Countries where alcohol is completely prohibited. Prohibition in Sweden

Prohibition laws are restrictive acts that governments and people resorted to, mainly in the 18th and 19th centuries, when vodka, which became widespread due to its ease of production and low prices, began to serve as the main means of getting people drunk.

Prohibition in Sweden.

One of the first countries to introduce restrictions on the sale of alcohol was Sweden. In 1865, the Gottenburg system was introduced in this country. The sale of alcohol was provided to joint-stock companies that had special permission from the community. Only 5-6% of the proceeds were given to them, the rest to the state. The sale of alcohol was allowed only in specially equipped establishments, with the obligatory presence of snacks. Without snacks, in special cases it was allowed to sell no more than 50 grams of alcohol. Money from the proceeds was not owed to the owners of the establishments; alcohol was not sold to children or drunks.

The Gottenburg system lasted until 1919, later it was replaced by the Bratt system. Under this system, only the head of the family or a person at least 21 years of age with a permanent job had the right to buy 4 liters of alcohol per month. Alcohol was sold using a card; the card was only valid for one store. This system still exists today.

Prohibition in Iceland and Norway.

Prohibition in Iceland was introduced in 1912. Under pressure from Spain, which demanded the import of its wines under the threat of stopping purchases of Icelandic fish, Prohibition was repealed in 1923.

In Norway, a ban on the production and sale of alcohol was introduced in 1919. Spain, France, and Italy demanded its cancellation, threatening to stop purchasing fish and fish products. In 1926 the ban was lifted. During the ban, consumption decreased from 20 liters to 3 liters per capita. It is currently the lowest in Europe.

Prohibition in Finland.

On June 1, 1919, a law was introduced in Finland giving the state a monopoly right to production, import and sale alcoholic drinks.

The response to the harsh measures was moonshine and alcohol smuggling across the Gulf of Finland. Up to 6 million liters of illegal booze were brought into the country every year. In any Helsinki restaurant, if you knew the correct terms, you could order tea or coffee fortified with alcohol.

In 1931, the state organized a referendum, with a majority vote it was decided to abolish Prohibition, but alcohol still remained under state control. You could only buy alcohol in specialized Alco stores. There are only 32 such stores in Helsinki. Moreover, they work from 10 to 18, on Saturday and Sunday - a day off. Until recently, the cheapest Finnish vodka cost more than 20 euros. Under pressure from public opinion, on March 1, 2004, many restrictions on the sale of alcohol were lifted.

Prohibition in the USA.

In 1920, the US Congress passed Prohibition as the 18th Amendment to the Constitution. Despite this, some states did not pass such a law; subsequently, clandestine production and export of alcohol to other US states was organized in these states. Positive Action law on health, increased productivity was reflected within three years. Subsequently, the mafia organized the secret production of alcohol and began smuggling alcohol. As a result, the law was blocked by the mafia and representatives of big business standing behind them. By the end of the 1920s, the mafia's income from the sale of alcohol exceeded $2 billion a year. To enforce Prohibition, the government appointed about 2.5 thousand agents. Having spent $12 million to combat Prohibition violators, the US government repealed the law in 1932.

As it was in Russia.

On July 18, 1914, in connection with the outbreak of war, the tsarist government of Russia introduced a ban on the sale of alcohol during mobilization, which was then extended until the end of the war. The introduction of the ban was preceded, in addition to the active work of the Russian intelligentsia, by three years of debate in the State Duma. The results of the ban were stunning even for those of little faith.

In 1915, consumption dropped to 0.2 liters per capita. Labor productivity increased by 9-13%, despite large number drafted into the army. Absenteeism decreased by 27-30%.

The number of people arrested while drunk in St. Petersburg in the second half of 1914 decreased by 70%. The number of people sobering up decreased by 29 times. The number of suicides due to alcoholism in Petrograd fell by 50%. Similar results were obtained for 9 more provinces of Russia. The number of cash deposits in savings banks increased; the increase amounted to 2.14 billion rubles, against 0.8 rubles. in previous years before the ban.

