How did Gorbachev fight alcoholism in the USSR? Anti-alcohol campaign in the USSR Anti-alcohol campaign.

They tried to fight the Russians’ addiction to alcohol in Tsarist Russia, and in the Soviet Union. When the Bolsheviks came to power in 1917, they administratively banned the production of alcohol until 1923.

Then attempts to combat drunkenness were made repeatedly - in 1929, 1958, 1972. However, the most famous and resonant is the anti-alcohol campaign of 1985-1987, which characterized the beginning of perestroika and the government Mikhail Gorbachev.

Drunkenness fight

He was the first to speak about the need for another anti-alcohol campaign general secretary Central Committee of the CPSU Yuri Andropov. According to the Soviet leader, due to the decline in moral values ​​of citizens addicted to alcohol, the growth national economy slows down. Indeed, by 1984, according to official statistics, the consumption of alcoholic beverages reached 10.5 liters per person per year, and if you take into account moonshine, then all 14. For comparison: during the times of Tsarist Russia or the reign of Joseph Stalin, one citizen consumed no more than 5 liters alcohol per year. The idea of ​​an anti-alcohol campaign was supported members of the Politburo of the CPSU Central Committee Egor Ligachev and Mikhail Solomentsev.

On May 7, 1985, a resolution was adopted “On measures to overcome drunkenness and alcoholism and the eradication of moonshine.” The document provided for strengthening the fight against " green serpent", as well as reducing the production of alcohol, the time of its sale and the closure of a number of stores selling alcoholic beverages.

And on May 16 of the same year, the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR “On strengthening the fight against drunkenness and alcoholism, eradicating moonshine” came into force. This document already introduced administrative and criminal penalties for non-compliance with Prohibition.

“In 1985, a month after the ban was introduced, I had a wedding. Today our wedding is remembered with sincere emotion and laughter; our relatives are normal Soviet people, they love this business. But since it was impossible to drink, they did this: they removed all the bottles, put the kettles on, and poured cognac into them. And all the guests drank tea, washing it down with lemonade. Why did you have to hide? And because everyone was a member of the party, they could have kicked him out just for once if they saw cognac on the tables,” recalls Executive Director of the Research Institute of History, Economics and Law Igor Suzdaltsev.

The path to moonshine

As you know, a significant share of budget revenues comes from alcohol. It seems that the Soviet authorities sincerely wanted to “cure” citizens from drunkenness, since they turned a blind eye to treasury income from alcohol. As part of the implementation of Prohibition in the USSR, many stores selling alcoholic beverages were closed. The remaining outlets could sell alcohol only from 14:00 to 19:00. In addition, the cheapest bottle of vodka in 1986 rose to 9.1 rubles (the average salary then was 196 rubles). Drinkers were prohibited from consuming alcohol on boulevards and parks, and on long-distance trains. If a citizen was caught drinking alcohol in the wrong place, he could be fired from his job, and party members were expelled from the party.

Meanwhile, the inhabitants of the USSR did not think of giving up the consumption of alcoholic beverages; they simply switched to moonshine instead of “official” alcohol. In addition to moonshine, alcohol-containing surrogates increasingly appeared on the tables of Soviet citizens.

Soviet anti-alcohol poster

The anti-alcohol campaign dealt an irreparable blow to winemaking and viticulture - this structure was planned to be reoriented to the production of table varieties of berries. The state has reduced the program for financing the planting of new vineyards and the care of existing plantings. In addition, cutting down vineyards was widely practiced on the territory of the Soviet republics. For example, out of 210 thousand hectares of vineyards located in Moldova, 80 thousand were destroyed. In Ukraine, 60 thousand hectares of vineyards were cut down. According to the ex-secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Republic, Yakov Pogrebnyak, income from vineyards accounted for a fifth of Ukraine’s budget.

In Russia, over five years (from 1985 to 1990), the area of ​​vineyards decreased from 200 to 168 hectares, and the average annual berry harvest decreased by almost half - from 850 thousand tons to 430 thousand tons.

Yegor Ligachev and Mikhail Gorbachev denied the involvement of the top leadership of the USSR in cutting down the vineyards. According to Gorbachev, the destruction of the vines were steps against him.

Alcohol took revenge on the budget

Prohibition resulted in budget holes - if before the start of the anti-alcohol campaign, about a quarter of the state treasury's revenues from retail trade came from alcohol, then in 1986 state treasury revenues from the food industry amounted to only 38 billion rubles, and in 1987 - 35 billion rubles. instead of the previous 60 billion. The fall in budget revenues from alcohol coincided with the economic crisis that began in 1987, and the Soviet government had to abandon the fight against drunkenness.

The anti-alcohol campaign of the 80s is called the most serious mistake of the perestroika period. Even its initiator Yegor Ligachev admitted the fallacy of this idea. “I was the most active organizer and conductor of that anti-alcohol campaign.<…>We wanted to quickly rid people of drunkenness. But we were wrong! To cope with drunkenness, we need many years of active, smart anti-alcohol policy,” Ligachev quotes Evgeniy Dodolev in the book “The Red Dozen. The collapse of the USSR."

