There is no doubt that excessive consumption of alcohol was a critical health problem in the Soviet Union. Trapped in a grim purgatory empire, the serfs of socialism had few outlets for human expression and drinking provided one of the few means of escaping the endless rhetoric of Marxist paradise so contrary to everyday experience. The realm of Putin, the KGB officer, and his henchmen continues to inspire ordinary Russians to seek solace in vodka.

Like Soviet bureaucrats before him, the leadership of Russia is attempting to mitigate the damage of binge drinking by prohibiting the sale of alcohol after 10:00 p.m. Though the curfew will not apply to cafes or bars and will affect only strong drink, it already is drawing criticism. Vadim Drobiz, Director of the Center for the Study of Federal and Regional Markets for Alcohol, argues that the benefits of limiting the sale of alcohol are myths. Sweden and Finland, he notes, have tried to limit the sale of alcohol, and yet sales in Sweden have risen by 70 percent and alcoholism among women has increased six-fold in the last 10 years.

Drobiz, a libertarian, argues that state control over the sale of alcohol ends up having a counter-productive effect. Homemade brew, just as was the case during the American Prohibition Era, is a consequence of state overregulation. This product, Samogon, is actually more expensive than manufactured alcohol, and it is also more likely to be distilled under unsafe and unhealthy conditions.

Alcoholism, like so many other vices, seems to be relatively immune to statist cures. Yet these vices are handled effectively in societies all over the world. Orthodox Jews, although enjoined to drink (and enjoy) wine as part of religious services, have very low rates of alcoholism.� Roman Catholics from Latin parts of Europe also drink, as a matter of faith, and yet have lower rates of alcoholism than the general population of America. Mormons, as a matter of faith, do not consume any alcohol, and that voluntary system of abstinence works well. Private associations like Alcoholics Anonymous are credited with curing alcoholism through a combination of mutual support and faith.

Vices like alcoholism are the plague of mankind and have roots which stretch deeply into biblical history. Yet vice is notoriously hard to end by government fiat. On the other hand, an appeal to the moral compass and ethical foundations of a people — reliance, in the case of our nation, on the Judeo-Christian bedrock of our value system — works wonders. When people seek a cure for social problems in draconian statutes and hive-like bureaucracies, they find no cure and are saddled with bigger, costlier government as well.� When enough people turn to faith and to conscience, then many social problems shrink to insignificance.

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Lee Gonzales said:

The DUI / DWI epidemic. Mothers Against Drunk Drivers was formed as a reaction to drunks driving. At every state legislative session you can count on MADD offering testimony for some ignition-lock device, harsher penalties for first-time or numerous-times offenders.The jail house builders love it too since more drunks sent to jail adds up to a maddenly lucrative income. There's the petty-fogging lawyers who make so much money off defending drunks that they can afford to put up huge billboards advertising one side or the other. The mental quacks get in on this deal and they don't render their services for free. The states rake in liquor taxes. The techie creeps who invent all sorts of electronic devices and sell them to state governments at above market value. They don't want to see booze banned, their livihood depends on drunks getting behind the wheel. "Prohibition didn't work so don't preach banning booze" they tell us. Sure it will work. Who wants to bother visiting a "speak easy" joint? Who wants to risk getting poisoned by bad booze or get slammed in jail for a night for buying demon rum from a guy who just might be an undercover cop? "It would be just like the heyday of Scarface Capone and Bugsy Malone all over again they say." Oh, really and we don't have gangs today who take their cut for the sale of alcohol? We call them respectable government agents since their "cut" are called taxes. They "regulate" liquor licenses by charging an arm and two legs to obtain one. Crooks come in different sizes,shapes and forms. Not all of them talk like "Harry The Horse" from Guys and Dolls.