Along with the positive results, there were also negative ones: secret moonshine brewing, consumption of surrogates, poisoning with them, violation of the law by individual breeders.

The relay of the ban was carried out after the Great October Revolution. There was a ban on the production of alcohol and all “alcoholic beverages.” Following these measures, the Soviet government, at various stages of the fight against alcoholism, which was equated in importance to the fight against tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases, issued a number of decrees and resolutions. The main ones were decrees adopted during the life of V.I. Lenin.

At the same time, it must be recognized that in the period from 1921 to 1924. the village experienced an increase in moonshine production. Moonshine production existed before the adoption of Prohibition, and one of the reasons for its existence was the lower cost of producing moonshine compared to aqua regia.

As noted in the work “Alcoholism” by Prof. Yu. Lisitsyn, the introduction of a ban on the sale of “alcoholic beverages” led to a sharp decrease in the number of patients in the period from 1915 to 1916. With the abolition of restrictions on the sale of “alcoholic beverages” in 1925, the number of hospitalized patients with alcoholic psychosis increased 7.6 times.”

If in 1913, at the time of the introduction of Prohibition, per capita consumption was 4.7 liters, then in 1923, together with moonshine, it was almost 6 times less.

As of 2009, prohibition operates to varying degrees of severity in Albania, Algeria, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Benin, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Bhutan, East Timor, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Djibouti, Egypt , Zambia, Western Sahara, Zimbabwe, India (Bombay and Mandras states), Indonesia, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Iceland, Yemen, Cambodia, Cameroon, Qatar, Kenya, China, Comoros, Ivory Coast, Kuwait, Laos , Lesotho, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritius, Mauritania, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Maldives, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Swaziland, Seychelles, Senegal, Singapore, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Thailand, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Uganda, Central African Republic, Chad, Sweden, Sri Lanka, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia.

So, let's draw conclusions.

Not a single one of the “dry laws” was blown up from within, by the people themselves. All its cancellations abroad were caused either by external pressure from other states on which the state that declared Prohibition was economically dependent, or by representatives of the wine industry, or by the mafia in their own country. The latter was especially clear in the USA.

“Prohibition” does not eliminate all the causes of alcoholism, but it eliminates the main one - the availability of alcoholic products, which will help in the future to establish absolute sobriety.

“Prohibition” is the only effective measure to combat moonshine, because anyone drunk will serve as evidence to identify moonshine.

Many prominent economists - S.G. Strumilin, B.Ts. Urlanis and others - believe that losses associated with the sale of alcohol far exceed profits from its sale.

In order for the “prohibition law” to be truly effective, it is necessary to carry out extensive explanatory work by all media before and after its introduction. The result of this activity should be a voluntary cessation of alcohol consumption by the majority of society, supported by a continuous and rapid decrease in the production of alcoholic products (25-30% per year), with their transfer to the category of drugs.

14. YEMEN

Non-Muslim foreigners are allowed to bring limited amounts of alcohol into the country and drink only at home.

13. UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (IN SHARJAH)

In addition, such valid license holders may only consume alcohol in their own home. Consumption, purchase or any other form of alcohol consumption in public areas is strictly prohibited and violators are subject to imprisonment, flogging or other forms of punishment. In other parts of the UAE, alcohol can be sold in restaurants, hotels or other places where the seller has a valid liquor license.

Consumption of alcohol is permitted for non-Muslims, but only in their private homes or the hotels and bars they visit. No other form of alcohol consumption is permitted. Foreign tourists are allowed to bring a limited amount of alcohol into the country for personal use.

12. SUDAN

However, this ban applies primarily to Muslims; non-Muslims can drink alcohol in their private rooms. But tourists are always advised to follow and respect local rules and customs in Sudan, including alcohol consumption laws, to avoid getting into any unpleasant situation.

