Alcohol abuse in Russia has been increasing in recent years, especially in northern regions, as has the incidence of alcohol-related disease rates. A survey was conducted in Surgut (the Khanty-Mansi autonomous okrug) that determined the factors lending to the prevalence of alcohol abuse among the population of the northern city and assessed the scale of alcohol use. Research data show that local populations are in favor of greater efforts to reduce alcohol consumption, and think that to be successful such a campaign will need to cover a broad range of issues, including education, restrictions on sales, and developing local leisure activities as an alternative to drinking. (Contains 1 table and 1 note.)