YEREVAN. – Armenia’s residents have used 3.2 times more vodka and 40 percent less wine, and brandy consumption level has remained the same in January-July 2012, as compared with the same time period last year, Armenian Wine Makers’ Union President Avag Harutyunyan stated during a press conference on Tuesday.   

In his words, this increase in vodka consumption is unprecedented in Armenia, and, on the one hand, this shows that the quality of vodka has improved, yet, on the other hand, the quality of life has dropped and therefore people prefer cheaper drinks.  

Harutyunyan also informed that Armenia produced 5.3 million liters of brandy in the first six months of this year, and this is 54 percent more than in January-June 2011. Also, this volume surpasses the pre-economic crisis volume in 2008 by 20 percent.   

In addition, 2.2 million liters of wine were produced during the same time period, and this is approximately 20 percent more than the volume in 2008, but 33 percent less than the volume in January-June 2011.