11. SOMALIA

Although non-Muslims and foreigners are allowed to consume drinks, they must do so in their own personal space. Those who disrespect Islamic laws will face severe punishment.

10. SAUDI ARABIA

Those caught selling or consuming alcohol in public places will face penalties e.g. long term imprisonment or flogging. Foreigners are also advised to be extremely cautious regarding this sensitive issue and avoid alcoholic beverages while visiting Saudi Arabia.

9. PAKISTAN

Currently, although Muslims are not allowed to manufacture, sell or consume alcoholic beverages within the country, non-Muslim minorities are allowed to apply for liquor licenses.

Permits are often granted for economic growth. Typically, 5 bottles of liquor and 100 bottles of beer are the monthly allowance for non-Muslims in the country.

8. MAURITANIA

However, non-Muslims are allowed to consume alcohol in their homes or in hotels and restaurants that have valid permits to sell alcohol.

7. MALDIVES

Only resorts and some hotels and restaurants with special passes are allowed to sell alcohol to visitors.

6. LIBYA

Those who do not respect the laws and sell or consume alcohol in public are severely punished. However, they say that alcohol can easily be obtained illegally.

5. KUWAIT

Drinking alcohol in public places is strictly prohibited; violating the ban can lead to imprisonment of local residents or deportation of foreigners.

3. INDIA (IN SOME STATES)

In Manipur and Lakshadweep, alcohol is prohibited locally in certain areas. Kerala also has some restrictions on the sale and consumption of alcohol. Other states in India do not ban alcohol.

In some places, dry days are observed during some festivals, and the whole country also observes dry days during elections or any national holidays, such as Gandhi Jayanti (birthday of Mahatma Gandhi).

2. BRUNEI

They must tell customs at the airport that they are carrying alcohol. Drinking alcohol is only allowed at home.

1. BANGLADESH

Some restaurants, nightclubs, hotels and bars, especially those catering to tourists, are allowed to sell alcohol.

And not only to sell, but also to produce. For fans of energy drinks, this news may seem scary and even offensive.

However, if you look at world practice, a possible ban on alcoholic drinks in Russia does not look so harsh. Thus, in Belarus it is impossible to sell drinks with wormwood, in Sweden it is impossible to buy alcohol on Sundays, and in some US states there is still a prohibition law. MIR 24 plunged into the history of global alcohol prohibitions and found out in which countries a drinker might feel uncomfortable.

ICELAND

If in Russia Prohibition was imposed from above (and twice in one century), then the Icelanders themselves deprived themselves of drinking alcohol - for almost a century.

In 1908, a referendum was held in Iceland. During it, the population of the island spoke out for the introduction of Prohibition in the country, which came into force on January 1, 1915.

However, as it turned out, Icelanders could not stop drinking for more than 20 years - in 1935, a second referendum was held in the country: Icelanders admitted their mistake and spoke in favor of abolishing Prohibition. Its complete abolition was not supported by sobriety advocates - at their insistence, strong beers were banned in the country. True, for some reason any beer above 2.25% was considered strong. - that is, almost all types of foam.

The ban on the sale of beer lasted in Iceland until 1989. Since then, every March 1, the day the ban was lifted, Iceland celebrates Beer Day, a national holiday in honor of which residents of the northern island make up for legislative omissions of the 20th century.

BELARUS

Gustav Flaubert believed that absinthe would kill the French army. Perhaps these words of the writer sounded somewhat exaggerated, but his prophecy almost came true, albeit on a local scale, in 1901 - then, during a fire at the Pernod distillery, all reserves of absinthe were poured into the river and soldiers of the neighboring garrison began to scoop it up from the river with their helmets , bringing himself to the maximum pacifist state. The Belarusian army is unlikely to face such a prospect.

