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Russians are shocked at how much beer World Cup fans are drinking

World Cup fans are reportedly so thirsty for beer that Moscow restaurants are running dry.

Soccer fans from all over the world have traveled to Russia — where beer consumption has declined drastically over the years — to partake in the World Cup festivities. Apparently, beer brewers weren’t ready to meet the demand of boozy soccer watchers, fans and restaurant workers told Reuters.

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“We just didn’t think they would only want beer,” one server said.

The server said that deliveries are taking much longer than usual, and the restaurant even ran out of beer earlier this week.

Soccer fans are, of course, known for being big drinkers, and Russians are known for being big drinkers, too. But beer consumption has actually seen a decline in Russia due to a state effort to combat alcoholism.

A tripling of excise duties — as well as tightened regulations on sales and advertising — has resulted in a decline of about a third in alcohol consumption over the last decade, according to Reuters.

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Cover image: Football fans celebrate during the World Cup on June 17, 2018 in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Vladimir Artev/Epsilon/Getty Images)