Gorbachev's anti-alcohol company: a year. Thoughts on the anti-alcohol campaign under Gorbachev

The Gorbachev anti-alcohol company is often called a "dry law". This term implies the prohibition (full or partial) of the sale of substances containing ethanol in large quantities. Exceptions are substances for medical, industrial and other similar purposes. Also, the ban does not include drugs with a low alcohol content, for example, cough syrups.

In the USSR, the 1985 campaign was not the first, but it was remembered by everyone because of its duration. How effective were the actions of the government, you can learn from the article.

Antialcoholic campaigns in the USSR

In the history of the USSR, the "dry law" was established several times. Accepted it in different years:

• 1918-1923;
• 1929;
• 1958;
• 1972;
• 1985-1990.

Why did Gorbachev's anti-alcohol company become a symbol of the stagnation of its era? First of all, this is due to a tangible shortage of consumer goods, including food products. The ban on alcohol worsened the psychological state of people even more. However, such a decision on the part of the government was demanded by the circumstances that had developed by that time.

Background of the 1985 campaign

Before the start of the campaign, studies were conducted that revealed figures that were disastrous for the country. By 1984, alcohol consumption exceeded 10 liters per person, whereas even in pre-revolutionary Russia this figure did not exceed 5 liters. Translated into containers, 90-100 bottles of alcohol were obtained per adult male per year. Under the alcohol meant vodka, beer, wine, moonshine.

The initiators of the introduction of the "dry law" were MS Solomentsev, E.K. Ligachev. They, like Yu. V. Andropov, were convinced that the reason for the stagnation of the economy was mass alcoholism. It was in him that members of the Politburo saw a general decline in moral and moral values, as well as a negligent attitude of people to work.

The Gorbachev antialcohol company was of enormous proportions. For the sake of combating drunkenness, the state decided to reduce its revenues from the sale of alcoholic beverages.

What the 1985 law provided for

The law came into force on 17.05.1985. In the people, Gorbachev's anti-alcohol company, as mentioned earlier, was called the "dry law".

This project envisaged the following implementation program:

1. Prohibition of the sale of vodka in all public catering (except for restaurants), which were located at train stations, station stations, airports. It also stipulated the inadmissibility of selling vodka near industrial enterprises, all types of educational institutions, hospitals, places for mass recreation of people.
2. Alcoholic beverages were to be sold only in specialized stores or departments. At the same time, their number was determined by the officials themselves, on the ground.
3. Prohibition of the sale of alcohol to persons under 21 years.
4. The allowed implementation was limited in time. Alcohol could be bought from 14 to 19 hours a day.
5. It was intended to reduce the production of alcoholic beverages every year. By 1988 it was planned to completely stop the production of wines.
6. In the theater, cinema, on television, on radio broadcasting it was forbidden to propagandize drinking.
7. Leaders and party members were forbidden to abuse alcohol under the threat of expulsion from the CPSU.

Statistical data

Gorbachev's anti-alcohol company had its positive and negative sides. The year of its beginning is 1985, and by 1988 the following statistical information was collected.

Campaign opponents and their arguments

Representatives of one of the research centers give their reasons, which cast doubt on the positive thoughts about the alcohol company. Under Gorbachev, an artificial deficit was created. The people completely filled it with home-made alcohol. Therefore, the statistics did not reflect real indicators.

As for the increase in the birth rate, this is more associated with the general emotional upsurge in the context of perestroika, which promised to change the life of the population for the better.

A serious problem in these years was drug addiction and substance abuse. Some people have moved from scarce alcohol to more dangerous drugs. The mortality from cardiovascular diseases has actually decreased, but the number of deaths from drug use has increased.

Among the opponents, there are many who believe that the actions of the "dry law" did not save the country from drunkenness, and disaccustomed to the use of good, quality drinks.

Supporters of the "dry law"

The reader already knows in which year Gorbachev held an anti-alcohol company. Since the introduction of the "dry law" many doctors began to note the reduction in the number of injuries and fractures that most often happened to people who were drunk.

Even before the adoption of the law, societies to combat drunkenness were created. The people who organized them really propagated their ideas. They did this voluntarily, realizing the danger of total drunkenness for the country. The ambiguous position among the members of the Politburo hampered the campaign, actions were carried out that embittered people, provoked negative reactions to the campaign as a whole.

The myth about cutting down vineyards

After a while, Mikhail Gorbachev admitted mistakes. According to the anti-alcohol company and the main aspects of its implementation, not everything was smooth, but many of the points remained just speculation of the people. The real "duck" was information about the total cutting of the vineyards. People close to these questions assure that it was actually produced, but only the old and wild vines got rid of.

In many ways, the reputation of the anti-alcohol campaign and officials who took unpopular measures on the ground were spoiled. For example, in many cities a large number of alcoholic beverage outlets were closed immediately. In addition to everything, coupons for vodka were invented and only one bottle was allowed to be sold in one hand. Gorbachev did not sign documents providing for such measures.

Minimize your campaign

Mass dissatisfaction with the "dry law" began two years after its introduction. Although the abolition of all decrees occurred only in 1990, already in 1987 the sale of alcohol began to increase, and active propaganda for a sober lifestyle ceased.

In modern Russia, Gorbachev admitted mistakes in an anti-alcohol company. Once he said that because of the mistakes made, a good deal ended ingloriously.

Such actions of the government should be carried out in stages. To successfully complete them, a new generation was to grow up with ideas of a sober lifestyle. Too fast and aggressive actions of the authorities both from above and on the ground led to a negative attitude towards the campaign as a whole, caused a feeling of disgust among the people and as a result did not lead to positive results.