Thus, in the Republic of Belarus the sale of absinthe in grocery stores is prohibited. At the same time, absinthe can be purchased at Duty Free and brought with you from abroad - according to the rules of the EAEU, alcoholic beverages based on wormwood are allowed to be imported into the territory of the Customs Union if the thujone content in them does not exceed 35 mg/l.

USA

Prohibition was in effect in the United States from 1920 to 1933 and is still in effect in some states today.

Residents of most counties in Texas, almost half of Mississippi counties and 83 counties in Alaska cannot purchase whiskey, beer and other popular alcoholic beverages in America in stores. They simply aren't there. In some counties in Texas, where Prohibition has been repealed, there is a more strange alcohol ban - it is recommended to drink beer while sitting, and if suddenly someone decides to drink it while standing, then in the “bugler position” it is forbidden to take more than three sips in a row. The police enforce the law.

PAKISTAN

“In Pakistan, where the strictest prohibition law is in force, five people died from moonshine poisoning,” was the headline of a major Russian news agency in 2002. However, prohibition does not apply to everyone in Pakistan - in a country of 190 million people, there are about 60 shops selling quality alcohol produced in the UK. True, in order to buy it, you must meet two conditions: not be a Muslim and obtain a “drinker’s certificate” - a special document issued by the government of the Islamic Republic for the purchase of alcohol.

SWEDEN

If Russia was going through a period of stagnation, then Sweden was going through a period of drunkenness. And more than once. Attempts to limit alcohol consumption in Sweden have been made many times. And they didn’t help - in 1766, King Frederick came to the conclusion that nothing could be done about the drunkenness of the population, and lifted all bans on moonshine.

True, the king’s decision led to famine in many families - almost all the potatoes growing on the not very fertile soil of Europe began to be used for the production of pervach and its derivatives.

Something had to be done about the drinking country, and in 1865 a state monopoly on the production of alcohol was introduced in Sweden (distilling moonshine was strictly prohibited). The manufacturer received 5% of sales income, and 95% went to local authorities, who allocated the money to fight alcoholism. In 1919, the fight against drunkenness was intensified - each Swedish family was allowed to drink no more than 4 liters of alcoholic beverages per month, and these liters could only be purchased with cards.

Photo: Alexey Verpeka (MIR MTRK)

Today the system of selling alcohol in Scandinavian country more or less established, but some strange restrictions still remain - for example, in Sweden, alcohol is sold by a single retail chain that closes on Sundays, almost one hundred percent guaranteeing a sober day in any Swedish city. A similar law is in effect in Arkansas (USA), where the sale of alcohol on Sundays and Christmas is prohibited, but the ban there is associated with the civic activity of Protestant Christians.

AFRICA

In Africa, almost everything is allowed. And sales bans strong alcohol they don't work there. However, Africans do not drink alcohol 40+ for another reason - a bottle of real strong alcohol costs more than a salary (if they give it at all), and local analogues of whiskey, rum and others strong drinks lead to death more often than encounters with predators.

In 2010, a major Russian business publication wrote that residents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo had found a way out of the situation - in order not to torment themselves with low-alcohol drinks and not to risk a surrogate, they drink... “nine” (a strong type of beer produced by a St. Petersburg plant). In 2009 alone, 2.2 million liters of “nine” were drunk in Africa. And therefore, hardly anyone is worried about the lack of alcoholic drinks on the local market in the Congo.

With a proposal to ban sales and production in Russia alcoholic energy drinks The Ministry of Finance spoke. The department's proposal has already been supported in the Federation Council. Today, a ban on the sale of alcoholic drinks is in effect in 38 regions of the Russian Federation. If the new law is adopted, it will apply to the entire country.

Alexey Sinyakov

Tomorrow is Friday and it is on this day of the week that decent men allow themselves to relax a little and drink a glass or two after work. At the same time, history remembers many cases when they were faced with difficult to overcome obstacles in the form of regulations and resolutions, when the state itself interferes with this kind of recreation. Today we decided to remember these dark pages and troubled times and collect a short history of “prohibition” in one material.