However, the effect of prohibition is still ambiguous. Firstly, with such a set of measures, alcohol sales per capita decreased by 2.5 times, according to State Statistics Service data. At the same time, life expectancy has increased, the birth rate has increased and the death rate has decreased. According to statistics, during the anti-alcohol campaign, 500 thousand more children were born than in recent decades, and there were 8% fewer weakened newborns. Moreover, during the period of Prohibition, life expectancy among men increased by 2.6 years, which was the maximum in the entire history of Russia.

Having taken power into their own hands, the Bolsheviks quickly and decisively began the anti-alcohol struggle. A Committee to Combat Pogroms was created, headed by V.D. Bonch-Bruevich. On February 21, the Council of People's Commissars issued a decree “The Socialist Fatherland is in Danger!”, in which paragraph 8 threatened execution: “Enemy agents, speculators (including alcohol - Author's note), thugs, hooligans, counter-revolutionary agitators, German spies are shot on the spot crimes." There was also a struggle against moonshine, and here administrative and prohibitive measures were supported by repressions, accompanied by various excesses, when, for example, an ordinary “drunkard” or “moonshiner” found himself in the category of counter-revolutionaries.

On December 19, 1919, the Council of People's Commissars (SNK) adopted a decree “On approval of the list of laws that became invalid with the introduction of the regulations on the production of alcohol and alcoholic beverages and their trade”15. A number of researchers considered it an attempt to restore Prohibition. But there is no need to talk about “prohibition” for the reason that the decree did not prohibit the consumption of alcoholic beverages. It was established that only factories nationalized or registered with the state could sell alcohol, strong drinks and non-beverage alcohol-containing substances. It is more appropriate to interpret the decree only as the government’s desire to restore the wine monopoly, and not as a “prohibition law.” The actions of the Soviet government on the alcohol issue were not systematic and cannot be considered as an anti-alcohol campaign. In fact, the Bolsheviks tried not to solve the problem that had become a stumbling block for our country, but to give it the character of a struggle against the mythologized image of a counter-revolutionary, the integral characteristics of which were: drunkenness and debauchery as symbols of a passing world16. On August 26, 1923, the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the USSR and the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR issued a decree on the resumption of production and trade in alcoholic beverages in the USSR.

In 1929, a new anti-alcohol campaign began, which was initiated by the Soviet government and local authorities, allegedly at the “demand of the workers.” This led to mass closures of beer shops and other drinking establishments; they were converted into teetotal canteens and teahouses. The publication of the magazine “Sobriety and Culture” was organized, which castigated drunkenness and promoted a healthy lifestyle. A sharp decline in beer consumption led to a reduction in its production and the closure at that time of a number of large breweries in Moscow, Leningrad and other cities of the USSR. Starting from 1932, the production of drinking alcohol began to decline, while at the same time the range of alcoholic drinks expanded, various types of vodka, “Soviet champagne”, sparkling and vintage wines appeared. The authorities no longer saw anything wrong with a Soviet person drinking a little after work, and again started talking about “cultural drinking”17. The inconsistency of this campaign was also explained by the fact that since the late 20s. industrialization began in our country, which required colossal Money. One of the sources of financial income was income from the production and sale of alcohol. Stalin himself suggested “increasing the production of vodka, as much as possible” (secret telegram of 1930)18

During the Great Patriotic War It was not customary to talk about drunkenness and alcoholism. Products were distributed on ration cards, vodka was expensive, and was often replaced with alcohol or moonshine. “Narkomov’s” hundred grams at the front were considered as a means of relieving stress. Non-drinkers were offered sugar instead of vodka, but by 1945 few people used this substitute: “There was a shift in the psychological attitude towards it [vodka], many in the army got used to it,” writes our Tolyatti local historian V. Ovsyannikov19. It is also sad that during the war the number of women drinking increased sharply. Psychologically, this is understandable, since many of them have lost husbands, sons, fathers and other relatives.

Therefore, the next person to decide to fight alcohol was N.S. Khrushchev, who began the campaign in 1958 with the Resolution of the CPSU Central Committee and the Council of Ministers of the USSR “On strengthening the fight against drunkenness and on establishing order in the trade in strong alcoholic beverages”20. It prohibited the sale of vodka in all retail establishments Catering(except for restaurants) located at train stations, airports, station areas. The sale of vodka in the immediate vicinity of industrial enterprises was not allowed, educational institutions, children's institutions, hospitals, sanatoriums, places of mass celebrations and recreation. However, this company could not solve the main problem.

The next anti-alcohol campaign began in 1972. On May 16, Resolution No. 361 “On measures to strengthen the fight against drunkenness and alcoholism”21 was published. It was supposed to reduce the production of strong alcoholic drinks, but in return to expand the production of grape wine, beer and soft drinks. Liquor prices were also increased; production of vodka with strength 50 and 56° has been discontinued; the trading hours for alcoholic beverages with a strength of 30° and above were limited to the period from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; medical and labor dispensaries (LTP) were created, where people were forcibly sent; Scenes with drinking alcohol were cut from films. This campaign featured the slogan: “Fight drunkenness!”

