OREANDA-NEWS  Beer remains the most popular alcoholic drink in Russia. This was stated by Alexey Sazanov, deputy head of this department, during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

Speaking at the session "Alcohol Market: yesterday, today, tomorrow", he spoke about the results of the survey, which showed that beer remains the priority drink for 80 percent of respondents. In second place is wine, which is in increasing demand. If 58 percent were in favor of this alcohol in 2025, then 62 percent in 2026.

The study also showed what is most important for the consumer when choosing a particular alcohol. 28 percent each put taste and quality first, 14 percent put price first, and 10 percent put authenticity first.

"Our consumer is very educated. The most important thing for him is taste and quality. This is the area where our manufacturers need to focus their work," Sazanov stated.

As for choosing a country, 59 percent said they prefer Russian-made products. This response was received for almost all types of alcoholic beverages.

"Whiskey and gin have the greatest potential for import substitution. In this segment, consumers tend to choose imported products," Sazanov said.

By the end of March 2026, the total cost of liquor supplies from the European Union to Russia reached a historical maximum.