Australia 1914–1967
Provided for the closure of all bars and restaurants, as well as bars in hotels, at six in the evening

The main argument for the introduction of Prohibition in Australia was a simple fact: why are bars open late, while bakeries and shops are already closed (how can one not recall Ruben’s dissatisfaction with pharmacies closed at night, while flower stalls are open)? With the outbreak of war, the argument of discipline and order gained strength. Work shift then ended at 17:00, and it was understood that after it the men should go home, and not to the nearest bar. The effect was often the opposite: after finishing their shift, the workers ran to the bar like sprinters in order to have time to get drunk before closing. In response to this, the law provided a rule: each visitor could take no more than one glass of beer, and a new portion was poured into the same glass only after it was empty (one must admit that this sounds quite motivating today).

The law was initially introduced as a temporary measure, but continued to operate long after the war. Its abolition was preceded by some relaxations - since 1949, bars and restaurants were open until ten in the evening. Complete abolition occurred in 1967.

Canada 1918 - 1920
The import, sale, production and consumption of alcohol stronger than 2.5% was prohibited.

The law was preceded by the Temperance Movement's initiative to introduce prohibition for a period of 100 years in order to reduce crime, domestic violence and poverty. However, the government did not support her. The next measures were the Dunkin Law, which allowed any province to decide the fate of alcohol on its territory, as well as a national referendum in 1898, in which the majority of the population (more precisely, the majority of the 44% who turned out to vote) voted for Prohibition. Surprisingly, this did not lead to the introduction of the law: it was all the fault of the residents of the province of Quebec, where four out of five were against the law.

It was possible to pass the Prohibition Law only in 1917, when the government introduced a ban on the import and production of alcohol with a strength of more than 2.5%. However, after the First World War, opponents of the law gained increasing strength, who argued that many would break the law and that it itself would contribute to the growth of organized crime. And by the end of the 1920s the law was repealed.

Finland 1919–1932
Allowing the use of alcohol for medical and scientific purposes only

Prohibition in 1919 gave the state a monopoly on the production, sale and import of alcohol. The use of alcohol was permitted only for medical, technical and scientific purposes. Supporters of the law believed that the adoption of anti-alcohol measures would help protect families from breakdown, as well as protect children from addiction and reduce the number of crimes. The law began to be violated immediately, and the number of violations increased exponentially. Alcohol was imported by sea in “alcohol torpedoes” - dozens of tied tin barrels that were tied behind the ship with a cable. If danger arose, the cable was untied, and it was possible to return for the barrels after some time. Doctors wrote out prescriptions for alcohol as a cure for all possible diseases, and you could order tea or coffee fortified with alcohol in almost any restaurant: you just needed to know a few expressions.

The 1931 referendum led to the complete repeal of Prohibition.

USA 1920–1933
Complete ban on alcohol

Prohibition in the United States has become perhaps the most popular example of an anti-alcohol campaign in the world. In 1914, alcohol consumption was prohibited in 15 states, and by the time the United States entered World War I, this list already included 36 states out of 48. However, they formed the periphery of America, since the remaining 12 states accounted for more than half of the country's population. The temperance movement had more and more arguments: it was considered unpatriotic to spend money on alcohol during the war and to save food, as well as to support the Germans, who owned many beer and distilleries in the United States. Finally, the proliferation of automobiles has led to an increase in accidents due to drunk drivers. In 1917, the production of whiskey was stopped, and two years later, beer production was stopped. In 1919, Congress, against the will of the president, establishes a complete cessation of the distribution of alcohol. Prohibition had the opposite effect. Bootlegging - the underground trade in alcohol - began to flourish. Along with gangsters, bootleggers went down in history as one of the symbols of America in those years. It is known that among them was also Joseph Kennedy, the father of US President John F. Kennedy. There is data according to which only one out of 20 New Yorkers regularly followed the law. Underground alcohol increased mortality from poisoning - in the same Big Apple Mortality from alcohol has increased ninefold in nine years. And in 1926, twice as many drunk people were arrested as in the year the anti-alcohol campaign began.

