Page 36 - RusRPTNov19

peak in February 2019 (57% of Ukrainians felt positive towards Russia then, 54% now).
Russians are living longer and drinking less, but is not to say they are living a healthy lifestyle , according to a new report by WHO, released on October 1. Alcohol consumption has fallen dramatically in the last decade and Russians have switched from hard liquor like vodka to softer tipples like wine and beer, as bne IntelliNews reported recently in “Putin’s 20 years on the job in numbers.” Overall, alcohol consumption has fallen by 43% between 2003 to 2016, which has translated into longer life expectancies, according to ot the WHO report. Russians consume the equivalent of 11-12 litres worth of pure ethanol a year, among the world's highest consumption levels, but the reduction since 2003 has substantially reduced mortality, according to WHO. Male life expectancy sank to a low of 57 years in the 1990s, but began to climb significantly in 2003 as drinking levels peaked, the report said. Male life expectancy is now at almost 68 years and 78 years for women. Mortality resulting from all causes dropped by 39% from 2003 to 2018 in men and by 36% for women, according to the study, which looked at trends over almost 30 years. The study said there was a clear correlation between national alcohol consumption and mortality rates and life expectancy. The Kremlin launched a major pubic health programme in 2000 following Putin’s accession to power that has gone largely unreported that imposed harsh restrictions on buying alcohol. Shops and kiosk are now not allowed to sell hard spirits after 10pm and the state has been clamping down on illegal distilleries and other low quality alcohol producers.
Only 28% of Russians consider that they earn more than the minimum survival level , according to a poll conducted by Russian independent polling organisation Levada Centre published on 20 September. The poll, conducted across the country in June, used a distinct methodology in, which respondents were asked to subjectively consider what was a minimum income for one breadwinner in a family. Respondents were asked "what monthly income for one person is currently sufficient for survival?", as well as the actual amount of income per head of the family. The poll removed extreme data at either end of the scale. The average stated income per month was R21,000 (just over 300 dollars), which is around double the official minimum wage set by the Labour Ministry (R11,185 in second quarter 2019). The poll points out that despite a gradual rise in income per head in nominal terms (which stands at R16,883), this falls well short of the stated R21,000.
Russians told Levada poll takers that they were less worried about prices rises than a year ago, 59% as opposed to 72%; less about poverty, 42% as against 52%; and rising unemployment, 36% compared to 48%. Over the same period, they said that they were more concerned about corruption and bribery (41% as against 33%), the impossibility of getting justice in the courts (13% against nine%), the repressive actions of siloviki (11% compared to seven%), and conflicts among the branches of the state (six% against three%). Perhaps equally important, however, is the fact the percentage of Russia respondents concerned about human rights in general rose only one% (from six to seven%) and that the share concerned about "the weakness of state power" jumped from nine% last year to 15% this.
Russia and Ukraine both saw a sharp recovery in life expectancy since the boom years of the noughties. In Russia (red line) the life expectancy continues to climb (green trend line), where in Ukraine (blue) recent gains have
36 RUSSIA Country Report November 2019 www.intellinews.o