Decrease in Vodka Production in Russia Reaches 15.6 Percent
Lowdown on Russia's Drink Decrease 🇷ŒRussian spirit manufacturers have taken a hit, with vodka production down by a whopping 15.6% in the first four months of 2025 compared to the same period last year. That's a hefty loss of 19.144 million decaliters (dal) of vodka, according to Rosalkogoltabakcontrol data shared by RIA Novosti. Cognac followed as the second falling star, shedding 22.7% with 2.026 million dal produced. The overall production of liquor and vodka dropped by a substantial 6%, yielding 5.104 million dal.
The drop in strong alcohol, those tipplers with more than 9% alcohol by volume (ABV), decreased by 14.7% to 28.719 million dal. On the other hand, the production of fruit alcohol dipped drastically by 89.8% to a measly 499 thousand dal.
The good news? Grape wine and sparkling wine production saw a rise. Grape wine increased by 5.2% to 11.603 million dal, and sparkling wine production soared by 6.9% to 4.808 million dal.
In a surprising twist, the total production of retail alcoholic beverages, excluding beer and other beverages, plummeted by 26% to a staggering 46.582 million dal.
🥕 17 Tons of Trouble in Altai** 🇷ŒIn a seemingly unrelated event, a sizeable 17 tons of tomatoes were found infected with a dangerous virus in the Altai region in April 2025. The specifics of this lurking disease remain elusive, as there's a dearth of information about the incident or the reason behind the infection. Potential causes for the spreading contamination in the region could be a new strain of tomato-affecting plant viruses, inadequate quarantine or biosecurity measures, infected seeds or plants, or favorable environmental conditions for virus transmission by insects like aphids or whiteflies.
For targeted, accurate information on this matter, it's advisable to consult local agricultural and governmental resources for updates on this unusual virus incident in the Altai region.
In the unsettling incident reported in the Altai region, a potential correlation could exist between the decline in the industry sector, specifically finance and energy, and the 17-ton tomato viral infection. For instance, a financial downturn might have led to inadequate biosecurity measures or insufficient funding for agricultural resources, potentially facilitating the spread of the mysterious virus. Alternatively, energy shortages might have impaired the proper storage or transportation of crops, thereby increasing the risk of contamination. However, these speculations require concrete evidence and further investigation to confirm their validity.