However, the most sensational and controversial anti-alcohol campaign in the USSR was the 1985 campaign, popularly nicknamed (again in vain) the “Prohibition Law” of 1985,

On May 16, 1985, the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR “On strengthening the fight against drunkenness and alcoholism, eradicating moonshine” was issued22

The corresponding Decrees were adopted simultaneously in all Union republics. The execution was unprecedented in scale. For the first time, the state decided to reduce income from alcohol, which was a significant item state budget, and began to sharply reduce its production.

The initiators of the campaign were members of the Politburo of the CPSU Central Committee M. S. Solomentsev and E. K. Ligachev, who, following Yu. V. Andropov, believed that one of the reasons for the stagnation of the Soviet economy was the general decline in the moral values ​​of the “builders of communism” and the negligent attitude to work, for which mass alcoholism was to blame.

After the start of the fight against drunkenness in the country, a large number of stores selling liquor and vodka products were closed. Often this was the end of the complex of anti-alcohol measures in a number of regions. Thus, the First Secretary of the Moscow City Committee of the CPSU, Viktor Grishin, closed many alcohol stores and reported to the Central Committee that the work on sobering up in Moscow was completed.

Stores that sold alcohol could do so only from 14.00 to 19.00. In this regard, ditties appeared:

“At six in the morning the rooster crows, at eight - Pugachev’s, the store is closed until two, Gorbachev has the key.”

“For a week, until the second,” we’ll bury Gorbachev. If we dig up Brezhnev, we’ll drink as before.”

Strict measures were taken against drinking alcohol in parks and public gardens, as well as on long-distance trains. Those caught drunk had serious troubles at work. Banquets related to the defense of dissertations were prohibited, and alcohol-free weddings began to be promoted.

The campaign was accompanied by intense promotion of sobriety. Articles by Academician of the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences F.G. Uglov began to spread everywhere about the dangers and unacceptability of alcohol consumption under any circumstances and that drunkenness is not typical of the Russian people. Alcohol scenes were cut out of the films, and the action movie “Lemonade Joe” was released on the screen (as a result, the nicknames “Lemonade Joe” and “mineral secretary” were firmly assigned to M.S. Gorbachev).

Strict demands to abstain from alcohol began to be imposed on Party members. Party members were also required to “voluntarily” join the Temperance Society.

Officially registered per capita sales of alcohol in the country have decreased by more than 2.5 times over the years of the anti-alcohol campaign. In 1985-1987, a decrease in state sales of alcohol was accompanied by an increase in life expectancy, an increase in the birth rate, and a decrease in mortality.

How many Russian lives were saved by the anti-alcohol campaign of the 1980s?

The number of deaths increased fairly uniformly from 1965 to 1984 (Figure 2). During the same time, according to expert assessments, real alcohol consumption increased from 9.8 to 14.0 liters. However, at this stage it is difficult to assess the contribution of alcohol to the increase in mortality, although it is undeniable: from 1965 to 1984, not only the total number of deaths from alcohol poisoning increased, but also their share in total mortality(from 1.1% in 1965 to 2.2% in 1979)23. (See Appendix 1)

Thus, more than 1 million people were saved during the anti-alcohol campaign. This is the main positive result of the anti-alcohol campaign and an indicator that reducing alcohol consumption is a significant factor in reducing mortality in Russia.

During the anti-alcohol decree, 5.5 million newborns were born per year, 500 thousand more per year than every year over the previous 20-30 years, and 8% fewer weakened ones were born. Life expectancy for men increased by 2.6 years and reached maximum value over the entire history of Russia, the overall crime rate has decreased. (See Appendix 2)

Aimed at the “moral improvement” of Soviet society, the anti-alcohol campaign actually achieved certain positive results. But in the mass consciousness it was perceived as an absurd initiative of the authorities, directed against the “common people.” For people widely involved in the shadow economy and the party and economic elite (where drinking alcohol was a nomenklatura tradition), alcohol was still available, and ordinary consumers were forced to “get” it.

The decline in alcohol sales caused serious damage to the Soviet budgetary system, as annual retail turnover fell by an average of 16 billion rubles. The damage to the budget turned out to be unexpectedly great: instead of the previous 60 billion rubles in income food industry brought in 38 billion in 1986 and 35 billion in 1987.

Massive dissatisfaction with the campaign and the economic crisis that began in the USSR in 1987 forced the Soviet leadership to curtail the fight against the production and consumption of alcohol. On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the anti-alcohol campaign in 2005, Gorbachev remarked in an interview: “Because of the mistakes made, a good big deal ended ingloriously”24.

I will cite the opinions of experts assessing the results of the 1985 campaign.

Valery Draganov, businessman, deputy of the State Duma of the fifth convocation:

The anti-alcohol campaign was stupid and poorly organized. But then it was not customary to prepare people for various reforms. You can’t even call it a reform. It was just an emotional impulse, influenced by all kinds of talk about change.

The anti-alcohol campaign of the 80s largely laid the foundation for the future large-scale and already well-organized underground alcohol and alcohol industry in the 90s.

In general, any campaigns in our country, whether with Soviet power, be it now, unfortunately, do not have the success that is usually expected. Although I think that lately, now I can call it a reform, it is proceeding more consistently.

