Stuck in cramped flats and struggling with fears of coronavirus and its economic impact, Russians are turning to alcohol again after a trend for more moderate drinking in recent years.

Alcohol consumption in Russia fell by more than 40 percent between 2003 and 2016, according to the World Health Organization. But experts and campaigners are pointing to worrying signs that under-stress Russians may be reviving old habits.

Alcohol purchases jumped after authorities imposed lockdown orders in late March, with sales in the first week of isolation rising by 65 percent.