To the page “Social philosophy”
Dr. Sergey Zagraevsky
About
alcohol and alcoholism in Russia
Attention!
The following text was
translated from the Russian original by the computer program
and has not
yet been edited.
So it can be used
only for general introduction.
The bright memory
Marianne Kulikova
(1990-2009),
lost
through the fault of drunk driver
First of all, let us state the truism: the goal of any state is to
combat the many vices of society. Hardly can argue with that.
One can hardly argue and yet another truism: alcoholism is a disease of
society.
Seemingly, the laws of logic conclusion there should be clear: the
state's task is to combat alcoholism as one of the ills of society. As, for example, as drug addiction.
This is in theory. But in practice it is not so. Is it possible to
imagine that the shelves of grocery stores were filled with... drugs? Various
types, produced the most famous and reputable firms in the most vivid and
attractive packaging, which had been worked best
designers?
Of course, this is impossible. A liquor shelves
of all supermarkets, grocery stores, shops, shops and stalls literally crammed.
Moreover, different, produced the most famous and reputable
firms in the most vivid and attractive packaging -- And that the state is
struggling with alcoholism - disease society?
It may be objected: alcoholism is a disease that must be treated. And little by little - why not to drink? So to say,
"for the mood, not moving "face"?
Yes, but the drugs also can eat a little - "for the mood, and the treatment to be had drug addiction, and is, so
to speak, "beyond... So why not start selling in shops and drugs? In the bright and attractive packaging?
But do not start the same. And the fact that determine
the proverbial edge, where it ends "little"impossible.
Quite the dangers of drug addiction is a terrible disease that destroys the
human psyche, leading to the degradation of his person, is to be excluded from
legal trade anything that has the potential to lead.
Many will remember
To this answer: drug use among the Dutch
themselves are extremely rare. They're just such a
"dirty" way to attract tourists and replenish the state budget. As
far as revenue from the "tourism" to justify staggering through the
streets of
In fairness, we note that votes for a total ban on drugs in the
But in the
Here and in the tradition of the use of alcoholic beverages, mainly vodka.
And the tradition of the "Russian feast" - with
many toasts and the same vodka. And tradition "to think on
three" - when "intimate conversations" are conducted under the
same vodka. And the tradition spontaneously to mix alcohol strength (usually beer
and vodka, but possible options)... And so on, all the "native
Russian" traditions connected with alcohol, and so on.
In the end, in
And the traditions of the Russian culture?
Not subculture, namely culture - it's not the same subculture is Pushkin:
"Drink with grief, where is the club? The heart will be happier"Blok "You're right, drunken monster! I
know the truth is in wine"or Yesenin "I'm
going head overhangs, side street in a familiar tavern. However, and in various
subcultures of alcohol were always enough - they remember something like,
"would be vodka, and case we will always find", or "a Bottle of
wine, no headache, and sore from the one who does not drink anything.
And what a selection of alcoholic drinks in the Russian shops!
Especially vodka - where else can you meet so many tens or even hundreds of
names of the product, with such an endless variety of grades, bottles, labels,
design! It would seem, in any case, it is only then alcohol, diluted with water
in the ratio of 40/60, so no, if you read all that is written on the labels, it
is just the elixir of life! And all this would be okay for foreign tourists as
drugs in
And the beer? What are the
masterpieces advertising creative dedicated to him! Laws that restrict its
advertising, subject to numerous restrictions and regulations, and as
gracefully these prohibitions cost, and no one standard is
not broken! It is impossible to show the people in beer advertising -
and do not need to be done so that in the imagination of viewers, these images
become more visible! Who will be there to look and ponder dreary faded
inscription at the bottom: "Excessive consumption of beer hurts..."
but what can damage such beauty? Drink, dear compatriots! So drink.
"Let him drink, if only in moderation!" - can be heard. But
where is she, this measure? Not over there, where it "gradually" in
respect of drugs, of which we have already said?
Alcoholism, like any disease, has several forms and stages, and not just
sick person is socially inadequate and falls from society. First, an alcoholic
and drug addict in the early stages, it becomes absent-minded and forgetful,
his reaction slows down, it loses the ability to do several things to consider
when making decisions all the factors, is gradually disappearing sense of
responsibility for their actions, disabled such concepts as honor, conscience,
commitment, initiative...
And "beer alcoholism?
It acts on the brain and the psyche slower than "vodka", but quickly
destroys the liver, kidneys and other internal organs as well as less strength
beer is compensated by its number. It seems to be "light" drink -
these people do not believe how much they drank, and eventually unconsciously
"pumped through the body several liters per day.
Long before the earliest stages of alcoholism - what a drunk person driving a car, and even more of the plane? And
at the plant, where the quality of the processed parts are also often dependent
people's lives? And in the family, at home, - whether to tell what terrible
events occur "drunk"? A stroll through the streets of Russian cities
in the company of young and not so young people, and everyone in his hand in
the pot of beer, " so then as they want... No,
feeling mischievous they also want, but more often than their desire for a more
prosaic: beer, as you know, a good diuretic.