Boris Vishnevsky, publicist, political scientist:

Overall, I remember this as the greatest stupidity. It was not a dry law. No one stopped drinking. I just had to struggle, firstly, to get alcohol, and, secondly, good wine had almost disappeared, and somehow I never tried to drink bad wine. Therefore, it was an unpleasant time.

Also, as far as I know, a lot of vineyards were cut down in Crimea. Grapes grew there, from which vintage collection wines were made. This subsequently had a very serious impact on the development of winemaking.

Mikhail Vinogradov, political scientist:

The anti-alcohol campaign was perceived to a large extent as artificial. Its obvious consequence was a sharp increase in queues, phrases like “liquor store stop, next stop is the middle of the queue” appeared. That is, of course, there was such a rush demand. And consumption, naturally, cut off someone, because it was hard to stand in line, but true fans of alcoholic beverages somehow found an opportunity to find the desired product.

In general, probably, as almost always, the fight against alcoholism and other bad habits in the history of Russia still largely involved consequences rather than causes. If we talk about the cultural causes of alcoholism in Russia, for example, there is often a feeling of a historical dead end, it is clear that changing the system of selling alcohol could hardly change anything fundamentally here.

Although statistics, as far as I understand, indicate a noticeable decrease in alcohol consumption. Indeed, perhaps, what was advertised more openly in the 60s and 70s, in the 80s alcohol somehow fell off the public agenda a little.

But, like any other, our anti-alcohol campaign was quite active for a couple of years. After which it found itself under the yoke of the general food shortage of the late 80s, and then forgotten. Accordingly, there is no analysis or analysis of its lessons. And today restrictions are being introduced on the sale of alcohol, which, as in the 80s, primarily affect light drinkers.

Creative work

Anti-alcohol campaign

Introduction. Alcohol: what is this evil?

Alcohol brings joy and sorrow.

Imaginary joy, real grief.

A.V. Melnikov

Alcoholic beverages (ethyl alcohol, colloquially - alcohol) are drinks containing ethanol.

Ethanol is a natural psychoactive substance that has a depressant effect on the central nervous system. In most countries, the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages is subject to strict laws (for example, limiting the age at which alcohol can be purchased and consumed). The production and consumption of alcohol has a deep history and is widespread in many cultures. human civilization. In many societies, the consumption of alcoholic beverages is an important part of certain family and social events.

Compared to other alcohols, ethanol has relatively low toxicity, while having a significant psychoactive effect. Drinking ethanol causes intoxication, as a result of which a person’s reaction speed and attention are reduced, coordination of movements and thinking are impaired. Excessive and/or regular consumption of alcohol causes drug addiction (alcoholism).

In 1975, the World Health Assembly decided to “consider alcohol to be a drug of detrimental health.” Currently, the toxicology of alcohol is well studied.

The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (vol. 2, p. 116) says that “alcohol is a narcotic poison.”

According to the current standard GOST 5964-93, ethyl alcohol is a flammable, colorless liquid with a characteristic odor.

In everyday life, alcoholic products are often collectively called alcohol. Alcohol abuse almost always leads to alcoholism in people predisposed to it. An overdose of alcoholic beverages under some conditions leads to poisoning (hangover) and even death.

It’s strange: the harm of alcoholic beverages has been scientifically proven, but sociological surveys show that our everyday ideas about alcohol often contradict scientific data. People tend to focus more on personal experience and your own feelings. If a person thinks that alcohol invigorates him, then he is unlikely to easily agree with the indisputable scientific fact that alcohol is a psychoactive substance with an inhibitory, rather than a stimulating, effect. But denying or ignoring science is pointless and harmful.

Part 1. Soviet anti-alcohol campaign

The anti-alcohol campaign in the USSR is a set of government measures to reduce alcohol consumption among the population under the general slogan “Fight drunkenness!” In the Soviet Union, attempts to combat drunkenness were made more than once. Currently, the anti-alcohol campaign that took place during the period 1985-1987, before and at the very beginning of Perestroika, is most famous. However, the fight against drunkenness was also carried out under Gorbachev’s predecessors (nevertheless, alcohol consumption in the USSR grew steadily). In 1958, a resolution was adopted by the Central Committee of the CPSU and the Soviet government “On strengthening the fight against drunkenness and on establishing order in the trade in strong alcoholic beverages.” The sale of vodka was prohibited in all public catering establishments (except for restaurants) located at train stations, airports, and station squares. The sale of vodka was not allowed in the immediate vicinity of industrial enterprises, educational institutions, children's institutions, hospitals, sanatoriums, or in places of public celebrations and recreation. On May 16, 1972, Resolution No. 361 “On measures to strengthen the fight against drunkenness and alcoholism” was published. It was supposed to reduce the production of strong drinks, but in return to expand the production of grape wine, beer and soft drinks. Liquor prices were also increased; production of vodka with strength 50 and 56° has been discontinued; the trading hours for alcoholic beverages with a strength of 30° and above were limited to the period from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; labor treatment centers were created, where people were forcibly sent; Scenes with drinking alcohol were cut from films.

