The ministry said that the number does not include people who die of chronic diseases related to alcoholism and those who die in various incidents while drunk.
MORE: Coverage in Russian from RFE/RL's Russian Service.
The ministry estimates that the country has about 2 million alcoholics and that, in part because of alcohol, the life expectancy of men is 12-14 years shorter than that of women.
On October 26, Russia's northwestern region of Pskov declared a health emergency after tainted alcohol killed 15 people and sent at least 400 others to the hospital.
However, the Health Ministry says excessive drinking is a more serious problem than poor-quality alcohol.
(Interfax)
