Alcohol, financial crisis and reform: learning from the Russian experience

In this issue of the Journal, Bessudnov et al .1 paint a disturbing picture of the state of inequalities in male mortality in Russia. The existence of inequalities is in itself not surprising; inequalities of varying magnitude have been seen across Europe.2 It is the magnitude of the inequalities that gives cause for concern; elevated hazards among men aged 21–70 years in manual occupations of between 99% and 226% relative to higher professionals were not greatly attenuated even after adjustment for education, income and perceived social status.The authors note some limitations to their research, including the small sample size and the exclusion of men who lived in single-person households, which make direct comparisons …