Russia's Alcohol Market Shrinks as Tax Changes Hit Plants and Shelves

Russian alcohol production fell 7.2% to 684.11 million decaliters during the first eight months of 2026. Data from Rosalkogoltobakkontrol shows that the decline accelerated sharply in August; while the drop remained moderate at 2.4% through July, the pace of contraction tripled by the end of the summer. Strong Spirits and Wine Segments The strongest spirits sector (beverages exceeding 9% ABV) saw a 10.9% decrease in output to 59.83 million decaliters. Cognac production fell by 16.8% and other spirit products by 18%, while vodka volumes dropped 12.1%. Only liqueur-vodka products recorded a marginal increase of 0.1%. Wine production experienced a steeper decline: