Moonshiners make merry on the steppes

Press, 15 May 1985, Page 44

Moonshiners make merry on the steppes

NZPA-Reuter Moscow More than 20 stills producing illegal liquor have been uncovered by the Soviet police in one small Russian town, in fresh evidence of the growing private enterprise in making moonshine, says a Moscow newspaper. The “Samogonka,” the Russian equivalent of “moonshine” or crude homemade liquor, contained considerably more jjotato spirit than that found in commercially produced drinks, said the newspaper “Leninskoye Znamya” (Leninist Banner). “Apart from that, experts occasionally found traces of methyl alcohol, a strong poison. Is not this why these Samogonka-makers so often don’t drink their own terrible brew but sell it to others?” the newspaper asked.

The police had discovered the stills in Kashira, about 100 km south of Moscow, in a series of raids since the

beginning of this year, it said.

The Soviet leader, Mr Mikhail Gorbachev, has declared war on alcohol addiction as part of his campaign to increase labour discipline and productivity. The ruling Politburo recently dedicated one of its weekly meetings to the alcohol problem, which officials have blamed for large-scale annual losses in industrial productivity through absenteeism or drunkenness at work. Rumours have been circulating in Moscow since that meeting that new laws to be introduced might include a form of rationing or price increases.

As vodka already costs an average six roubles (about $15.20) a bottle, a large part of an ordinary Russian’s pay packet, many people think such measures might only lead to an increase in the number of illicit stills.