Vodka is apparently the friend of death in Russia, and because of it, men in the country are dying way too young, according to a new study.
The study of more than 150,000 people over the course of ten years was published Thursday in The Lancet. It confirmed researchers' beliefs that vodka is a major cause of premature death in Russian adults.
NPR has a quote from one of the researchers on the team who says its really a culture problem.
"Drinking is a socially accepted way of life. Everyone drinks; educated people, not educated people, all social classes. It is accepted and appreciated." But people need to realize, he says, that "alcohol kills [the] nation."
And the more you drink, the more likely you are to die, says the study. It found that those who consumed more than three half-liters of vodka a week had a much better chance of dying before the age of 55 than the other participants.
Life expectancy for men in Russia has plummeted in the past decade with 25 percent of men dying before the age of 55. (Via Medical Daily)
According to the World Health Organization, the life expectancy for a man in Russia is just 63 years old — 12 years shorter than their female counterparts. And 12 years shorter than men in the United States.
The study pointed out, over the course of the past thirty years, death rates have fluctuated quite a bit as alcohol restrictions have changed.
Last year, The Washington Post reported that Russia has been trying to increase life expectancy by passing new laws to curb smoking and drinking.
Some new moves include beer can not be sold on the street anymore, smoking in public places will soon be banned and advocates for better health are pushing for higher taxes on both cigarettes and alcohol.