The Republican defeat in the 1932 elections led to Democratic President Franklin Roosevelt repealing the law with the 21st Amendment at the end of the next year.

USSR 1985–1987
Limiting sales times and drinking places

In the entire history of the USSR there were five anti-alcohol campaigns. First, a ban on the production and sale of alcohol in 1918–1923, then the closure breweries and the conversion of alehouses into tearooms in 1929. The following restrictions concerned vodka: in 1958, the places of its sale were significantly reduced, and in 1972, the production of strong drinks was reduced in favor of expanding the production of wine and beer. At the same time, in 1972, vodka with a strength of 50% and 56% was withdrawn from circulation. Finally, in 1985, the Central Committee issued a resolution “On measures to overcome drunkenness and alcoholism.” The bans were more of a disciplinary nature - limiting the time of sales and places of consumption, tightening penalties for drinking in the workplace. On the one hand, alcohol stores were closing, on the other, alcohol-free weddings began to be promoted.

The decline in alcohol sales caused unexpectedly serious damage to the Soviet economy: instead of the previous 60 billion rubles in income food industry brought in 38 billion in 1986. Massive dissatisfaction with the law and financial losses led to its repeal in 1987.

Sweden 1917–1955
Limit on the amount of alcohol per person per month

This law was preceded by the Gottenburg system, which had been in force since 1865. It gave the right to sell alcohol only to joint-stock companies that had special permission from the community. They received about 6% of the profit from the sale of alcohol, the rest went to the state treasury. Sales were allowed only in well-equipped establishments, with a wide selection of hot snacks and dishes, and only 50 ml of alcohol was sold without snacks. Alcohol was not sold on credit, to drunks or to children.

In 1917, the Gottenburg system was replaced by another - the Bratt system. Every citizen over 21 years old had a small brochure - motbok. It noted each purchase, and when the monthly limit (four liters) was exhausted, you had to wait for the next month. The sale of wine and beer was not subject to control. This system lasted until 1955.

Countries where Prohibition is still in force
Albania, Algeria, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Benin, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Bhutan, East Timor, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Djibouti, Egypt, Zambia, Western Sahara, Zimbabwe, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Cambodia, Cameroon, Qatar, Kenya, China, Comoros, Ivory Coast, Kuwait, Laos, Lesotho, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritius, Mauritania, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Maldives, Morocco , Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Swaziland, Seychelles, Senegal, Singapore, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Thailand, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Uganda, Central African Republic, Chad, Sweden, Sri Lanka, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia.

- a law on a complete ban on the production, sale and consumption of all alcoholic beverages.

One of the first countries to adopt restrictions on the sale of alcohol was Sweden. In 1865, the Gottenburg system was introduced in this country, according to which the right to sell alcohol was granted to joint-stock companies with special permission from the community. They were given 5 to 6% of the profits from the sale of alcohol. The rest of the proceeds went to the treasury. Sales were allowed only in well-equipped establishments with a wide selection of hot snacks and dishes. As an exception, only 50 ml of alcohol was dispensed without snacks.

Money from the sale of alcohol was not included in the profit of the owner of the establishment. Alcohol was not sold on credit, to drunks or to children. The system lasted until 1919 and was replaced by the Bratt system. According to the Bratt system, the head of the family or a person at least 21 years old who had a permanent job had the right to purchase four liters of alcohol once a month. The card for the right to receive the product was valid only for a specific store. The system is still in effect today.

In 1912, a ban was introduced on the distribution of alcoholic beverages in Iceland. Under pressure from Spain, which demanded the import of its wines under the threat of stopping purchases of Icelandic fish, the ban was lifted in 1923.