On May 7, 1985, the resolutions of the CPSU Central Committee “On measures to overcome drunkenness and alcoholism” and Resolution of the USSR Council of Ministers N 410 “On measures to overcome drunkenness and alcoholism, the eradication of moonshine” were adopted. According to these documents, all party, administrative and law enforcement agencies were ordered to decisively and universally strengthen the fight against drunkenness and alcoholism, and a significant reduction in the production of alcoholic beverages, the number of places for their sale and the time of sale was envisaged. On May 16, 1985, the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR “On strengthening the fight against drunkenness and alcoholism, eradicating moonshine” was issued, which supported this fight with administrative and criminal penalties. The corresponding decrees were adopted simultaneously in all union republics. Trade unions, the entire education and health care system, all public organizations and even creative unions (unions of writers, composers, etc.) were also necessarily involved in carrying out this task. The execution was unprecedented in scale. For the first time, the state began to reduce income from alcohol, which was a significant item in the state budget, and began to sharply reduce its production. At that time, many vineyards were cut down.

The initiators of the campaign were members of the Politburo of the CPSU Central Committee M. S. Solomentsev and E. K. Ligachev, who, following Yuri Andropov, believed that one of the reasons for the stagnation of the Soviet economy was the general decline in the moral values ​​of the “builders of communism” and a negligent attitude towards work, for which mass alcoholism was “guilty.”

After the start of the fight against drunkenness in the country, a large number of stores selling alcoholic beverages were closed. Severe measures were taken against drinking alcohol in parks and public gardens, as well as on long-distance trains. Those caught drunk had serious problems at work. Banquets related to the defense of dissertations were prohibited, and alcohol-free weddings began to be promoted. Strict demands to abstain from alcohol began to be imposed on Party members.

Campaign results. Officially registered per capita sales of alcohol in the country have decreased by more than 2.5 times over the years of the anti-alcohol campaign. In 1985-1987, a decrease in state sales of alcohol was accompanied by an increase in life expectancy, an increase in the birth rate, and a decrease in mortality. During the anti-alcohol decree, 5.5 million newborns were born per year, 500 thousand more per year than every year over the previous 20-30 years, and 8% fewer weakened ones were born. Life expectancy for men increased by 2.6 years and reached its highest value in the entire history of Russia, and the overall crime rate decreased.

At the same time, the real decrease in alcohol consumption was less significant, mainly due to the development of moonshine, as well as the illegal production of alcoholic beverages at state enterprises. Increased moonshine production has led to a shortage of retail sales raw materials for moonshine - sugar, and then cheap sweets. The previously existing shadow market for artisanal alcohol received significant development during these years - vodka joined the list of goods that needed to be “obtained.” Despite a decrease in the overall number of alcohol poisonings, the number of poisonings from alcohol-containing surrogates and non-alcoholic intoxicants has increased (for example, the practice of adding dichlorvos to beer in order to increase intoxication has become widespread), and the number of substance abusers has also increased. However, the increase in the consumption of “illegal” alcohol did not compensate for the decrease in the consumption of “legal” alcohol, as a result of which a real reduction in overall alcohol consumption was still observed, which explains those beneficial consequences (decrease in mortality and crime, increase in the birth rate and life expectancy ), which were observed during the anti-alcohol campaign.

Aimed at the “moral improvement” of Soviet society, the anti-alcohol campaign in reality achieved completely different results. In the mass consciousness, it was perceived as an absurd initiative of the authorities, directed against the “common people.” For people widely involved in the shadow economy and the party-economic elite (where drinking alcohol was a nomenklatura tradition), alcohol was still available, and ordinary consumers were forced to “get” it.

Unique collection grape varieties were destroyed.

The decline in alcohol sales caused serious damage to the Soviet budgetary system, as annual retail turnover fell by an average of 16 billion rubles.

Massive dissatisfaction with the campaign and the economic crisis that began in the USSR in 1987 forced the Soviet leadership to curtail the fight against the production and consumption of alcohol. On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the anti-alcohol campaign in 2005, Gorbachev remarked in an interview: “due to mistakes made, a good big deal ended ingloriously.”

According to a 2005 VTsIOM survey, 58% of Russians generally have a positive assessment of the anti-alcohol campaign of the second half of the 80s. However, only 15% believe that it has brought positive results.

Part 2. Anti-alcohol campaign in modern Russia

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is seriously concerned about the problem of drunkenness. Alcoholism has become a national disaster in Russia, Dmitry Medvedev said, opening an extended meeting on this problem in Sochi in August 2009. The President cited data according to which each person, including infants, consumes about eighteen liters of pure alcohol per year. This figure is twice the level that the World Health Organization considers dangerous to human life. Every year in Russia, up to half a million people die from alcohol-related diseases.

Medvedev noted that measures already taken by the state to reduce alcohol consumption could not improve the situation. "Behind last years A number of measures have already been taken - the conditions for the production and circulation of alcoholic products have been tightened, the advertising of alcohol has been seriously limited, the punishment for driving while intoxicated has become more severe, but there is no talk of qualitative changes yet,” admitted the head of state. “To be frank, I think there is no need to talk about any changes at all; nothing has helped.”

