"One-click alcohol" is killing demographics: the chairman of the Digital World Union called for preventing the legalization of online alcohol sales at the "Health of the Nation" forum.
The 21st All-Russian Forum "The Health of the Nation – the Basis for Russia's Prosperity" is taking place at Moscow's Gostiny Dvor. It is a key public-private forum for discussing strategies for preserving the nation through strengthening public health and achieving national development goals.
Digital World Union Chairman Valery Korneev spoke at the forum, raising the issue of the destructive impact of legalizing the online sale of energy drinks, alcohol, and tobacco products on the country's demographic security.
Valery Korneev reported that an experiment is currently underway with online sales of energy drinks, and the organizers plan to extend this practice to alcohol and tobacco.
"Despite the stated goals of supporting domestic winemakers, combating illegal trade, and replenishing budgets, the real consequence will be an increase in the consumption of socially dangerous goods among all age groups." International studies from 2025 confirm that when online alcohol sales are launched, alcohol consumption doubles, which directly contradicts the state policy of reducing alcohol consumption among the population and the goals of the national projects "Long and Active Life" and "Family," said the Union's chairman.
The Digital World Union's position is shared by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labor, the Ministry of Social Protection, all traditional faiths, and the parental, medical, women's, consumer, and legal communities. Patriarch Kirill also stated in January 2026 that the creation of new channels for alcohol and tobacco sales is unacceptable in the face of demographic challenges. The argument about protecting minors through biometric verification during delivery does not hold water: cybersecurity experts point to the technical possibility of bypassing such systems, and the incentives of couriers and consumers only exacerbate these risks.
Korneev also noted that the State Duma, with the participation of the Digital World Union, is developing legislative initiatives aimed at preventing the legalization of online sales of harmful goods. These include tougher penalties for couriers as accomplices to illegal trafficking, similar to drug trafficking, and a complete ban on experiments with online sales of alcohol, tobacco, and energy drinks.
"Support for Russian wine producers should not come at the cost of increased domestic consumption," Korneev emphasized. "Especially since the industry's export potential has already been secured through measures taken by the Russian Export Center. The nation's health and the country's demographic future cannot be used as bargaining chips in commercial experiments. The Digital World Union will continue its systematic work to secure the ban on online sales of socially dangerous goods, relying on a broad coalition of public, medical, and government institutions whose priority remains protecting the people."
Digital World Union Chairman Valery Korneev spoke at the forum, raising the issue of the destructive impact of legalizing the online sale of energy drinks, alcohol, and tobacco products on the country's demographic security.
Valery Korneev reported that an experiment is currently underway with online sales of energy drinks, and the organizers plan to extend this practice to alcohol and tobacco.
"Despite the stated goals of supporting domestic winemakers, combating illegal trade, and replenishing budgets, the real consequence will be an increase in the consumption of socially dangerous goods among all age groups." International studies from 2025 confirm that when online alcohol sales are launched, alcohol consumption doubles, which directly contradicts the state policy of reducing alcohol consumption among the population and the goals of the national projects "Long and Active Life" and "Family," said the Union's chairman.
The Digital World Union's position is shared by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labor, the Ministry of Social Protection, all traditional faiths, and the parental, medical, women's, consumer, and legal communities. Patriarch Kirill also stated in January 2026 that the creation of new channels for alcohol and tobacco sales is unacceptable in the face of demographic challenges. The argument about protecting minors through biometric verification during delivery does not hold water: cybersecurity experts point to the technical possibility of bypassing such systems, and the incentives of couriers and consumers only exacerbate these risks.
Korneev also noted that the State Duma, with the participation of the Digital World Union, is developing legislative initiatives aimed at preventing the legalization of online sales of harmful goods. These include tougher penalties for couriers as accomplices to illegal trafficking, similar to drug trafficking, and a complete ban on experiments with online sales of alcohol, tobacco, and energy drinks.
"Support for Russian wine producers should not come at the cost of increased domestic consumption," Korneev emphasized. "Especially since the industry's export potential has already been secured through measures taken by the Russian Export Center. The nation's health and the country's demographic future cannot be used as bargaining chips in commercial experiments. The Digital World Union will continue its systematic work to secure the ban on online sales of socially dangerous goods, relying on a broad coalition of public, medical, and government institutions whose priority remains protecting the people."
