Leningrad governor links alcohol consumption rise to neighbors
In Leningrad Oblast, the level of alcohol consumption has increased, which, according to Governor Alexander Drozdenko, is linked to the arrival of residents from neighboring regions.
Jan 27, 2026 0
At a press conference on January 21, Leningrad Oblast Governor Alexander Drozdenko reported that by the end of 2025, the region had fulfilled state programs by over 98%. However, two indicators in the field of population preservation were not met.
One of these indicators concerns the volume of alcohol consumed per capita. The governor stated: «Neighbors let us down. You know what I»m talking about.« According to him, citizens from a neighboring entity have started coming to some districts of the oblast with certain purposes.
Most likely, this refers to the northeastern territories of Leningrad Oblast—Boksitogorsk, Tikhvin, and Podporozhye districts, which border Vologda Oblast.
In Vologda Oblast, since March 2025, strict restrictions on alcohol sales have been in effect: on weekdays, it can only be purchased from 12:00 to 14:00, and on weekends from 8:00 to 23:00. Also, pubs of the «nalivayka» type (informal drinking establishments) are banned there, and all specialized alcohol stores have been closed.
The second unmet criterion is related to the tobacco smoking indicator. As Alexander Drozdenko noted, this parameter may be revised in the future.
Previously, Vologda Oblast Governor Georgy Filimonov reported that by the beginning of January, all 610 alcohol markets in the region had been closed or repurposed.
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