russians Paying for the Militarization of the Economy with Empty Shelves

In russia, production is rapidly declining in two “strategic” sectors – vodka and red caviar. The alcohol market is in turmoil due to the government’s unbalanced fiscal policy, logistics problems, and inflation. Adding to all these problems is the “reluctance” of Pacific salmon to spawn in russian waters due to climate change.

russia’s vodka producers manufactured 39.6 million decaliters of vodka over eight months – by 12.1% less than the previous year; cognac production fell by 16.8%. Overall, production of alcoholic beverages with an alcohol content of over 9 degrees decreased by 10.9%. At the same time, the bottling of low-alcohol beverages halved – to 495,600 decaliters.

Along with alcohol, production of the mythical, stereotypically russian accompaniment to strong drinks – red caviar – is also declining. This year, warehouses will receive three times less of this delicacy compared to last year: 2,600 tons versus 7,600 tons. This is one of the lowest figures in the past 20 years. Retail prices for the product had already doubled by the end of the summer compared to 2024. Caviar was previously considered a delicacy, but now it is firmly moving into the category of “premium delicacies”.

At the same time, alcohol consumption in russia has not decreased. According to head of the “alcohol market professionals club” maksim chernigovsky, russians own more than 2.5 million moonshine stills, which produce up to 200 million liters of alcohol annually. Consequently, a 9–10% decline in the consumption of legally sold alcohol is projected, against the background of rapidly growing demand for homemade alcohol.

The rising cost of basic foodstuffs in the country – particularly meat, which has gone up by 11% – is also making it much harder for ordinary citizens to afford traditional snacks. All of this is the result of the kremlin’s senseless militarization of the economy at the expense of the country’s food security, leaving people with nothing but propaganda and empty refrigerators.