Vodka produced in the USSR. Soviet drinks

Vodka in the Soviet Union - it is about it that we would like to tell a little more today, namely, what the alcohol industry was like in the first half of the 20th century in Russia. However, I would like to talk about such a serious topic in a bit of a joke, so if you are not a big fan historical facts, then you can immediately scroll down to the Soviet jokes. And I'll start by talking about myself. It just so happens that my love for cocktails began with the drink "Screwdriver". Only then, of course, we did not know this, but simply drank vodka with orange juice. Then the time came for the more expensive and so attractive “Blue Lagoon”! .. And I seriously, with a little pretension, told everyone that this is my favorite cocktail. Because at the age of 19, having a favorite cocktail seemed very cool to me. What do these two cocktails have in common, my dear non-sober drinkers? That's right - vodka.

According to the refined theory of historical materialism, an intermediate stage is inevitable between socialism and communism - “alcoholism”.

folk wisdom

The history of Soviet vodka officially began in 1923 - after the abolition of Prohibition, introduced by the last Russian emperor, Nicholas II, 9 years before. During Prohibition, of course, alcohol was drunk great amount. In 1913 alone, according to the statistics of the General Directorate of non-refundable expenses, the stock of alcohol at a 40-degree strength was more than 37 million buckets.

However, initially all USSR vodka labels did not contain the word “vodka” - the famous drink was called “bread wine”. (“The strength of bread wine (vodka) is determined by the decision of the Council of Labor and Defense.” Decree of the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR of September 17, 1932 on the reorganization of the alcohol and alcohol industry) This name was later recorded in official documents, leaving the name “vodka” out of brackets.

GLAVESPIRT

There were other restrictions that were reflected in the design of Soviet vodka labels - for example, a ban on advertising in any form. Advertisers managed to get around it, for example, using a 3-color image, which was allowed to be used on the label. There are few flowers and it seems like it's not advertising. Nevertheless, talented artists managed to create ingenious logos and drawings of vodka brands that remained in the memory not only of the Russian people, but also in hundreds of foreign countries. Some of the labels have become such famous and recognizable brands that they have not changed to this day - and the export of these types of vodka, created according to the old Soviet recipes, beyond the borders of Russia does not dry out. Well, in the memory of the older generation, the inscriptions that contained labels of USSR vodka still evoke a nostalgic smile. And concerning the price (included in many jokes, films and even songs), and with now unusual indications such as “price without the cost of dishes”, “for internal use" and others.

For a long time, the main body regulating the alcohol turnover was the Main Directorate of the Alcohol and Spirits Industry of the People's Commissariat for Supply of the USSR or, in short, Glavspirt. According to the decrees, this department regulated the production and sale of all alcohol-containing products in all territories of the Union. The state, of course, had a monopoly on alcohol. There were few options in terms of strength:

Liqueurs and tinctures - not higher than 40 degrees;

Cognacs and liqueurs - no higher than 45.

Norms

There were also norms of “alcohol for household needs” with a strength of no higher than 90 degrees, but for some reason, an exception was made for Yakutia - no higher than 96. The Yakuts knew something, they knew something ...

It's really nice that Glavspirt didn't forget about the ingredients good cocktails i.e. liqueurs. Liquor production got a low start in 1925 and worked exclusively according to state standards and included vodka without fail, occasionally replacing it with port wine or cognac. For all factories, their own recipes and cooking technology were developed. However, the common name for this category of drinks, “liqueurs”, was not very suitable, and therefore the category was divided into three groups, according to the content of sugars and alcohol in the drink: liqueurs proper; liqueurs; tinctures.

LIQUOR

Liqueurswere made on aromatic spirits and alcoholized infusions obtained from essential oil raw materials, as well as on alcoholized fruit juices, fruit drinks and ethyl rectified alcohol highest purification. In liqueurs, a pleasant peculiar taste and aroma, characteristic of each individual type of liqueur, was especially appreciated, which is why they were served as dessert drinks after a meal - lunch or dinner. To the most common dessert liqueurs in the USSR were: Apricot, Plum, Fragrant, Vanilla, Cherry, Dogwood, Colchis, Coffee, Lemon, Raspberry, Tangerine, Almond, New Year's, Sea buckthorn, Pink, Blackcurrant, Chocolate, Anniversary.

