka and violence: alcohol consumption and homicide rates in Russia

Citation

Pridemore, William A. (2002). Vodka and violence: alcohol consumption and homicide rates in Russia. American Journal of Public Health, 92(12), 1921-1930.

Abstract

In Russia, rates of alcohol consumption and homicide are among the highest in the world, and already-high levels increased dramatically after the breakup of the Soviet Union. Rates of both, however, vary greatly among Russia’s 89 regions.

We took advantage of newly available vital statistics and socioeconomic data to examine the regional covariation of drinking and lethal violence. Log-log models were employed to estimate the impact of alcohol consumption on regional homicide rates, controlling for structural factors thought to influence the spatial distribution of homicide rates. Results revealed a positive and significant relationship between alcohol consumption and homicide, with a 1% increase in regional consumption of alcohol associated with an approximately 0.25% increase in homicide rates.

In Russia, higher regional rates of alcohol consumption are associated with higher rates of homicide.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.92.12.1921

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2002

Journal Title

American Journal of Public Health

Author(s)

Pridemore, William A.