The surge in vodka prices is just the latest financial blow for Russian consumers, who are grappling with soaring costs for basic food staples like butter and potatoes.
Inflation in Russia is hovering around 9.5 percent, prompting the Central Bank to hike interest rates to a record-breaking 21 percent.
Other alcoholic beverages hit by price increases include brandy and cognac, with both spirits seeing a rise of approximately 17 percent.
Smokers are also feeling the pinch, with the minimum price for a pack of twenty cigarettes climbing five percent to 135 roubles.
The price hikes follow a bumper year for the retail alcohol market in Russia, which witnessed record sales.
Sales of alcoholic beverages reached 184.2 million decaliters between January and October 2024.
This represents the highest volume recorded since 2017 when regulators began tracking the data.
Vodka remains the king of sales, with a modest uptick to 62.5 million decaliters over last year’s figures.
Observers link the recent surge in liquor costs to the conflict in Ukraine, speculating that the Kremlin might be bolstering its military budget through the price hikes.
Rewinding to 1981, in the twilight of the Brezhnev era, the USSR similarly escalated prices on alcohol and cigarettes amidst their engagement in Afghanistan.
During that period, Russians expressed their discontent through a widely sung ditty, warning of potential unrest if the cost increases persisted.
The song’s lyrics warned: “Vodka became 7 and 8/ We’re drinking anyway/ We won’t give up/ Tell Ilyich (Lenin)/ We can handle 10/ But if it becomes 25/ Then it’s Revolution again! “.
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