The doctor reported on the hidden risks of the trendy Korean drink soju

The growing popularity of Korean soju in Russia is of concern to doctors due to the specific effects of sugary low-alcohol drinks on the body. It is wrong to perceive this drink as safer alcohol, since the total amount of ethanol consumed remains the key risk factor. Valeria Zaretskaya, a medical worker, told Izvestia on November 19.

"The main danger of many sugary alcoholic beverages, which include some soju, is disguising the true strength. The pleasant, often sweet taste and relatively low alcohol content in comparison with strong drinks create the illusion of safety for the consumer. This leads to an uncontrolled increase in the amount of alcohol consumed. A person may not notice how he consumed an amount of alcohol equivalent to a significant proportion of a strong drink," the specialist explained.

In addition, the increased sugar content exerts an additional burden on the body, which increases the toxic effect, affecting the liver and pancreas.

The health worker also stated that the idea of harm reduction due to the low strength of the drink is a misconception. She noted that the degree of impact on the body is determined not by the percentage of alcohol, but by the amount of ethanol consumed and the regularity of consumption. Zaretskaya added that even low-alcohol drinks with constant consumption lead to the same risks, including addiction, liver damage, heart disorders and problems with the central nervous system (CNS).

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"In the wake of popularity, the market may face an increase in the number of surrogate products that are passed off as high-quality Korean soju. Such drinks can be produced artisanal using low-quality alcohol and contain various impurities, including fusel oils, methanol and other toxic substances. The use of such surrogates poses a direct threat not only to health, but also to life, repeatedly increasing the risk of severe poisoning and irreversible damage to internal organs," the expert said.

Zaretskaya recommends choosing only trusted suppliers and remembering that any alcohol carries potential harm that increases in proportion to the dose.

On the same day, the newspaper Kommersant quoted the A rating.List reported that sales of the alcoholic drink soju have doubled due to Russians' interest in Asian culture. In January – September 2025, they increased by 105.6% year-on-year and exceeded 700 thousand decaliters. Manufacturers note that promotion through Korean restaurants helps to bring soju from a niche product to a mass category.

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