Exports of Russian vodka have hit a 10-year low, falling by more than 40 per cent largely, because of economic sanctions. Sales of the national drink fell by 42 per cent last year, the lowest level in a decade. Russian newspaper Kommersant reported the total value of the vodka and liquor export market was just £77.4 million, a decline of 40.2 per cent.
Britain remained the biggest importers of booze from the Russian powerhouse, but exports to the UK also slumped by 59 per cent to just 9.9 million litres.
Political tensions amid Russia’s handling of the Ukraine crisis, coupled with western sanctions, are thought to have fuelled the reduction in export sales.
Vadim Droby, director of the Centre for the Study of Federal and Regional Alcohol Markets, which released the statistics, blamed the ongoing economic crisis as well as sanctions for the plummeting export sales.