And to those who say that drug addiction is a terrible disease than
alcoholism, the answer: not only in Russian conditions. Drugs, in fact, more
quickly lead to addiction and faster to dislodge people from society than
alcohol - but how many drug addicts in
The drug is mostly residents of large cities and their percentage among
the surrounding population is very small, and besides, they don't see or hear -
basically, they quietly lying on mattresses in their dens. And how many in
By the way, for the children, drug addicts are usually so quickly expire
or are isolated from society, that no time during his illness to produce
offspring. But alcoholism due to a longer course and even prevents play
"victims drunken conception. How often these children are born, everyone
knows.
So terrible for
Obvious conclusion from this response: to prevent trafficking of
alcohol as prohibited drug trafficking. In other words, to enter the
Half-measures (increase of excise on alcoholic drinks, introduction of
state monopoly on production and sale of alcohol, artificial creation deficit
alcohol-containing products, with the exception of the turnover of all kinds of
substitutes and fakes) is not only useless but even
harmful. They only serve to directly or indirectly (in the hypothetical
withdrawal from the market of cheap low-quality drinks) higher prices, with
virtually no reduction in the volume of sales of alcohol.
Here is a simple example: you cannot enter into the legal market
turnover military firearms, trying to reduce the volume of its sales (and,
consequently, the risk posed by him by repeatedly overstatement of its price.
All the same people buy what could pistols and machine guns, and the streets
will not silence the shooting.
As with alcohol, this situation will get even worse, because the gun on
the last money, few people will buy, and buy a lot of vodka. Consequently, if
the increase in its prices, it would mean not only the continuation of welding
of people, but also a General lowering of their lives. On this subject is
rather like the middle of 1980-ies - memorable times of Gorbachev's anti-alcohol
campaign: "Dad, on TV said that vodka will rise in price, then you will
drink less? - No, son, it means that you will eat less".
So here it is, as they say, or-or. Or permit - in the conditions of free
competition and market pricing, or deny fully and unconditionally.
Hypothetical withdrawal from the market of alcoholic substitutes and
forgery problem also does not address. Surrogates and forgery does not increase
the risk of alcoholism, and food poisoning. A poison can and
sausage, and cakes.
Well, any restrictions on the advertising of those or
other alcoholic beverages is not even half-measures, and, so to say,
"chetvertoy". After all alcohol advertising
per se does not need (especially in
Since we remembered the anti-alcohol campaign in
the mid-1980's, the recall and the reasons for its failure.
I think that it was primarily in the fact that it consisted of the
proverbial half-measures. Instead of accepting "dry law" was only
dramatically reduced the volume of production of alcohol (in particular, carved
vines), increased public rates on alcohol (in particular, vodka cost depending
on varieties 4-5 rubles, and 10-12) and put some restrictions on trade (in
particular, wine and vodka shops started to not work in the morning and two
hours a day, and sell alcohol became citizens not older than 18 and 21 years).
Not surprisingly, these half-measures only angered people, and with the
collapse of Soviet power, the development of market relations and free
importation of alcohol they have turned into nothing. Moreover, in the early
1990-ies more or less decent spirits became an indispensable component of the
same high standard of living as second-hand prestigious foreign cars and bright
red jackets.
But if in the Soviet time, in conditions of almost unlimited
administrative resource "of the party and government", was adopted
unconditional "dry law", - it is quite probable that would have
created a precedent that Russian legislators decided not to cancel, so as not
to incur charges in the welding of the people".
Of course, history does not tolerate the subjunctive, but the historical
mistakes can and should be taken into account. And if the "dry law"
was not accepted, it can and should take now, the administrative resources of
the ruling party is hardly less than in Soviet times.
When discussing the possible introduction of "the dry law"
usually occurs the following questions:
- can you give a crack in the state budget, losing revenues from
alcohol?
- do not start mass popular protests in the form of demonstrations,
meetings, referenda, impeachment, and even armed rebellion?
- as without "drinking" to celebrate weddings, funerals, baptisms,
anniversaries, to receive visitors, "relax", "treatment"
and "quench"?
- do not begin mass production of vodka and home-made wines,
will not start if the citizens drink
Well, the answer in order.
There is a stereotypical view that revenues
from excise taxes on alcohol - almost the main part of the state budget of the
It is easy to understand where all this took radically wrong stereotype
about the fact that alcohol is a "life buoy" for the budget. For this
purpose it is necessary to remember much more successful anti-alcohol campaign
than the one that was conducted in the mid-1980s, the "dry law" in
1914. He was so effective even in the First world war, two revolutions, civil
war and war communism", which lasted until 1923. Thus, in
But the beginning of the "new economic policy", merchants to
pay taxes not in a hurry, in industry and agriculture have not yet been
liquidated consequences of devastation, oil and gas, the country is still
exported, and then the Soviet government (without V.I. Lenin, who have taken a
strong stand) decided to replenish the state budget at the expense of excise
taxes on alcohol.
