MOSCOW, November 1 (RIA Novosti) - Between 550,000 and 700,000 people die in Russia every year of alcohol poisoning and related illnesses, a Russian lawmaker said Wednesday, citing a scientific report.
Russia has seen a surge in mass alcohol poisoning cases from bootleg alcohol and alcohol-based chemicals in recent months, and large numbers of fatalities have been registered throughout the country.
"Narcology scientists have prepared a major report analyzing the alcoholism problem in Russia," said Nikolai Gerasimenko, the deputy chairman of the State Duma's health protection committee.
A law requiring certain changes to the composition of industrial alcohol came into force on July 1, he said.
The speaker of the lower house of parliament, Boris Gryzlov, said Tuesday that a total of 17,000 people were killed as a direct result of consuming bootleg liquor and alcohol substitutes in Russia from January to early September.