September 02, 2010

Warren from Florida said:

From the Boston Globe: Cheers! Drinking linked to longer life Cheers! Drinking linked to longer life Study confirms a few can help By David Olmos Bloomberg News / September 1, 2010 SAN FRANCISCO — Sipping two or three glasses of wine, beer, or cocktails per day helped older adults live longer than teetotalers in a study that confirmed the health benefits of moderate drinking. More: http://www.boston.com/news/health/articles/2010/09/01/cheers_drinking_linked_to_longer_life/

September 02, 2010

Lee Gonzales said:

Check out the ad to the right: Lakeview Treatment Centers shows a sad man and a bottle of booze There are special hospital and services and books offered to people hooked on liquor. Lots of money to made off of people's addictions and habits. Look face it, you know the answer as well as anyone else but a clue is within the words that the author above alludes to: "Vices like alcoholism are the plague of mankind and have roots which stretch deeply into Biblical history... an appeal to the moral compass and ethical foundations of a people — reliance, in the case of our nation, on the Judeo-Christian bedrock of our value system — works wonders. When enough people turn to faith and to conscience, then many social problems shrink to insignificance."

September 02, 2010

Phil Motown said:

... "Alcoholism, like so many other vices, seems to be relatively immune to statist cures." Really? So, your state doesn't have a minimum drinking age? They don't in Russia, where upwards of 75% of kids under 16 drink regularly with no repercussions. So your home state doesn't have restrictions on hours of operation for liquor stores, so they can sell whatever to whomever 24-7? That's all they're trying to get in Russia--for liquor stores to close at 10pm (doesn't apply to wine or beer, or restaurants or supermarkets--just liquor stores). In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't seem like such a big deal. Maybe Russia should follow the libertarian lead of the American founding fathers. Of course, the second act of the Federal Government in 1791 (the first was the Bill of Rights) was the passing of restrictive taxes on alcohol, ostensibly to help repay debts from the Revolutionary War. Yet even the libertarian-minded James Madison thought it would aid in reconstruction, but also the people would benefit from an increase in "sobriety and thereby prevent disease and untimely deaths." (James Madison, _Papers_, vol. 13, p. 366). Ironically, the restrictive federal taxes were again increased in 1814, during Madison's tenure as president. Of course, you could argue that that was a time when Americans were drinking like mad--5 gallons (18L) of pure alcohol per person per year (Rorabaugh, 1979), or about 3x the average of today. Thankfully through grass-roots temperance activism and some trial and error (prohibition) on the policy front, we've got that down to a reasonable level.

September 02, 2010

Phil Motown said:

... Due to its autocratic past, Russia didn't have that option. So once the Soviet vodka monopoly was repealed in 1992, cheap alcohol flooded the market, and male life expectancy plummeted from 70 to 59 years--just above the level of Ghana. Russian men today drink 18 liters of pure alcohol per year. That means if you're an AVERAGE Russian guy, you drink 180 bottles of vodka per year--or one every other day. And that's the AVERAGE. A half a million (500,000) working-age Russians die per year due to alcohol--a rate unparalleled in the peacetime history of the world. To be sure this is both a cultural problem, and a policy problem. And now you think that just because it fits with your misguided "anti-statist" preconceived notions of American history (and you quote from Drobitz, a toady for the liquor industry) that the Russian state should have no role in abating the ongoing demographic catastrophe? That seems incredibly hypocritical--and to resign so many to an early grave seems decidedly un-Christian. Perhaps I don't understand the author's argument. Is it that "Judeo-Christian values" solve everything? They've been Christian since 988AD! But there is more to culture than just religion. I agree that you can't legislate morality, and that vices such as alcoholism stretch back into Biblical history. But you know what? So too do efforts to do something about it. Need I say more about the enlightened government of David (2 Samuel 13) and the pursuits of Solomon (Proverbs 20:1, 23:29-35, 31:4)? Ultimately, I have no qualms with the ideological positions put forth in this article, no matter how convoluted. However trying to bend the very real policy problems in Russia to conform to your particularly American values-trumps-big-government script seems incredibly ignorant of both American, Russian and Biblical history.

