Consumer spending on alcohol during lockdown increased by 80%

These conclusions were reached by the experts of the OFD.ru fiscal data operator, having studied the sales data in monetary terms from October 28 to November 7 in 2020 and 2021.

During the closure of alcohol stores, alcohol lovers migrated to retail chain stores, where during the lockdown, revenue from the sale of alcohol increased by 75%. But the real record holders in alcohol trade were airports, whose revenues from alcohol trade increased by 195% at once.

“On non-working days, Russians spent 78.8% more on alcohol compared to the same period in 2020”, - RBC reports.

It is noteworthy that many Russians, having learned about the upcoming closure of alcohol stores during the lockdown, rushed to the stores and made a "strategic reserve" for the holidays. The day before the start of the quarantine, October 27, buyers spent five times more on alcohol than on the first day of the official weekend on October 28.

The period of "non-working days" in Russia lasted from October 30 to November 7, a lockdown was announced to combat the spread of covid. At the same time, in some cities - for example, in Moscow - the lockdown began earlier than throughout the country - on October 28. After the official end of the All-Russian quarantine on November 7, some regions where the epidemiological situation was the most unfavorable extended the lockdown on their territory.

So, for example, did the authorities of the Chelyabinsk, Kursk, Bryansk, Tomsk and Smolensk regions. At the same time, in a number of subjects, the system of admission to public spaces by QR-codes initiated by the authorities was extended until December 1 and even until the new year. The authorities hope that these measures will push citizens to get vaccinated, which, in turn, can reduce the intensity of the pandemic in the country.

In Norway, where over 80% of the population is vaccinated, covid is no longer a threat, and authorities have already lifted all restrictions related to the pandemic, including the mandatory wearing of masks.