LIQUID

liqueurs- one of the types of alcoholic beverages. Produced on fortified fruit juices, fruit drinks, rectified ethyl alcohol of the highest purity with the addition of sugar and citric acid, and in some also cognac. The most popular liqueurs in the USSR can be safely called the following: Quince, Plum, Cherry, Dessert, Golden Autumn, Casserole, Cornelian, Strawberry, Kurortnaya, Raspberry, Northern, Slivyanka (on fresh plum), Slivyanka (on dried plum), Spotykach, Thorn, Tea, Blackcurrant.

TINCTURE

Tinctures- one of the types of alcoholic beverages. Tinctures are divided into bitter strong, bitter weak and sweet. To bitter strong tinctures include: Anise, Cherry, Mountain oak, Bitter, Erofeich, St. Apple. Sweet tinctures include: Apricot of two types (dried and fresh apricots), Orange, Cowberry, Cherry, etc.

Glavspirt, as the main governing body for alcohol affairs, was reorganized in 1956. The issue of alcohol consumption by the population was still in charge of the Ministry Food Industry, and vodka itself occupied a special place in the hearts of Soviet citizens. This was reflected in popular rumor and anecdotes, which officially did not exist. Therefore, at the end of our conversation today, the promised humor.

At what stage is the fight against alcoholism?

Successfully passed the first stage: liquidated appetizer!

Soviet old man caught a goldfish.

She offered the fulfillment of three wishes for liberation. The old man agreed.

What will be your first wish?

Do this, - says the old man, - so that the water in the whole sea turns into vodka!

The fish waved its tail and granted the old man's wish.

What is your second wish?

Make sure that the water in the river that flows into this sea also turns into vodka!

The fish waved its tail and granted the second wish.

Old man, what will be your last wish?

The old man thought, thought, and says:

Okay, put half a liter and get out!

Brezhnev's increase in prices for vodka

Was - five, became - eight. We won't stop drinking anyway.

Tell Ilyich: we can handle ten.

Well, if there are more, then things will go as in Poland.

If it's 25, we'll take the Winter one again

- Dad, dad, vodka has become more expensive! Are you going to drink less now?

- No, son, now you will eat less!

L. Brezhnev arrives at the factory, walks around the shop, approaches the lathe and asks the turner: “Can you work if you drink a glass of vodka?”

In those distant times, vodka was made from three types of alcohol: Supreme purification», « Suite" And " Extra". Alcohol " Supreme purification”chased from a mixture of grain, potatoes, sugar beets, molasses, raw sugar and some other bourda in arbitrary proportions. " Suite" And " Extra"- only from grain with an admixture of potatoes and something else, but with varying degrees of purification. Cheap varieties of vodka were then made from alcohol. Supreme purification", and more expensive - from" Suite" And " Extras”, hence the difference in vodka prices.

Below are the prices in 1981-1986. in the period between the rise in price of vodka under Brezhnev in September 1981 until the next rise in price of vodka under Gorbachev in August 1986 with the cost of a bottle (the “deposit” price of dishes in 1981 rose from 12 kopecks to 20 kopecks) for a bottle of 0.5 liters . on those Soviet vodkas that I tried.

"Crankshaft", folk vodka from the times of the USSR

Soviet brand of vodka, most popular in the 1950s and 1960s.

It cost 2 rubles 12 kopecks and was the cheapest vodka in the USSR.

There were still Moscow " And " Stolichnaya ", which cost 2 rubles 82 kopecks, and they were expensive vodkas - for professors and directors.

"Crankshaft- this, of course, was her popular name.

In fact, it was just "vodka", without additions.

This is what the people called it, “crankshaft”: firstly, because the word “vodka” on the label was written precisely by the crankshaft method - well, or like checkers on a taxi: a - a little higher, o - a little lower, d - again a little higher, and so on.

Well, and secondly, if you drink, you will fall on your knees!

An anecdote has been preserved from those times: a husband shouts to his wife standing on the balcony:

Claudia! Throw 12 cents!

So they crumble!

And you wrap them in two rubles!

We will talk about Soviet vodka bitters and sweet tinctures, wines, cognac and beer somehow separately, but about vodka I remember (or it seems to me that I remember) that:

« Russian vodka"- before the rise in price in 1981, it cost 4 rubles. 12 kopecks, after - 5 rubles. 30 kop. The most common, massive and disgusting vodka, with a sharp and bad smell and the same taste (despite all attempts to flavor this product with cinnamon). I drank from hopelessness and lack of money by drunks and students.

« Extra" And " Starorusskaya"- before the rise in price and after they cost the same, they did not differ in taste or smell from" Russian and gradually disappeared from sale.

