How Vodka ruined Russia

[@miniusername2082]

I'm from russia. This video is on point, but I would like to add a few things. First, vodka was a popular commodity in the last 20 years of soviet union. Good workers were given bottles as bonuses, and tickets to buy special food could be often exchanged for vodka. One of my grandparents did not drink, and frequently exchanged his "bonuses" for sausage and milk. Second it isn't just vodka, nowadays beer is very popular among teenagers, I knew people who would down a bottle or two of baltica 10 every evening for years while sitting on a bench with their friends. The amount doesn't seem that bad, but don't ignore the "every day" part. Also homeless and very poor people drink troinoi odekolon, it is a very cheap perfume that has ~60% alcohol in it. That stuff is very toxic when consumed and quickly kills the poor chap who drinks it.

[@miniusername2082]

@@shortjohnsilver4605 rings a bell! I think it was just not very popular with people I personally knew, but now that you mentioned it, I definitely heard of people drinking it.

[@deim3]

Don't forget about the amount of labour that was measured in bottles of vodka. In some places and in some trades it still is.

[@miniusername2082]

yep, I bet you are talking about electricians and plumbers? As far as understand now it mostly happens in small towns, not so much in the cities.

[@spritecut]

Same in Bulgaria, a cultural heritage that permeates every aspect of culture and society.

[@deim3]

@@miniusername2082 that why I say "in some"

[@paulfekete8116]

There is an old Russian proverb: One bottle of vodka is too much. Three is not enough.

[@B100inCP]

Why is this a proverb? Or what does it mean exactly?

[@nicobruin8618]

@@B100inCP the first part is straight forward. Drinking a whole bottle of wodka is simply too much. The second part is a comment on alcoholism. People who drink that much are never satiated. They have no limits and are always seeking for more.

[@B100inCP]

Nico Bruin Ah, that makes sense. Thank you!

[@notquality3471]

I thought his already drunk in his 2nd bottle

[@elivevile]

that reminds me of "When you kill one, it's a tragedy. But when you kill a million, it's just a statistic."

[@gokugohan4181]

when bread and water are more expensive than vodka, we got a problem.

[@grogery1570]

When I was in Israel I was stunned that a bottle of Vodka cost less than a bottle of coke! It seemed like people were happy to watch you drink the Vodka but didn't like the coke being drunk to fast!

[@johnspinelli9396]

Instead of Houston, Muscow we have a problem.

[@casualbeluga2724]

@@johnspinelli9396 Moscow

[@coffee4682]

@@grogery1570 at this point, coke and vodka are on par in terms of healthiness. Both will hurt you, whether it be liver problems or obesity/tooth decay. Drinking them in moderation, like for celebrations, is the only way you can enjoy them without being hurt by them

[@hmswarspite3233]

@@slawawacker yea its definitely going down in consumption but it still has a long way to go the best way to fix it is to limit how much alcohol people can buy and how much alcohol is in other products as just like other country's if you make alcohol hard or impossible to get people will find any alternatives.

[@cinemaocd1752]

I have worked with many Russians in the U.S. and they all tell stories about being issued vodka while doing army service or while doing agricultural work. The idea that people with machine guns and tractors were issued vodka and regularly worked drunk is completely terrifying.

[@nunyabidness3075]

During the 70’s much of the US Army got drunk at lunch or soon after.

[@komiks42]

During ww2, think that sometimes happend was, that before attack soldiers get vodka. Because you are more brav.. stupid when you are drunk.

[@squirlmy]

Yes, that was one byproduct of Vietnam that continued even after the war ended. When the war was still going on in the early 70s, it was tough being sober when considering what might happen to you.

[@polha4966]

europeans have a high tolerance to alcohol that you americans do not have. This is due to genetics. The europeans drink alcohol more than 10 thousands years now aka for more than 10 milleniums. It was a staple in their diet. While you in the americas most of you have amerindian blood in you and amerindians did not drink alcohol thus you have very little tolerance to alcohol

[@nunyabidness3075]

@@polha4966 😂🤣😂🤣😂

[@bigpelit]

Lenin: The Bar is closed. Stalin: THE BAR IS OPEN

[@travisnelson9104]

Lenin was a much more stand up man.

