Tournament brings no lasting cheer for Russian beer

MOSCOW - Soccer fans from around the world are flocking to Russia's bars, beer gardens and craft ale pubs to quench their thirst as the World Cup heats up.

But the surge in sales will not have a lasting impact on Russia's beer industry, where consumption has been losing fizz for years - ever since it lost its classification as a soft drink.

Russia ranks 14th in terms of annual alcohol consumption per capita, according to the World Health Organization.