« Moscow special"- before the rise in price in 1981, it cost 4 rubles. 12 kopecks, after - 5 rubles. 30 kop. The oldest of the Soviet mass vodka brands (the pre-revolutionary brand was restored in the USSR in 1925). " special » it had the addition baking soda And acetic acid. was better" Russian ”, but not by much, and with all other things being equal, “ Moscow ».

« Stolichnaya"- before the rise in price in 1981, it cost 4 rubles. 42 kopecks, after - 6 rubles. 20 kop. In the 1930s, at the suggestion of Mikoyan, the USSR decided to expand the Soviet vodka assortment, and in 1938 the recipe for a new vodka was registered in the USSR. It was this vodka that was actively imported to the West, and if the bourgeois wanted really Soviet vodka, he took " Capital ”, in connection with which she appeared in many Hollywood films. The quality of the export Capital ”, of course, could not be compared with the internal Soviet one and was several orders of magnitude higher, but the internal one was also good. Fortress - 40% vol., but there were also variations in 37.5% vol., 45.7% vol., and even 57% vol. How this affected the price, I do not remember. I drank mostly at the festive table.

« Wheat"- before the rise in price in 1981, it cost 4 rubles. 42 kopecks, after - 6 rubles. 20 kop. Appeared in the late 70s and became a very common vodka. It was believed that it is based on wheat raw materials and has a special "wheat" softness. At first, they say, she had. But when I started drinking vodka, then " Wheat ' was not much different from ' Russian ", although it was more expensive. I drank when there were no others, better.

« Embassy"- before the rise in price in 1981, it cost 4 rubles. 42 kopecks, after - 6 rubles. 20 kop. Very soft and good vodka, but for some reason it was not appreciated by men. Sometimes it was purchased specifically for ladies, with the aim of their subsequent seduction.

« hunting"- before the rise in price in 1981, it cost 4 rubles. 42 kopecks, after - 6 rubles. 20 kop. I didn't use it much, but I remember that it was good vodka. The strength of this vodka was in several variations: it was produced with 45% vol., 51% vol., 56% vol. Rarely met, and seldom drank.

« Siberian"- before the rise in price in 1981, it cost 4 rubles. 42 kopecks, after - 6 rubles. 20 kop. At a higher strength (45% vol.) It had a very mild taste, but did not apply to classic vodkas not only for this reason - some kind of mineral water. Very good vodka, and therefore also rare.

« Ukrainian gorilka" (or similar " Ancient Kiev”) - were sold in the original green square bottles of 0.75 liters, and I don’t remember the prices for them. Although they were Ukrainian, they were not much more common here " hunting " or " Siberian ". They were often ordered by visiting business travelers and guests from the fraternal republics, and were taken there as a present. Their fortress was also 45% by volume, and they added some aromatic spirits with honey. good vodka and drank, too, mostly at the festive table.

« Stark"- imitation of the Polish starka. At first it had the inscription " Old Vodka ", which then changed to " Bitters ". Fortress - 43% vol. For an amateur. I was not her fan, so I do not know the price.

« Golden ring "- very expensive vodka (I don't know the exact price, but 10-15 rubles) in a cardboard box. They said that she was exported, although she met on sale. I tried it once at a party - it seemed that this was just an export version " Capital "(Which also met on sale in" birches"and special distributors).

Vodka labels of the same brand differed depending on many factors: time of manufacture, place of manufacture, export option, etc. In addition, some regional distilleries of the Union republics produced local vodka, which did not go further than the region into trade. I wanted to post labels of Soviet vodkas, which I have never tried, but there were too many of them.

Well, the latest mass Soviet vodka " andropovka ", which was distinguished by the extreme laconism of the label: the word" Vodka”And a finely-finely line of various GOST numbers there (it resembled the label of the old Soviet “ Vodka » of the 70s, which disappeared in the early 80s). It was introduced by Andropov when he came to power and it cost 4 rubles 20 kopecks (the price decreased from the cheapest by almost 10%, i.e. by 60 kopecks, although before that the prices for vodka only rose in the Union). This decline then had nothing to do with the real economy, and was populism clean water aimed at winning people's love for the new General Secretary.

It went on sale by September 1, 1983 and was first called “first-grader” or “schoolgirl”, and then it was steadily called “andropovka” (although there was another decoding of the name: “ IN from ABOUT n D obry TO what A ndropov"). This vodka did not last long and after two or three years, during the Gorbachev era, it quietly faded away, although it was the Soviet vodka hit of the 1983-1984 season.

