A health official has warned that anyone getting Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine should give up alcohol for almost two months, causing outrage across the country. 

Anna Popova, the head of Russia's consumer safety watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, has said that people should refrain from drinking alcohol at least two weeks before getting the first of two inoculations – and then for a further 42 days after. 

Popova warned that drinking alcohol would reduce the body's ability to build up immunity against the virus. 

"It's a strain on the body. If we want to be healthy and have a strong immune response, don't drink alcohol," she added.

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The guidance has caused uproar in large parts of Russia, with some saying the risks of giving up alcohol outweigh the risks of drinking during the vaccine process. 

"This really bothers me. I'm unlikely to not be able to drink [for almost two months] and I reckon the stress on the body of giving up alcohol, especially during what is a festive period, would be worse than the [side effects of the] vaccine and its alleged benefits," Moscow resident Elena Kriven said.

Russians are among the heaviest drinkers in the world, though consumption has decreased sharply since 2003.

However, Sputnik published a contradicting message in response to Popova's advise. 

It posted a picture of Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio raising a glass of champagne on its Twitter channel with a quote from the vaccine's developer Alexander Gintsburg that said: "One glass of champagne won't hurt anyone, not even your immune system."

Gintsburg did, however, urge Russians to reduce their alcohol consumption while the body built up immunity, but said there was no reason to give up completely. 

People should refrain from drinking alcohol three days before and three days after both jabs, Gintsburg said, adding that the advice was the same for getting vaccinated around the world and not specific to Russia or Sputnik.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Pfizer – the vaccine produced by which was rolled out in the UK earlier this week – said regulators had not mentioned any warnings about alcohol consumption relating to the jab.