The article presents the analysis of problems of alcoholization of the population of the Republic of Buryatia in the conditions of depressive development of the regional economy, conducted on the basis of expert interviews with medical specialists of different profiles - therapist, preventologist, psychiatrist-drug addict, anesthesiologist-reanimatologist, gastroenterologist. The socio-economic factors causing alcoholization of the population of the region have been identified, including unemployment, lack of employment prospects, shift work, borrowing, and the use of family income (pensions and child allowances) to buy alcoholic beverages by the poor. Among other negative factors contributing to the alcoholization of the population, experts noted the high availability of alcoholic beverages, the use of alcohol to increase the tourist attractiveness of the region and in the advertising of catering facilities, and the formation of a tolerant attitude to alcohol from childhood. The necessity of strengthening the coordinated work of state authorities of different levels, medical community and public organizations in order to reduce alcohol consumption in different social strata of the population is substantiated.