An article in the _New York Times_ 19 December 1999, discusses the growth
in beer consumption in Russia.  Beer is popular with younger drinkers.  St.
Petersburg is the major center for brewing.  The collapse of the ruble has
reduced imports to a negligible percentage of the market.  Unable to sell
their own beer in Russia, West European brewers have invested heavily in
Russian breweries.  Compared with vodka (some of it dangerous bootleg
drink), beer is considered healthful.  The growth in consumption of beer
between 1995 and 1998 has been 25%.  In 1998 the per capita beer
consumption was 6.2 gallons (compared to 21 gallons in Western Europe).