And some still drank this too, since the “Triple” cost then 98 kopecks and contained 64% alcohol. I tried to try it once in the army - but when diluted with water, it turned so milky and warmed up so much that I sniffed it, shuddered and changed my mind ...

In the comments, please take into account that in the USSR, in the production of vodka, not distilled water was used, as it is now (which, as they say, “killed” vodka), but water, although purified, but natural. And since the most common Soviet vodkas were produced in each region, then with the same alcohol for everyone, natural water (which greatly affects the taste of vodka) was different everywhere. Therefore, vodkas under the same brand in different parts of the Soviet Union differed from each other, and sometimes quite significantly, and our memories of the quality of the vodkas I have listed may not coincide.

And it also seems to me that no matter what, in the USSR there was very lousy vodka (even the one that I just remembered as good). But unlike the current one, she had taste. Probably this

In Taste of a Parallel World...

In 1938, the recipe and trademark were registered in the USSR vodka "Capital". Vodka began to be produced only a few years later, in 1941, while the first bottle of Stolichnaya was produced in Leningrad.

Since 1971, vodka has been sold in the United States. The rights to distribute vodka were given to the American company PepsiCo (we all know Pepsi-Cola!), in exchange for the right to build a plant for the production of carbonated drinks in Novorossiysk. In America, our "Capital" received the stable name Stoli.
In post-Soviet times, there was, and is happening now, a terrible confusion with the owners of the Stolichnaya brand. At the moment this vodka is boycotted by gays and lesbians in the USA and England (as a Russian product), and vodka is produced in Latvia. There is no official production of this brand of Russian vodka in Russia.

Moscow special vodka or just Moscow vodka
is the national brand of Russian vodka, introduced in 1894 by the Russian State Vodka Monopoly. Its production was stopped (along with other spirits) with the introduction of a ban in Russia after the outbreak of the First World War. The brand was restored in the Soviet Union in 1925. Throughout its history, the Moscow bottle has been characterized by in green labels

In addition to water and alcohol, standard recipe for Moscow includes small amounts of baking soda and acetic acid. Moskovskaya is the only sort of Soviet vodka made from grain alcohol.

Vodka "Wheat"
The history of Wheat Vodka dates back to the 1970s. In fact, this is a new brand designed for domestic consumption. It was on this vodka, according to Leonid Parfyonov, that the screw cap was first used, only with this vodka did the understanding begin that the bottle could not be finished drinking, leaving "for later".

The label of this vodka was decorated with a picture, according to the same Leonid Parfyonov, "simply copied from the primer". The same native expanses, the same fields, stacks and village ... Everything is completely in the Russian style.

Siberian vodka
Appeared, like Pshenichnaya, in the 70s. It was distinguished by an increased strength in comparison with the "Wheat" and, like the "Wheat", had a wrapping cork. Initially intended for domestic consumption, it has found excellent overseas markets. The traditional design with a trio of faults, the name associated with the wild Russian region, or something else - now it’s hard to say for sure. However, it was at Sibirskaya that the technology for purifying vodka with activated carbon was first tested and then put into mass production.

Kuban
Although it was officially called vodka, it has always been a bitter tincture. At first, the label said "Russian vodka", but then, in the process of development, the words about vodka disappeared. And there was "bitters".

Russian
Let's just say it was a mass model. This vodka had a sharp and unpleasant taste and smell, despite all attempts to flavor the product with cinnamon. But it was produced everywhere, each republic had its own "Russian". Interestingly, it was also exported. The brand decayed and dilapidated, deteriorated. but... But the reincarnation of Russian vodka is currently taking place. And it's not the alcohol producers' fault. The Sochi Olympics are the main catalyst. I don’t say anything more, I suggest looking at the photo:

1970

In the late 60s - early 70s of the last century, several varieties of vodka were sold in the USSR, but the "Stolichnaya" variety was considered "folk" vodka.

The price of 0.5 liters of "Capital" at that time was 3 rubles. 07 kop. The label says "Price 2 rubles 95 k. without the cost of dishes." A half-liter bottle at that time cost 12 kopecks. Adding the price of vodka to the cost of dishes, we get 3 rubles. 07 kop. At this price, it was sold in stores.

