Russia: Beer output in Russia in H1 2005 was the lowest in the last 5 years

The growth rate of beer production in Russia in the first half of this year compared to H1 2004 was the lowest rate over the last five years, the Russian Brewers' Union said in a press release citing the Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat).

Growth in beer production in January-June 2005 increased 3.7% year- on-year, the union said. In the first half of 2004, beer production grew 14.4% year-on-year.

Vyacheslav Mamontov, chairman of the Russian Brewers' Union executive committee, was quoted in the release as saying "the stagnant trend in beer production is becoming more obvious."

The union is afraid that "the danger is growing of a break in the designed trend in a number of regions for decreasing the consumption of strong alcohol and increasing the consumption of low-alcoholic products." "The shift in the manner of alcohol consumption towards increasing consumption of low-alcoholic products is one of the key factors in strengthening the health and safety of the nation," Mamontov said. "The government could stimulate this process with economic methods in the current situation," he said.