Life expectancy is now among the lowest in Europe, particularly in the case of men, which is almost 13 years lower than the average for the European Union (2). As previously noted, in the period 1986–1987 there was a sharp increase resulting from President Gorbachev’s anti-alcohol campaign; however, this was short-lived as by 1992 life expectancy fell to the same levels as in 1985, followed by a further sharp fall in the period 1993–1994, and then a gradual increase from 1995 onward. Male life expectancy dropped from 63.8 in 1990 to 57.6 in 1994, representing a loss of over six years within just half a decade. In 1998 it peaked at 61.39, but then began declining again, falling to 59.15 in 2000, and to 58.5 in 2001. Under present conditions, only 54% of 16-year-olds today will survive to age 60 (16).