There was also a number of drinks with a strength of 40 degrees at a price of 2 rubles. 87 kop. Some of them, for example "Chernigovskaya", had the status of "vodka", some - the status of "bitters". However, they appeared on sale relatively rarely, and those who wanted to drink "right now" could not seriously expect to buy "half a liter" cheaper than 3 rubles. "Capital" was always on sale.

1975

From 1972 to 1977, two varieties of vodka were the most accessible to the population.
One variety was called "Extra". A bottle of 0.5 liters of this vodka cost 4 rubles.

As you can see from the label, the letters "O" and "K" were located on the label a little lower than the rest of the letters and visually the word "VODKA" looked a little like the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine. Because vodka of this variety began to be popularly called "Crankshaft".

The second grade had no name, only the word "VODKA" was printed on the label. A bottle of 0.5 liters of this vodka cost 3 rubles. 62. kop. This variety was nicknamed by the people "Crankshaft".

1980

From 1977 to 1981, Russian vodka was the most popular among the people, costing 4 rubles. 42 kop. per bottle 0.5 l.

During this period, vodka "Wheat" also appeared. It cost 5 rubles. 13 kop.
Despite the fact that "Pshenichnaya" was on sale quite often (although not always, unlike "Russian"), it did not become "people's" vodka, mainly due to the fact that it was much more expensive with practically the same quality. "Russian".

Vodka in the USSR was a liquid currency, a solid repayment for the work of plumbers, private activities of tractor drivers, and a drink bribe for small entrepreneurs. They didn't drink vodka in the Soviet Union - they "ate" it. The name of vodka marked the milestones of the board of general secretaries. As we know, any change in the price of "bitter" influenced society and politics. Today we recalled the most famous turns in the price of alcohol in our history. Each of them can be called iconic…

"Rykovka"

In 1924, on the 10th anniversary of the introduction of Prohibition, the new Soviet state decided on a responsible but dangerous act - to allow the sale of vodka. Interesting memories of this were preserved in the then newspapers:

"On the first day of the 40-degree release, people on the streets ... cried, kissed, hugged. They started selling it at 11 o'clock in the morning, and by 4 o'clock all the shops were empty".

The cult needs folklore - the people have their own gradation of vodka dishes: " If anyone needs to buy a hundred, then they ask - give a pioneer, half a bottle - a Komsomol member and a bottle - a party member".

In line for vodka. Petrograd. 1920s

In Moscow, the sale of Soviet vodka began on October 4, 1925, on Sunday. Queues lined up at the stores selling alcohol, as in the 90s to McDonald's. On average, they sold 2,000 bottles a day.

The appearance of vodka on sale hit the industry with a butt, many workers did not go to work, and many of those who nevertheless decided on a labor feat "reached the standard" by dinner.

The most popular vodka in the history of Russia was nicknamed "rykovka" by the people, after the name of the chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Alexei Rykov. A half-liter bottle cost only a ruble. Its quality was, to put it mildly, disappointing.

"Rykovka" was even called "half-Rykovskaya", insisting that Comrade Rykov himself (the people stigmatized him as a bitter drunkard) in the Kremlin drinks vodka at 60 degrees, and the people get diluted, 30 degrees.

Alexei Rykov and Joseph Stalin, 1930s

With his "vodka initiative" Alexey Rykov became a popular hero of jokes. There is, for example, this one: Rykov got drunk after Lenin's death for two reasons: firstly, out of grief, and secondly, out of joy".

Vodka as an economic factor

In 1940, the average salary could buy 28 bottles of vodka, in 1950 - 29, in 1970 - 40. That is, a sharp decrease in the cost of "bitter" happened after Stalin's death. What happened under Stalin?

Stalin understood what he was getting into when he abolished the "dry law" in 1924. In a letter to Molotov dated September 1, 1930, he wrote that a military bloc was being formed around Poland. Gensek wrote:

" It is necessary to cast aside false shame and directly, openly go for the maximum increase in the production of vodka in order to ensure a real and serious defense of the country.".

Along with the development of the vodka industry, Stalin allowed the creation of sobriety societies in Russia. And these societies began to have a serious weight, gathered thousands of rallies. Even children took to the streets with propaganda posters: "Dad, don't drink!", "Dad, come home sober", "Not alcohol, but bread."

A great public outcry, which could result in the curtailment of vodka production, and as a result, cuts in the budget for the military-industrial complex, forced Stalin to close sobriety societies in the late 30s.

Stalin openly used "vodka manipulations" for political purposes. Serious alcoholization was caused by the introduction of "People's Commissar's 100 grams". The front-line soldiers who returned from the fronts could no longer do without vodka on the table.

