THE DRINK PROBLEM IN RUSSIA.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 17, Issue 6, 23 January 1903, Page 2

THE DRINK PROBLEM IN RUSSIA.

With the idea of diminishing the consumption of liquor the Russian Government —which moans the Czar — in 3895 made the manufacture of alcohol a Government monopoly ; and not only that hut the State is the only dealer in alcohol and whatever is sold is strictly pure and unadulterated. All over Russia you will find the sign, “ Liquor Repot No.—,’ and if you go inside one of these you will see a counter protected by brass wire netting reaching to the ceiling. There are no tables or chairs, no bottles are in sight. Three different kinds of liquor are sold, measuring 95deg., 90deg., and 40deg. The last is the vodka, the common drink of the people. ***»*♦ The salesman, or more often, the saleswoman, is employed by the State. The customer comes in, buys his bottle, pays, and leaves. He is not allowed to drink any in the place. The places are open from 8 A. M. to 8 P. M. No liquor is sold to intoxicated persons, children or private soldiers. The customer goes away with his bottle and ordinarily hardly reaches the street before the cork is out and the liquor gulped down. It is against the laws to drink in the street ; but if there is a policeman near he will always look the other way. The result of this reform that was urged upon the people, and has been in effect for some years, has not been quite what was expected. Financially it has been a success bringing a lot of money into the hands of the Government ; but the people do not drink perceptibly less, and the consumption is now increasing. The last nine months of the year 1901, showed an increase in revenue of over £2,000,000 over the same months in the preceding year. «***••. Special permits to sell liquor are given to cafes, restaurants, but no higher price may be charged than at the Government depositories and as this price allows no profit, you can got no drink without ordering a meal. In restaurants that have no permits to sell liquor you can get it none the loss, if you are known to the waiter, who will then pour it into a cup from a teapot. To aid the temperance movement the Government helps to support eating-houses, coffee-houses, reading rooms, and oven public places of amusement all . over the empire ; but even these well-intentioned efforts do not stop the average Russian peasant getting drunk three days out of every ten, and those three days invariably Sundays and religious holidays.