In 1919, a ban on the production and sale of alcohol was introduced Norway. Spain, France, and Italy demanded its cancellation, threatening to stop purchasing fish and fish products. In 1926 the ban was lifted. During the ban, consumption decreased from 20 liters to 3 liters per capita. It is currently the lowest in Europe.

Also in 1919, Prohibition was introduced into Finland. On June 1, 1919, a law was passed that secured the state alcohol company monopoly right to produce, import and sell alcoholic beverages. Alcohol could only be used for medical and technical purposes.

The response to the harsh measures was moonshine and alcohol smuggling across the Gulf of Finland. Up to 6 million liters of illegal booze were brought into the country every year. Smuggled alcohol was sold either in 12-liter cans or in vessels with a capacity of a quarter liter (so-called “sparrows”). In any Helsinki restaurant, if you knew the correct terms, you could order tea or coffee fortified with alcohol.

At the end of 1931, the government organized a nationwide referendum on the abolition of Prohibition. More than 70% of citizens who took part in the vote were in favor of repealing the law. On April 5, 1932, at 10:00 am, liquor stores were opened throughout the country, but strictly under state control.

You could only buy alcohol in specialized Alco stores. There are only 32 such stores in Helsinki. Moreover, they work from 10 to 18, on Saturday and Sunday - a day off. Until recently, the cheapest Finnish vodka cost more than 20 euros.

Under pressure from public opinion, on March 1, 2004, many restrictions on the sale of alcohol were lifted.

In 1920, Congress USA passed Prohibition as the 18th Amendment to the Constitution. Under this law, the production, transportation and sale of alcoholic beverages was prohibited throughout the United States. Despite its mandatory implementation, the law was not ratified in the states of Connecticut, Rhode Island, Illinois, and Wisconsin, where the production and smuggling of alcoholic beverages to other states was subsequently established. The positive effect of the law on health and increased labor productivity was felt within three years. Subsequently, the mafia, mainly in New York and Chicago, organized the secret production of alcohol and began smuggling alcohol from Europe, mainly from France, as well as from states that did not join Prohibition. As a result, the law was blocked by the mafia and representatives of big business standing behind them. According to the FBI official Dorogiani, responsible for the implementation of Prohibition, the secret production was 7-8 times higher than the production of alcohol for technical purposes. By the end of the 1920s, the mafia's income from the sale of alcohol exceeded $2 billion a year. To enforce Prohibition, the government appointed about 2.5 thousand agents. Having spent $12 million to combat Prohibition violators, the US government repealed the law in 1932.

Since 1977, prohibition has been in force in Iran .

In 2008, prohibition was introduced in the capital Mongolia Ulaanbaatar. Such actions were taken by the country's government in connection with the mass poisoning of people by alcohol during the celebration of the New Year 2008.

In 2009 parliament Bahrain voted for prohibition. The Bahraini parliament has decided to ban the sale of alcoholic beverages in all public places - hotels, bars, restaurants, nightclubs and discos, as well as the closure of alcohol stores. There are opinions that this step could cause a serious blow to the Bahrain economy, because The income of this small Muslim kingdom largely comes from the profit generated by the country's tourism industry, and with the introduction of prohibition, the tourist flow into the country may decrease significantly.

As of 2009, prohibition operates to varying degrees of severity in Albania, Algeria, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Benin, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Bhutan, East Timor, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Djibouti, Egypt , Zambia, Western Sahara, Zimbabwe, India (Bombay and Mandras states), Indonesia, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Iceland, Yemen, Cambodia, Cameroon, Qatar, Kenya, China, Comoros, Ivory Coast, Kuwait, Laos , Lesotho, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritius, Mauritania, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Maldives, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Swaziland, Seychelles, Senegal, Singapore, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Thailand, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Uganda, Central African Republic, Chad, Sweden, Sri Lanka, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia.

Meanwhile in Polynesia Prohibition was repealed in 2009. The ban on the production, sale and consumption of all alcoholic beverages was in effect in this country for 200 years.