Chechnya once again leads Russia in terms of alcohol consumption

Chechnya has maintained its status as Russia's least drinking region. According to Russian Ministry of Health data for July 2026, the republic's per capita alcohol consumption was only 0.02 liters—the lowest in the country.

Regions in the North Caucasus also ranked high: Ingushetia had 0.62 liters, and Dagestan had 0.88 liters. The top six regions with the lowest alcohol consumption also included Kabardino-Balkaria (2.05 liters), Karachay-Cherkessia (2.71 liters), and Stavropol Krai (3.45 liters).

Chechnya has maintained its lowest alcohol consumption for several years. In 2023, alcohol consumption in Chechnya was 0.21 liters of pure alcohol per person over 15 years old. This was the lowest among Russian regions. By March 2025, the figure was 0.13 liters of ethanol per capita, and in 2026, it dropped to 0.02 liters.

In March of this year, Ingushetia and Dagestan followed Chechnya in the rankings, while the figures for Kabardino-Balkaria and Stavropol Krai were slightly higher than in the July statistics.

The North Caucasus regions as a whole regularly rank among Russia's leaders in other indicators related to the prevalence of harmful habits. For example, Chechnya previously secured first place in the country for the lowest smoking prevalence among adults. In July, the percentage of smokers in the republic over 18 years old was 0.37%, while in February this figure was estimated at 0.62%. Following Chechnya in the rankings of regions with the lowest smoking prevalence in July were Kalmykia, Krasnodar Krai, Ingushetia, and Dagestan.

On September 1, alcohol sales restrictions imposed by local authorities on Knowledge Day will be in effect in 60 regions of Russia. However, Chechnya is not among them: as in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Krasnodar Krai, Tatarstan, Yakutia, Tuva, North Ossetia, and Kabardino-Balkaria, alcohol sales in the republic will be permitted on September 1.

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