Alcohol Retail Overview 2025

Russian Megacities Have Lost 19% of Alcohol Stores Over Three Years

The number of alcohol stores in Russian megacities has decreased by 19% over three years.

According to estimates, as of May 2026, there were 21,001 alcohol stores operating in megacities, down from 25,837 in May 2023.

• Nizhny Novgorod: from 1,782 to 966 (a 45.8% decrease)
• – Volgograd: from 1,315 to 611 (a 53.5% decrease)
• – Krasnoyarsk: from 1,662 to 1,088 (a 34.5% decrease)
  – Krasnodar: from 1,696 to 1,219 (a 28.1% decrease)
  – Omsk: from 1,271 to 877 (a 31.0% decrease)
  – Yekaterinburg: from 964 to 1,018 (a 5.6% increase)
  – Moscow: from 6,106 to 6,286 (a 2.9% increase)

The decline in the number of alcohol stores points not only to the closure of individual outlets but also to a shift in consumer behavior.

The neighborhood store segment is experiencing the sharpest decline. Some retail chains are moving away from small premises and concentrating on high-foot-traffic locations. Meanwhile, competition is intensifying from grocery supermarkets, where alcohol remains a key traffic driver.

According to data from state control system «Chestny Znak» / «Honest Mark»  (February 2026), specialized alcohol stores led in sales volume and revenue among all retail channels in 2025.

№1 Alcohol stores — 41.5% of all beer sales in liters, 40% of segment revenue.

№2 Supermarkets — 20% of all beer sales in liters, 20% of segment revenue.

№3 Discount stores — 16% of all beer sales in liters, 15% of segment revenue.

№4 Hypermarkets — 2.6% of all beer sales in liters, 3.2% of market revenue.

The alcohol store channel records its maximum sales volume on Fridays. However, Saturday remains the most active sales day for the majority of retail channels, including alcohol stores.

Hypermarkets recorded the highest price per liter of beer at 192 RUB. The drink is cheapest in minimarkets (143 RUB), followed by the top three sales channels: discounters (146 RUB), alcohol stores (151 RUB), and supermarkets (154 RUB). The price difference between the most “expensive” and “cheapest” liter stands at 34%, or 49 RUB.