Russia Doubles Minimum Price Of Vodka To Combat Alcoholiism

[Mitchell]

I dont know if anyone heard or read about this, but I just read in this morning's newspaper about Russia doubling the price of vodka, beginning at the start of the new year, in an attempt to try and curb what they are referring to as "rampant alcoholism".

The article stated that drinking contributes to an extraordinary number of deaths in Russia, and that male life expectancy there is about 60 years.

It will be interesting to see if the measures that Russia took to try and deal with this end up helping the situation.

Mitch

 

[deadlywiffeathr]

NO! God damn Russians!!!

😛

 

[kered]

Double the price of my vodka??!!!


Those dirty sonsabitches!

 

[Angel77]

Doubt it'll work though. Who knows? I just know that if someone's addicted to something, they'll pretty much do whatever to get the money to buy it. They've raised the price of ciggies up and yet I still buy them on occasion?

Wonder what the outcome will be.......should be interesting.

 

[tequila!]

They had 750 ml bottles for $2 when i was there. It was glorious.

 

[Angel77]

Now I'm craving a cranberry and vodka.

 

[asutickler]

There's going to be outrage, protests, possibly rioting, and maybe worse. Vodka is important to the average Russian's way of life. Even the Soviets knew that: The USSR suffered shortages of virtually every consumer good you can imagine, but the communist government went to extremes to insure that there was never a shortage of vodka.

 

[Dussicar]

'scuse my ignorance on world politics, but is Russia a member of the G20 by any chance?

 

[Carsomyr]

Eh, a bottle of vodka in Russia used to cost what, a buck? Double the price and it's still cheap as hell! 😱

 

[milagros317]

A true story, indicating the relationship of Russians to their vodka:

In 1993, a cousin of mine was in Moscow as a tourist. He bought a bottle of vodka on his way back to his hotel one night. When he got back to his hotel room he noticed that the top was a pull tab, just like a can of soda. He opened it and had three drinks. He couldn't understand how he was supposed to close it to keep it from spilling until he wanted another drink the next day. He took it down to the reception desk and asked them, "How do you close this? Are there stoppers or caps that I was supposed to buy along with the bottle?"

The clerk there looked at him as if he were a moron and said, "You're not supposed to close it. You're supposed to drink it."

 

[Carsomyr]

A true story, indicating the relationship of Russians to their vodka:

In 1993, a cousin of mine was in Moscow as a tourist. He bought a bottle of vodka on his way back to his hotel one night. When he got back to his hotel room he noticed that the top was a pull tab, just like a can of soda. He opened it and had three drinks. He couldn't understand how he was supposed to close it to keep it from spilling until he wanted another drink the next day. He took it down to the reception desk and asked them, "How do you close this? Are there stoppers or caps that I was supposed to buy along with the bottle?"

The clerk there looked at him as if he were a moron and said, "You're not supposed to close it. You're supposed to drink it."

Bwahaha! That's awesome! 😀 I am SO moving to Russia now! XD

 

[leafstk]

Great story, Mils!

NO! God damn Russians!!!

😛

I agree! There will be an uprising, you know it!

Doubt it'll work though. Who knows? I just know that if someone's addicted to something, they'll pretty much do whatever to get the money to buy it. They've raised the price of ciggies up and yet I still buy them on occasion?

Wonder what the outcome will be.......should be interesting.

This. If there are so many that are addicted or rampant alcoholics, how is doubling the price helping them? Will only increase the desperateness and poverty rates, because those who truly fit into this category will still do whatever it takes to get it

 

[Maestro1874]

In a related story, they halved the price of crack.

 

[arion30]

if you tax something to make people quit using it, all you do is create a black market for it. Folks wont stop wanting it, and they'll get it however they can. It my opinion that, like cigarettes in the US the Russians are using alcoholism as an excuse to raise more taxe money.

 

[Bugman]

Alcoholism has been rampant at all levels of Russian society for centuries. This will create a huge black market, and those who can't buy it will make their own at home. They might as well try treating cancer with asprin for all the effect it will have.

 

[arion30]

maybe Al Capone will come back as a Russian?

 

[QueenMari]

I doubt it will work if anything it will just cause more robberies because if an alcoholic can't afford the alcohol they will either a) steal it or B)prostitute themselves to get the money or steal the money and then go buy it but that kind of fits into category a.

 

[c7_assassin]

In a related story, they halved the price of crack.

You win the thread.

 

[emilyemilyemily]

my great grandpa is rolling in his grave.

 

[Knox The Hatter]

It my opinion that, like cigarettes in the US the Russians are using alcoholism as an excuse to raise more taxe money.

Bingo.

 

[TheTickleMonster]

Great story, Mils!



I agree! There will be an uprising, you know it!



This. If there are so many that are addicted or rampant alcoholics, how is doubling the price helping them? Will only increase the desperateness and poverty rates, because those who truly fit into this category will still do whatever it takes to get it

grr at you!!! I was gonna sayin, it won't decrease alcoholics, it'll increase poverty but you said it first! Good thing I was reading all the responses to make sure I wasn't repeating anyone 😛