The President stated that it is necessary to develop a set of measures to eradicate this vice, which would make the fight against alcoholism more effective, systematic and long-term. “The most important thing is that people should have the opportunity to lead a normal, full, healthy, sober lifestyle,” the president noted, adding that this can only be achieved on the basis of normal living standards in our country. “In a poor country, drunkenness cannot be overcome,” he emphasized.

At the same time, according to him, “an increase in prosperity does not automatically lead to a decrease in alcohol consumption.” At the same time, the head of state referred to the example of the 90s, when Russians lived worse, but consumed less alcohol.

Dmitry Medvedev also proposed wider use preventive measures to combat alcoholism, taking into account the experience of foreign countries in this area. “Life has already proven that administrative prohibitions alone cannot solve the problem, and the closest attention should be paid to the prevention of alcoholism, especially among young people,” he said. - This needs to be done on a new one, on modern level using all the capabilities of the education system and funds mass media“, taking into account the psychology and interests of young people, the new generation, that is, working without tired templates and involving various public organizations in such work.”

According to the president, drunkenness is an age-old problem, and it cannot be solved in a short time, but many foreign countries have gone this way. “And no matter how many different things we say, that this is embedded in our behavioral stereotypes, that it is practically impossible to fight this in Russia, we must admit that these countries have been quite successful in these matters,” Medvedev said.

Currently, the consumption of low-alcohol drinks and beer is rapidly growing among teenagers - a third of boys and almost 20% of girls drink such drinks every day or every other day. In this regard, Medvedev proposed changing the approach to their production and circulation and extending to them general principles regulations and the same restrictions that apply to spirits. According to the president, “this may entail various consequences, we will need to calculate them, but we need to make an effective decision in this area.” This, the head of state noted, concerns both the ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages near schools, leisure centers, sports facilities, as well as requirements for retail premises where they can be sold, and restrictions on advertising of such drinks. “I consider these proposals very serious. They require careful analysis and fairly detailed discussion,” the head of state emphasized.

Chairman of the Federation Council Sergei Mironov believes that it is necessary to introduce an absolute ban on advertising of tobacco and alcohol in Russia, since the statistics of human mortality due to the mentioned vices are “simply shocking.” “The scale of alcoholization in our country already threatens national security, and our country ranks fourth in the world in terms of smoking. Every year in Russia, 400 thousand schoolchildren aged 10 to 13 start smoking,” the leader of A Just Russia noted in mid-autumn 2009 and added that his party has already developed a bill that provides not only a ban on advertising of tobacco and smoking , but also conducting active anti-alcohol and anti-tobacco propaganda. “Our bill proposes daily public service announcements on TV channels and radio stations about the dangers of drinking alcohol and smoking. This will be a kind of anti-advertising,” the speaker emphasized.

Anti-alcohol and anti-tobacco videos broadcast on absolutely all TV channels and information media, according to Mironov, should last at least 2-3 minutes. Each television and radio channel, according to the bill, must allocate about 9 minutes of airtime daily for social advertising, including during prime time. The Speaker of the Federation Council is confident that State Duma deputies will approve his proposal without any delay.

It is important to note that back in February 2009, Channel One began an on-air campaign about the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption. The “Take Care of Yourself” video series explains the harm that alcohol causes to the human body. The videos are aired several times throughout the day. Each video is dedicated to a separate organ of the human body that is exposed to alcohol. For example, in the video “Intestines” the following information is given: “When alcohol enters the intestines, it irritates and destroys the protective layer of the mucous membrane. Microflora is destroyed and blood circulation is disrupted. Non-healing erosions appear in areas exposed to the aggressive effects of alcohol. They degenerate into ulcers, and subsequently into malignant tumors.”

In general, the issue of the need to conduct an anti-alcohol campaign is quite vigorously discussed in the public.

Thus, the All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion (VTsIOM) found out how widespread support a new anti-alcohol campaign would enjoy if a decision was made to carry it out, what measures Russians would support most, and also how many fellow citizens had heard about Dmitry Medvedev’s initiative to adoption of a state program to combat alcoholism and other bad habits.

Two-thirds of Russians (66%) are aware of Dmitry Medvedev’s initiative to adopt a state program to combat alcoholism and other bad habits. The older the respondents, the more they know about this initiative of the president (53% - among 18-24 year olds, 65% - 25-34 year olds, 67% - 35-44 year olds, 70% - 45-59 year olds, 71% - among those 60 years and older).

The majority of Russians (65%) would support a new anti-alcohol campaign. Would not support such measures Russian authorities only a quarter of Russians surveyed (25%). Women are more inclined to support the anti-alcohol campaign in our country. 71% of Russian women support such actions; among men, slightly more than half (57%) support the fight against alcoholism. A third of Russians (32%) and almost every fifth Russian woman (18%) are against the anti-alcohol campaign in their state.

The more affluent the respondents, the more often they speak out in support of the new anti-alcohol campaign (supporters are: 70% in the group with high self-esteem of their own financial situation and 62% among low-income Russians).