Reform and the Decembrists

In the fifties of the last century, prices for vodka ranged from 21 rubles 20 kopecks for ordinary vodka ("knot"), up to 30 rubles 70 kopecks for a bottle of Stolichnaya. In 1961, a monetary reform was carried out and the price of vodka rose. Vodka "Suchok" disappeared, "Moskovskaya" began to cost 2 rubles 87 kopecks, "Stolichnaya" 3 rubles 12 kopecks.

The people composed poems: "Comrade believe, she will come - the old price for vodka ...". The previous prices, however, did not return, the bottles received foil corks with a "visor". In the future, to increase the price, decrees were no longer issued. They just produced vodka under a different "surname" and with a different price. So there were "Special", "Choice", "crankshaft", "Andropovskaya", "Russian", "Wheat" ...

It is interesting that at the same time a decree was issued according to which drunkards were imprisoned for 15 days and shaved bald. The decree was issued in December and everyone who suffered from it was teased as "Decembrists".

More popular "Pi"

In the early 70s, the numbers 3.62 were more familiar than pi. In May 1972, the Central Committee of the CPSU and the Council of Ministers of the USSR issued a resolution "On measures to strengthen the fight against drunkenness and alcoholism." At the same time, vodka rose in price to 3 rubles 62 kopecks, only one of its varieties remained on free sale, popularly referred to as "Crankshaft" (on the label, the inscription "Vodka" was made like a crankshaft).

At the same time, “bitter” began to be traded from 11 in the morning - this hour was called “Lenin’s” by wits: it turned out that if one of the commemorative rubles issued in 1970 on the 100th anniversary of the leader is attached to the watch dial, then Lenin, with his raised right hand, points exactly at 11 o'clock.

The price of vodka, the figures 3.62, have firmly entered the minds of the people, they were immortalized and works of art. For example, in Gaidai's film, the swindler Miloslavsky calls the phone number: "Additional three sixty-two."

Afghan factor

The rise in the price of vodka in the USSR in 1981 (the price rose to 5 rubles 30 kopecks) gave rise to a new round of folk art and revealed a deep relationship between alcohol and political changes.

If the vodka is five,
we will all take it.
If vodka becomes eight,
We still won't stop drinking.
Tell Ilyich -
we are ten on the shoulder!
If prices go up,
That we will do as in Poland.
If there are twenty-five
We will take the Winter again!

The rise in prices for vodka in 1981 is associated with the Afghan war. Every year, the USSR spent about 2-3 billion US dollars on the Afghan war. Soviet Union could afford it at the peak of oil prices, which was observed in 1979-1980. However, since November 1980, oil prices began to fall sharply, the increase in the price of vodka was a necessary measure.

The people did not begin to drink less, but began to spend more on alcohol, which is why the picture of "Russian drunkenness" became more and more gloomy.

"Andropovka"

One of the proven ways to stay alive is to put cheap vodka into circulation. Let its price be not much lower than the previous one, but it is provided with the title of "national product". famous vodka became Andropovka. Among the people, there was another decoding of the name of the product: "Here He is, What a Kind Andropov."

Price new bottle was 10% lower than the price of the cheapest vodka. "Andropovka" went on sale by September 1, 1983 and was first called "first-grader" or "schoolgirl".

The vodka that became legendary did not last long and after two or three years, during the Gorbachev era, it quietly faded away, although it was the Soviet vodka hit of the 1983-1984 season.

Gorbachevsky peak

One of the main points of Gorbachev's program was the fight against the alcoholization of the country. There were all the prerequisites for this: the country was drinking too much. Gorbachev raised prices sharply. Andropovka, which cost 4 rubles 70 kopecks before the start of the anti-alcohol campaign, disappeared from the shelves, and since August 1986 the cheapest vodka cost 9 rubles 10 kopecks.

Gorbachev's reforms damaged the Soviet budget system, as the annual retail turnover fell by an average of 16 billion rubles. The people responded very vividly to the changes. Ditties began to go: “For a week, until the second,” we will bury Gorbachev. If we dig up Brezhnev, we will continue to drink."

As the years have passed, we can say that all the advantages of the campaign, such as increasing the birth rate, have worked in the long term, and all the disadvantages have hit the country here and now. In the mid-80s, the USSR was no longer ready for the loss of 10-12% of tax revenues to the budget. In long queues for alcohol, the already low prestige of the leadership fell very low ...