Medvedev demands measures to contain alcohol abuse

President Medvedev has issued instructions for further measures to contain alcohol abuse. Appearing in Sochi on Wednesday, he saw poverty at the root of the problem and spoke about the need to improve living standards, promote healthy lifestyles, toughen booze marketing restrictions and clamp down on DUI. The average Russian resident consumes a staggering 18 litres of pure alcohol each year. The President describes this as a disaster.