September 02, 2010

Lee Gonzales said:

Local booze control "... in Russia, where upwards of 75% of kids under 16 drink regularly with no repercussions." No repercussions? Let's hear from our liver organ donors. ".. your misguided "anti-statist" preconceived notions of American history ...that the Russian state should have no role in abating the ongoing demographic catastrophe? That seems incredibly hypocritical--and to resign so many to an early grave seems decidedly un-Christian." That's a mouth full. It's a tid bit article not an essay. How do you know the author isn't in favor of setting a minimum age requirement for the purchase of liquor? Let each state have its own way of dealing with setting the "drinking age." Let each county and local village,city and township decide how to deal with liquor. America was not founded for the purpose of growing the state, it was founded for keeping the state small. Americans don't need "no BATF agents with stinking badges" and I am sure that Russians don't need Russian FSB goons trying to shake and stir up a local vodka problem. Let the locals handle their own booze-related issues with their government regs. Private groups get a certain satisfaction in breaking the sinner from his habit. The government creates a giant bureacracy and builds jails that are costly in terms of money to pay these goons and the violations to our liberty that these goon agencies bring about and don't give one d--- about the citizens. "... you can't legislate morality,..." Oh really? What of the Commandments wherein they tell us not to kill, steal, and lie? Those stretch all the way back into Biblical history. We have laws against murder, theft and perjury in a court of law don't we? Therefore we do "legislate morality." If what you mean to say is that we must legislate ourselves internally via some self-imposed moral restraints then yes. The Founders were keen on the Bible and our law of the land reads like the Commandments of God.

September 03, 2010

Phil Motown said:

... Re: "No repercussions." I think you misunderstand me--I meant "no repercussions" both in terms of the underage "tweens" not having to worry about getting busted for underage drinking, and the retailers not having to worry about getting busted for selling liquor to kids. Sorry if I wasn't clear. I agree with you that the solution for Russia's liquor problem--if indeed there is such a solution--has to work at the local/municipal level. However with the endemic corruption in Russia today, I can't imagine that wouldn't result in little more than regional governors and liquor barons running the show with no real improvement for health. Russian civil society is anemic, so there aren't a whole lot of "private groups" to rely on in this instance. Where I get lost is trying to make a connection from the autocratic policies of Russia today to (a misreading of) the policies of the American founding fathers 200+ years ago. What's the link?

September 03, 2010

Lee Gonzales said:

referencing the Founders I referenced the Founders to illustrate my argument on the question of "legislating morality." They pretty much left it up to the states to establish their own statutes dealing with vice.The states legislate based on those Biblical principles afore mentioned. You stated: " I agree that you can't legislate morality,...So too do efforts to do something about it...(Proverbs 20:1, 23:29-35, 31:4)?" I looked up the Proverbs passages: "Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise. "Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who linger over wine,who go to sample bowls of mixed wine. Do not gaze at wine when it is red,when it sparkles in the cup,when it goes down smoothly! In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper.Your eyes will see strange sights and your mind imagine confusing things.You will be like one sleeping on the high seas,lying on top of the rigging."They hit me," you will say, "but I'm not hurt! They beat me, but I don't feel it! When will I wake up so I can find another drink?"

September 03, 2010

Phil Motown said:

... I like you, Lee--you sound like a nice chap. I definitely think there is more out there that unites us than divides us, at least politically speaking. I do agree that we do a lot more legislating of moral issues than one might think, though I don't necessarily see the institutional foundations of our country as some sort of direct lineage from Biblical principles. By the way, did anyone happen to notice the slight-of-hand in this article regarding faith and alcohol (or should I say, al-kuhul)? The journalist lauds the temperance sentiment inherent in "Judeo-Christian values"--singling out Orthodox Jews, Mormons and (some) Catholics (depending upon location). Yet they conveniently leave out the single most temperate of all religions--Islam! (Maybe if we *really* want to aspire to a higher moral calling, we should all just convert to Islam!)

September 03, 2010

Lee Gonzales said:

Some drink and some don't I had a good friend who was of the Muslim faith and he was sure a beer drinker. He said you couldn't buy beer in any of the Muslim countries. He sure liked to drink beer. He packed them in by the six-pack. He probably thought I was pretty stange too in my eating habits ( wheat germ and honey and vitamins). I can say I had a friend in this fellow.

September 03, 2010