When did they drink bitter in Russia?

Catherine the Great asked Princess Dashkova: "Your Highness, why do you make the Russian people drunk?", she replied: "It is easier to rule drunk people". Apparently, this maxim of Catherine the Great, became the main direction in the policy of Russian tsars and Soviet rulers. A break on drinking occurred only once, when in 1914 in Russia was introduced a dry law, which lasted until 1925. Stalin, having consolidated his power, decided to abolish it, having in mind that everyone in Georgia drinks since childhood, but there are no drunks and alcoholics among Georgians.

"The Lord protects children, fools and drunkards," says a French proverb. However, in ancient Russia there were no drunkards, much less alcoholics. Although many believe that drinking is an old Russian tradition, they say that Russians have always drunk. However, if you read the notes of Kostomarov, a Russian historian and ethnographer, a famous expert on the customs and traditions of the Russian people, you can find a lot of evidence that the people of ancient Russia drank very little. They brewed mead, braga or beer only on holidays. And the strength of these drinks did not exceed 10 degrees. During the feast, the cup was passed around the circle, and everyone drank a few sips from it. On weekdays no one dared even think about drinking at all, because it was considered a great sin.

Russians began to actively consume alcohol from the 16th century, when during the reign of Ivan the Terrible and Boris Godunov there was a massive importation of vodka and wine from abroad. However, even in this era the authorities tried their best to limit the sale of vodka. In 1652 a special tsar's decree was issued, according to which vodka, to put it in modern terms, was "issued on cards": one cup per person. It was categorically forbidden to give wine to those who were found to be immoderate drinkers or, as they were called, "pitukhs". During church fasts, on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday vodka was not sold at all. Soon, however, all bans were lifted. The state needed money. As a result, the sale of vodka in Russia became a royal monopoly.

At present, the so-called "northern" type of alcohol consumption is firmly established in Russia, i.e. consumption of huge amounts of vodka in a short period of time. Russia is the drunkest country in the world. In 1913 there were 3.4 liters of alcohol per person, in 1927 - 3.7, in 1940 - 2.3, and in 1950 - only 1.9 liters. Currently, according to UN statistics, Russia has 18 liters of alcohol per capita.
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