And so it happened that the Soviet citizens began to take not only the
real estate, jewelry and other property, but also health. And the right people
would ruin their health for some reward, or even free, "
no, they are also paid (and still paying) excise tax included in the
price of alcoholic beverages. That such a "vicious circle" was the
willingness to enter into the state budget "alcoholic income".
Note for the sake of justice, that during the
great Patriotic war of alcohol has played a positive rather than a negative
role. Remember daily "frontline hundred grams", and in the attack
sober went rarely, and in extremely cold winter of 1941 and 1942 near Moscow
and Stalingrad on the advanced positions just rolled out of the barrel of
alcohol, and each drink as he could - or overstay in the trenches-degree frost
was impossible. Fires something on the front will not ignite, tea will not
boil...
But the war had ended long ago, and nowadays people are unlikely to be
dizzy alcohol for some of these goals - the conquest of the world,
Second question about possible riots, impeachment, referendums and other
things like that. There is no doubt that in the modern Russian conditions, they
will not, as there was in the mid 1980 agriculture In
fragile nineties - Yes, would have been. And now? At
the local level, at the closing of one individual wine-vodka shop - perhaps
people could gather and Pabianice.
It is impossible not to take into account the psychological factor. In
our time to speak out against the "dry law" few people dare, because
in relation to human health is now very different priorities than, for example,
in 1933, when repeal the "dry law" in the
Of course, many people the introduction of "the dry law" will
be displeased, and Fig in the pocket" will be kept. May be reduced and the
level of trust to the government, and the rating of the country's leadership,
and the electorate of the ruling party.
Certainly, the "dry law" should be introduced gradually and in
stages (for example, first to prohibit alcoholic beverages stronger than 30
degrees, then ten, then five, then the rest), and in parallel will need a
massive public education campaign, involving all sorts of media. This will
alleviate all theoretically possible negative consequences.
The third question, as we remember, was the fact that people will have
nothing to drink for the holidays. To this answer: God forbid
that people didn't have more serious problems than the choice of drinks for the
holiday table. If spirits to cancel step by step, you will have time to
adapt, and develop new habits to replace the existing, such as: "What a
wedding without a drunken brawl!". Or, sorry,
"face into the salad". The sooner this national disgrace will stop, the better.
It's the same with the need to "relax". Modern life offers
alcohol as a way to "relax"and especially
"treatment" or "thirst", many far more effective and useful
alternatives.
It is necessary to consider that in the conditions of the 8-hour working
day and more or less organized way of life of each person on average 3-4 hours
of leisure time per day. And he will spend them - to "relax" with the
help of vodka or beer? Or is it something less harmful to health and the man
himself, and his offspring? This is one of the main tasks of the government is
the improvement of leisure of citizens, increase their cultural and educational
level.
And finally, the fourth question: and will not start if the people in
the mass order to produce moonshine brew house wine,
drink
Start - Yes (some, in fact, never stopped). But in the
mass order - no. Once again a parallel with drug addiction: if, as they
say, "very necessary", then any pharmacy you can buy all the
ingredients for homemade quite effective drugs. Probably, they will be harmful
to health than the "factory" - but "factory", too, to put
it mildly, not very useful, so here, "lost his head, his hair did not
cry." Same thing with alcohol: the one who is "very necessary",
drink, and spirits "Christian Dior".
It is those who are "very necessary". For those who absolutely
"no need", here in General it is not - they will not even think on these
topics. But there are always some "average", "undecided" a
lot of people prone to alcoholism only potentially. In other words, they will
drink, if they "put" (or offer a huge selection of alcoholic
beverages in stores), but will not overcome more or less serious difficulties
in obtaining alcohol, and especially to violate the law for the sake of
"drinking".
And these people - law-abiding citizens,
"the inhabitants", upon which social peace - most. If
this were not so, the world would be impossible to live.
Remains a minority.
First, those who are already sick with alcoholism and ready to drink every denaturate. Secondly, those who for
profit and ready to produce moonshine, and sell it, and illegal import of
alcohol from abroad. The first has to do with doctors, the second - the
law enforcement agencies. This is nothing new - absolutely we see a similar
situation with drugs. Fight them by society and the state have already learned
so much, what about addiction as a disease of tens of millions of people it is
not.
Therefore, there is no doubt that, just like the society and the state
will learn to fight illegal turnover of alcohol. It is only a matter not to
indulge lowest instincts of people, to show political will for improvement of
the nation and type "dry law" as a necessary tool for the further
advancement of the Russian Federation towards the most developed and civilized
countries. The notorious stereotypes "all Russians drink vodka"
should be the same historical absurdity as that "in
© Sergey Zagraevsky
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