| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Adventurer
Joined: 28 Jan 2006
|
 Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 11:18 pm Post subject: Trying to break Russia's vodka dependence |
 |
|
Page last updated at 08:33 GMT, Friday, 1 January 2010
E-mail this to a friend Printable version
Trying to break Russia's vodka dependence
By Daniel Fisher
BBC News, Moscow
Most Russians consider vodka to be their national drink
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is hoping for some New Year's resolution among his countrymen, as he takes on one of Russia's most deeply-entrenched and prickliest problems - alcoholism.
From 1 January, restrictions on the price of vodka in Russia come into force.
The cheapest bottle of vodka on sale will be 89 roubles (around �1.80; $3) for a half-litre bottle. While that still might sound cheap, the new law is all part of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's plan to tackle alcoholism in Russia.
Russians drink seriously. As a country they get through on average about 18 litres (32 pints) of pure alcohol a year.
Last year, when Mr Medvedev kick-started his campaign, he called Russia's alcohol problem a "national disgrace" and said he was determined to cut that figure by a quarter by 2012.
But combating the consumption of what most Russians consider to be their national drink is a brave political move considering the lack of success his predecessors have had.
The last time anyone tried it was 24 years ago, when Russia was part of the Soviet Union.
Perfume not sold
Then, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev drastically cut vodka production and did not allow it to be sold before 2pm.
This law is not the solution, it is just a small step, albeit a positive one, in the fight against alcoholism
Dr Elena Igorevna
Moscow Scientific Centre for Substance Abuse
Significantly, perfume was also not to be sold before midday as people were starting to drink that.
Officially, lives were saved and alcoholism dropped, but Soviet state revenues took a massive hit and so did Mr Gorbachev's popularity. President Medvedev cannot allow either of those things to happen to him.
Russia |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Deep Thirteen
Joined: 18 Jun 2009
Location: Swamp Land
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 7:23 am Post subject: |
|
|
| I used to talk to a really pretty Russian girl from Siberia who hated vodka and only drank champagne. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Adventurer
Joined: 28 Jan 2006
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 10:40 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Deep Thirteen wrote: |
| I used to talk to a really pretty Russian girl from Siberia who hated vodka and only drank champagne. |
Far less Russian women drink alcohol when compared to the men. I think that Medvedev should stick to his guns and try to reduce alcohol consumption. It's one thing to drink a bit, and another to drink yourself to death. He also wants a more powerful Russia; he knows it won't happen with all these men dying too young. Obviously, if you raise the price of drink, it will be more expensive to be an alcoholic. I support that. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Reggie
Joined: 21 Sep 2009
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 1:12 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Deep Thirteen wrote: |
| I used to talk to a really pretty Russian girl from Siberia who hated vodka and only drank champagne. |
Was she cool with the cheap stuff or did the champagne have to be upscale? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
