Football Travel » Ukraine Travel Guide » Ukraine Culture » Drinking in Ukraine
Drinking in Ukraine
Ukraine Culture: Ukraine Beer & Vodka
Drinking in Ukraine
Although alcohol consumption is likely to play a role in supporters' celebrations of Euro 2012 next year, the Ukrainian authorities are facing a serious fight to improve the health statuses of its citizens because of drinking-related issues.
According to a 2009 report by the Institute for Demography and Social Studies in Kiev, alcohol-related deaths constitute 40% of all morbidities among Ukrainian men and play a considerable role in the country's long-term decline in life expectancy since the 1960s.
While average lifetimes continue to climb in the West, the scary truth in Ukraine is that the average life expectancy of its male residents is just 55 according to a World Health Organization report in 2002.
Official research has also found that Ukraine has a high consumption of alcohol (by way of a comparison, the UK was found to be a middle-level country in the same study) and, perhaps inevitably, alcoholism is higher than in most other parts of Europe.
So too is suicide, with Ukraine having the fourth highest suicide rate after Russia, USA and Japan.
Such sobering (hopefully) statistics might not dampen the spirits of Euro 2012 visitors from across Europe in 12 months time.
But Ukraine's government has reacted by formalising its alcohol policy. For instance, Ukraine does have an age limit for purchasing alcohol (18), in stark contrast to other former USSR states including Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Moldova, which, worryingly, do not.
Price rises because of tax increases are also contributing to improving Ukraine's alcohol misuse by limiting availability.
Vodka & Beer in Ukraine
That said, alcohol is freely available across Ukraine and it will be imbibed in large quantities across the country and Poland during next year's football feast.
The sales of beer are growing compared with wine, according to the latest figures, although vodka (known as horilka) consumption remains as high as ever in Ukraine as it does across most Baltic nations.
Horilka has an alcohol content ranging from 35% to 60% by volume (typically 40%) and is still generally consumed straight. Although a key component in all milestones and celebrations, Ukrainian workers are still known to down a snifter with breakfast (and a few more during the morning besides.)
As such, vodka dominates the shelf space in shops, with flavoured versions increasing in diversity and popularity. However, tourists are warned against tasting the homebrew often available in local markets, which is reported to often be laced with lethal ingredients such as antifreeze to increase its potency.
Obolon is Ukraine's largest beer producer and competes well with the growing tide of foreign labels from the West
Brewed in Kiev (beer enthusiasts can tour the brewery), Obolon sells beer under seven brands: Obolon, BeerMix (fruit-flavoured beers), Magnat, Hike, Bitburger, Zibert and Desant.
Furthermore, the company has sponsored Ukrainian Premier League side FC Obolon Kyiv since 1999, and the team's stadium will be used as a training venue in Euro 2012.
Related Articles
Beer in Germany
Austrian Beer and Wine
South African Beer
|
|