In the ranking of the most popular measures to combat alcoholism, the leaders are: a ban on the sale of alcohol to young people under 21 (63%), a ban on advertising of any type of alcohol, incl. and low-alcohol drinks (57%), promoting a healthy, sober lifestyle (47%). Among the “middle peasants” are: the introduction of criminal liability for drinking alcoholic beverages and appearing in a state of intoxication in in public places(34%), restricting the sale of alcohol in the morning (31%), compulsory treatment for alcoholism (29%), development of modern medical methods of treating alcoholism, including non-traditional ones (25%), increasing prices for alcoholic products (19%) . The list is completed by: the organization of Temperance Societies, Alcoholics Anonymous (15%) and the introduction of a ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages (prohibition) (10%).

Only 3% of respondents believe that nothing needs to be done at all, “the state should not interfere in this.” Women and poorer Russians are more strict about the problem of alcoholism: they support more (and to a greater extent) proposals to combat this disease. Low-income Russians support only two methods less often than their wealthier fellow citizens - raising prices for alcoholic beverages and promoting a healthy, sober lifestyle.

It would seem that the regulation of such a problematic area as alcohol is in dire need of reform and active measures, but nevertheless there are also skeptics who believe that the new anti-alcohol campaign of the Russian government has a lot of miscalculations and could result in negative economic consequences. Experts point out that the developers’ mistakes will negatively affect tax revenues to the consolidated budget, hit several sectors of the economy, and also worsen the socio-demographic situation of the country. The anti-alcohol campaign launched in Russia will not at all lead to the results that the president and the government expect from it. For example, by relying in the fight against alcohol on increasing beer excise taxes, the authorities risk three problems: a decrease in tax revenues to the budget, a reduction in production volumes and workforce in the brewing and agricultural industries, and, finally, a massive transition of Russians to cheap vodka, which will lead to an increase in population mortality.

This is such a controversial area: on the one hand, the state must strictly control the production and sale of alcoholic products, on the other hand, such restrictions will contribute to an even greater spread of illegal (underground, and often low-quality) products, which in turn will damage the country’s economy, and the health of the nation.

Anti-alcohol campaigns - government measures to reduce alcohol consumption among the population - were organized in the USSR more than once, but, perhaps, never worked. In addition to Gorbachev’s, this one has worked...

In 1917, the revolutionaries duplicated the norm of the tsarist government: “until further notice, the production of alcohol and any “alcoholic beverages” is prohibited; in 1918, during the Civil War, this was simply a beautiful declaration. In 1929, the government successfully buried the beer industry with subsequent bans (factories were closed) and stimulated moonshine production. In 1958, they took away from the people perhaps the last consolation in the post-war devastation - they closed the sale of vodka in public catering (except for restaurants), at train stations, at airports, on station squares, near industrial enterprises, educational institutions, children's institutions, hospitals, and sanatoriums. , in places of mass celebrations and recreation.

Narrow-minded wives (“Now you will drink less!” - “No, now you will eat less!”), moonshiners and counterfeit sellers rejoiced at the bans and, accordingly, the rise in prices for “alcohol.” Without fail, all this was served “at the numerous requests of the workers,” the economic effect was calculated, but people, accustomed to difficulties and overcoming, always found what they needed: “If I decide something, I’ll definitely drink it!”

There were some other unconvincing half-measures in 1972: vodka of 50 and 56% strength disappeared, 30% strength appeared, and they intended to replace strong drinks with grape wine and beer. One of the most striking achievements of that campaign was the emergence of labor treatment centers, LTP, where men were sent based on statements from their wives with the testimony of their always ready neighbors. There was even the word “eltepeshnik”: “Uh-oh, drunk, unfortunate eltepeshnik, lying around - drunk under the fence!” - “I’ll sober up and get up!” And your legs will remain crooked as they were!”

But the most memorable remains so far (until the next achievements of administrative thought) the anti-alcohol campaign of 1985 (1985−1987), “Gorbachev’s” - it has not yet reached such insanity, despite all the success of the Soviet government in this regard. There is a suspicion that parallel camber Soviet Union was somewhat overshadowed by events and experiences around the alcohol topic.

No, of course they drank a lot. According to reference publications, “alcohol consumption, which did not exceed 5 liters per person per year in any Russian Empire, nor in the era of Stalin, reached 10.5 liters of registered alcohol by 1984, and, taking into account underground moonshine, could exceed 14 liters.” However, for a moment, it was in the 60-70-80s that the country reached the peak of its economic and military power: they flew into space, built the BAM, helped half the world, and even more so “in the field of ballet”, they covered the whole world, like a bull to a sheep. Explain everything by rising oil prices?

...And so, on May 7, 1985, the Resolution of the CPSU Central Committee “On measures to overcome drunkenness and alcoholism” and Resolution of the USSR Council of Ministers No. 410 “On measures to overcome drunkenness and alcoholism, the eradication of moonshine” were adopted; on May 16, the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR was issued. On strengthening the fight against drunkenness and alcoholism, eradicating moonshine,” which supported this fight with administrative and criminal penalties. And so it began.

Liquor and vodka stores and the corresponding departments were closed everywhere, the prices for vodka were raised over and over again (where is that “Andropovka” at four seventy?!), the trading hours for it were reduced, banquets were prohibited, at weddings “alcoholic drink” was poured from teapots into tea cups , taxi drivers made wild gambles on the contents of their trunks, people were injured and even died in huge, demonstration-like queues for booze, they were fired from their jobs, alcohol scenes were cut out from theatrical productions and films, Gorbachev was called the “mineral secretary”, in Russia, Ukraine, Moldova and other republics of the USSR, vineyards were “shaved off” with bulldozers (viticulture was additionally strangled by increased taxes), illegal alcohol production flourished...

