Moscow, April 3 (IANS/RIA Novosti): Sales of vodka and other spirits in Russia dropped almost nine percent in February year-on-year to 113 million litres, a government report said.
The Federal Statistics Service (or Rosstat) said in a report that beer sales declined less than one percent in February compared to the same period last year, to some 730 million litres.
Wine sales dropped 4.5 percent year-on-year in the period to 73 million litres, following seven percent growth in January.
Overall, wine sales increased by five percent in the first two months of 2013 compared to the same period in 2012.
Sales of sparkling wine grew five percent in February to 22 million litres.
Sales of low-alcohol drinks (defined as those containing less than nine percent alcohol by volume) fell almost 12 percent year-on-year in the first two months of 2013, to 42 million litres.