The Hippocratic Medical Forum condemned the idea of legalizing online alcohol sales in Russia
On Thursday, June 11, the 9th Hippocratic Medical Forum was held in Moscow. The scientific and discussion platform traditionally brought together healthcare professionals, scientists, legal experts, sociologists, demographers, clergy, and representatives of government agencies. The forum participants discussed socially significant issues in the fields of medicine, bioethics, new technologies, doctor-patient relationships, and determined the limits of what is acceptable in terms of changing human nature, society, and the environment.
At the session "Protecting the Nation's Health in the Era of Digitalization: Strategic Risks, Challenges, and Solutions," the key topic of discussion was the inadmissibility of introducing online alcohol sales mechanisms in the Russian Federation. Experts from the fields of healthcare, finance, and digital platforms opposed the return to the discussion of the winemakers' idea of legalizing online alcohol sales.
The session was moderated by Valery Korneev, Chairman of the Digital World Union, and Mikhail Kudryavtsev, Chairman of the International Public Organization.
"As a practicing doctor, I am strongly opposed to removing any barriers. Online alcohol sales are like delivering addiction directly to a teenager's room or to someone in a state of withdrawal. The internet provides complete anonymity and the illusion of safety. We are already witnessing the emergence of a new type of "digital" addiction, where alcohol is perceived by young people as a regular food delivery service. The scale of the problem is immense, with 25,000 cases of illegal alcohol websites being blocked in 2025 alone. If we legalize this process, addiction specialists and psychiatrists will simply drown in the flow of patients with early alcohol psychosis and severe personality degradation. We are opening a Pandora's box that will have to be closed with the lives of our children."
Russian State Duma deputy Veronika Vlasova spoke about the preservation of the physical and moral health of minors:
"It is especially important for the younger generation to grow up in a safe environment. Therefore, my point of view is a strict restriction on the remote sale of alcohol, vapes and other harmful goods. The online space should not be a platform for the uncontrolled distribution of products that undermine the physical and moral health of young people. Protecting children from these threats is our direct duty and the most important priority of the state."
Natalia Dmitrievskaya analyzed the economic consequences of such a step.:
"The legalization of online alcohol sales carries a double blow to the economy. On the one hand, there may be enormous risks of the alcohol market going into the shadows. With the legalization of online sales, the distribution of "gray" products under the guise of legitimate sellers will entail the loss of billions of rubles in tax and excise revenues. On the other hand, this is a catastrophic burden on the budget and the compulsory health insurance fund. Any increase in the availability of alcohol inevitably leads to an increase in morbidity, injury, and social problems, which is absolutely unacceptable and economically destructive in the context of current macroeconomic challenges. In addition, it will lead to the destruction of even more families, which is absolutely unacceptable in the current demographic crisis."
The session participants emphasized that allowing online alcohol sales would destabilize the entire healthcare system. According to them, effective restrictive measures that have been built up over the years have produced a statistically proven result. Thus, by the end of 2025, alcohol consumption in the country dropped to a historic low of 7.74 liters per capita per year. Online trading will devalue these efforts and lead to a huge additional financial and personnel burden on hospitals and the entire budgetary healthcare system.
At the end of the session, Valery Korneev reminded the audience that Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, in his speech at the Christmas Parliamentary meetings in the Federation Council in January, supported deputies and senators who oppose online sales of alcohol, tobacco, and energy drinks, noting the enormous harm caused by their unhindered sale.
The primate of the Russian Orthodox Church then stated that new opportunities for the unhindered sale of alcohol and tobacco would destroy many human destinies, each of which is immeasurably more valuable than any economic benefit.
As a result of the session, the participants developed a unified position: maintaining the ban on the remote sale of alcohol is a prerequisite for protecting traditional spiritual and moral values, ensuring the financial stability of the state and preserving the health of future generations of Russia. Experts called on lawmakers to consolidate this ban at the federal level without any exceptions or "pilot" digital projects.
At the session "Protecting the Nation's Health in the Era of Digitalization: Strategic Risks, Challenges, and Solutions," the key topic of discussion was the inadmissibility of introducing online alcohol sales mechanisms in the Russian Federation. Experts from the fields of healthcare, finance, and digital platforms opposed the return to the discussion of the winemakers' idea of legalizing online alcohol sales.
The session was moderated by Valery Korneev, Chairman of the Digital World Union, and Mikhail Kudryavtsev, Chairman of the International Public Organization.
"As a practicing doctor, I am strongly opposed to removing any barriers. Online alcohol sales are like delivering addiction directly to a teenager's room or to someone in a state of withdrawal. The internet provides complete anonymity and the illusion of safety. We are already witnessing the emergence of a new type of "digital" addiction, where alcohol is perceived by young people as a regular food delivery service. The scale of the problem is immense, with 25,000 cases of illegal alcohol websites being blocked in 2025 alone. If we legalize this process, addiction specialists and psychiatrists will simply drown in the flow of patients with early alcohol psychosis and severe personality degradation. We are opening a Pandora's box that will have to be closed with the lives of our children."
Russian State Duma deputy Veronika Vlasova spoke about the preservation of the physical and moral health of minors:
"It is especially important for the younger generation to grow up in a safe environment. Therefore, my point of view is a strict restriction on the remote sale of alcohol, vapes and other harmful goods. The online space should not be a platform for the uncontrolled distribution of products that undermine the physical and moral health of young people. Protecting children from these threats is our direct duty and the most important priority of the state."
Natalia Dmitrievskaya analyzed the economic consequences of such a step.:
"The legalization of online alcohol sales carries a double blow to the economy. On the one hand, there may be enormous risks of the alcohol market going into the shadows. With the legalization of online sales, the distribution of "gray" products under the guise of legitimate sellers will entail the loss of billions of rubles in tax and excise revenues. On the other hand, this is a catastrophic burden on the budget and the compulsory health insurance fund. Any increase in the availability of alcohol inevitably leads to an increase in morbidity, injury, and social problems, which is absolutely unacceptable and economically destructive in the context of current macroeconomic challenges. In addition, it will lead to the destruction of even more families, which is absolutely unacceptable in the current demographic crisis."
The session participants emphasized that allowing online alcohol sales would destabilize the entire healthcare system. According to them, effective restrictive measures that have been built up over the years have produced a statistically proven result. Thus, by the end of 2025, alcohol consumption in the country dropped to a historic low of 7.74 liters per capita per year. Online trading will devalue these efforts and lead to a huge additional financial and personnel burden on hospitals and the entire budgetary healthcare system.
At the end of the session, Valery Korneev reminded the audience that Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, in his speech at the Christmas Parliamentary meetings in the Federation Council in January, supported deputies and senators who oppose online sales of alcohol, tobacco, and energy drinks, noting the enormous harm caused by their unhindered sale.
The primate of the Russian Orthodox Church then stated that new opportunities for the unhindered sale of alcohol and tobacco would destroy many human destinies, each of which is immeasurably more valuable than any economic benefit.
As a result of the session, the participants developed a unified position: maintaining the ban on the remote sale of alcohol is a prerequisite for protecting traditional spiritual and moral values, ensuring the financial stability of the state and preserving the health of future generations of Russia. Experts called on lawmakers to consolidate this ban at the federal level without any exceptions or "pilot" digital projects.