And finally, the budget collapsed. It collapsed quickly - until 1985, alcohol provided about 25% of revenues from retail trade; due to high prices for alcohol, prices for bread, milk, sugar and other products were subsidized (remember: “Now you will drink less!” - “No, Now you will eat less!”). The budget of 1986 came to an end.

“We faced a whole bunch of problems: an astronomical jump in shadow income and the accumulation of initial private capital, a rapid increase in corruption, the disappearance of sugar from the sale for the purpose of home brewing... In short, the results turned out to be exactly the opposite of what was expected, and the treasury was missing huge budget sums, which there was nothing to reimburse,” - V. F. Grushko, a “KGB officer”, by the way, the first deputy chairman of the KGB of the USSR, knew the situation later in his memoirs “The Fate of an Intelligence Officer”.

In addition to the numbers, people perceived what was happening as an absurd initiative of the authorities directed against the “common people.” In general, “we wanted the best, but it turned out as always.” Slowly the idiocy began to subside, no one officially canceled it - it somehow deflated on its own, somehow along with the country...

It is known that Mikhail Gorbachev, under whom all this happened, later wrote: “Because of the mistakes made, a good big deal ended ingloriously.” He, however, led a great country to an inglorious collapse. Although, of course, these are two different stories- but at feasts they are discussed together.

On March 11, 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev took the post of General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee and became the last head of what was then a large and powerful power. He began his activities with a global restructuring of the system, one of the first stages of which was the anti-alcohol campaign.

The purpose of Gorbachev's anti-alcohol campaign

Gorbachev immediately set a course for actively accelerating the socio-economic development of the state and began to implement the anti-alcohol program, which they began to jointly prepare in the Central Committee under Brezhnev. However, Leonid Ilyich himself did not consider it a priority and did not support it.

It must be admitted that Gorbachev had the best intentions. In an interview, he said that the situation with mass drunkenness had reached a critical point by that time. Almost half of the adult male population has crossed the line of alcoholism, and women have also become addicted to the drink. Drunkenness at work, a large number of road accidents, children abandoned by alcoholic parents to the mercy of fate - all these problems required an immediate solution. And then Mikhail Sergeevich decided to deal with the situation radically, as they say, he cut from the shoulder.

Global plans and their implementation

On May 16, 1985, the Presidium under the leadership of Gorbachev issued a decree “On strengthening the fight against drunkenness.” The global anti-alcohol campaign has begun to gain momentum.

The main ways of implementation, tangible for the population:

● increase in alcohol prices by 2 or more times;
● a widespread reduction in the number of liquor outlets;
● limitation of sales time (exclusively from 14.00 to 19.00);
● tougher penalties for drinking alcohol in public places (including city parks, railway trains).

The campaign was launched on a grand scale. Propaganda was carried out everywhere healthy image life, non-alcoholic weddings, anniversaries and other festive events. Non-alcoholic champagne appeared on sale, which was offered to replace the real thing. But the excesses did not end there either; this was just the harmless tip of the “non-alcoholic” iceberg.

Consequences of the anti-alcohol campaign of 1985-1990

According to the decree of the Central Committee, the people were not ready to give up their addiction and stop drinking. Simultaneously with the start of Gorbachev's alcohol-free campaign, the development of the Soviet era of moonshine, underground trade in alcohol, and profiteering in alcoholic beverages began. Enterprising citizens and taxi drivers sold moonshine and vodka under the counter. The main “raw material” for home brewing, sugar, disappeared from the stores, which soon began to be sold using coupons, and long lines lined up at the liquor departments.

The use of dubious alcohol substitutes led to massive outbreaks of poisoning. They drank technical alcohol, cologne, denatured alcohol and other dangerous substances containing degrees. Drug dealers tried to partially fill the “vacuum niche” - it was then that the growth of drug addiction began, which became a global problem.

But the greatest damage was caused to the vineyards. According to available data, about 30% were destroyed - this is a third more than the losses during the Second World War. In Moldova, Crimea, Kuban, and the North Caucasus, some unique collection grape varieties were completely exterminated, and breeding work was prohibited. The persecution of talented breeders who devoted their entire lives to this began.

Anti-alcohol shock therapy also caused serious damage to the country’s economy, which was not in the best position from the very beginning of perestroika.

Positive results or embellished facts?

After the start of the anti-alcohol campaign, local people happily reported an increase in the birth rate, a decrease in crime and an increase in life expectancy. However, in reality it didn’t look quite like that. It was in those years that the real rampant crime began, so it would be more correct to call the data on a reduction in crime wishful thinking. And historians and political scientists are more inclined to associate the increase in the birth rate and increase in life expectancy with the fact that people were promised a beautiful life and they believed the slogans and perked up.

Let's sum it up

The anti-alcohol campaign in no country in the world has produced the expected results. It is necessary to combat drunkenness not with prohibitions, but with raising the standard of living.