[@j-maoh2086]

He was just Lenin a hand

[@OtakarAtLJ]

Gorbatchev: No more bars in the country! Yelstin: The country is the bar now.

[@krylatich]

Due to aids

[@krylatich]

@Kildare Aleksander ооо, либераху порвало)))

[@vadushka6399]

Being Slavic myself, I’ve noticed a lot of westerners seem to joke about Russians being alcoholics and vodka and how funny it is but living with it is a horrible thing. Alcoholism isn’t a joke and it’s probably the most toxic thing about Eastern European culture.

[@abellopez6313]

i agree

[@gamerito100]

Vadim G Nah, everyone has problems with alcohol in their country, vodka is just used as stereotype

[@codyblea3638]

Just remember, pretty much every westerner has a family member or friend that is an alcoholic. Our cultures are just different enough that they see the things in your culture, that they ignore or downplay in their own.

[@colleennewholy9026]

As someone who grew up on an Indian Reservation in the US. I agree. We get stereotyped so badly with being alcoholics, but once you actually step foot into the villages and towns, you'll see why No industry, no way to put ourselves to use. Because of the Governments restrictions on the usage of our lands Not to mention every goddamned gas station around the borders have alcohol, and willingly give it to Native people to keep us from complaining Yet here I am. I don't drink, do drugs or even smoke. But I still get slammed with the alcoholic thing, though those same people have alcoholic tendancies or family members Damn hipocrites

[@SteveOnlin]

@@gamerito100 we don't have an alocoholism issue in my country

[@GijsTheDog]

The tour through Detroit looks like Fallout on high graphics.

[@JewTube001]

16 times the detail!

[@marijakurosaki3967]

@@JewTube001 try living there. *sigh*

[@Flight_of_Icarus]

The downtrodden parts of European cities aren't much different. The poorer parts of Rome, Berlin, London or Moscow look every bit as miserable. It's not a uniquely American problem.

[@wallawisquadmusic6108]

Jeroen Du Moulin sad part is that even abandoned Soviet cities look better than that

[@colinboyd9121]

Was that illustrating the opioid part? But opioids aren't a problem in black America.. that was the crack epidemic back in the 80s (and the CIA's role is pretty relevant to this video.)

[@kenster8270]

One thing that rural Russia has in common with Indian reservations across North America is the alcohol abuse fueled by a profound sense of hopelessness among all generations.

[@Kevin-jb2pv]

I was just going to comment about the similarities between the stories of alcoholism and the stories I've heard coming from Indian reservations. I knew a guy that worked for a charity on the outskirts of a reservation, and he told me awful stories. The worst I heard was the one about a teenaged girl who would go back around to her father's house to pimp herself out to him for bottles of liquor.

[@peanutbubbles7958]

there really is something about humans and turning to addiction in extremely dire circumstances. the same thing is happening to the San people (native people of Botswana- look up the court case they are currently fighting to be able to keep their native lands, that they’ve been in for over 200,00 to 250,000 years, because Botswana government wants to mine diamonds. it’s disgusting.) there is much alcoholism amongst the San people who were/are being displaced and put onto reservations. they cannot hunt there, they cannot follow seasonal hunting/gathering routes, they cannot practice there native cultures properly on these reservations…

[@ethakis]

The fact that it was expected for a Russian to drink the entire bottle and therefore they made it so you couldn't put the cap back on is fascinating.

[@pdsnpsnldlqnop3330]

Wine. Same design.

[@Yous0147]

I think it was also an intentional thing, that way more is sold.

[@jsplit9716]

@@pdsnpsnldlqnop3330 not really. Firstly wine only has like a hird of the alcohol content vodka has. Secondly wine will start to go bad once you open that bottle. It starts to oxidize and will taste terrible, if open for long. Closing the cap wouldn't do anything. That is especially significant for red wine.

[@Turalcar]

@@cakmadavinci8901 Yes. This is a common subject of a joke called "looking for a third" because 3 was considered an optimal amount of people per half-liter bottle

[@TheKittenish]

Maybe it is not that crazy if you compare it to a bottle of beer or soda, you can't close those either. But it does showcase how much they drank.

[@marijakurosaki3967]

I was gonna joke, "Hey, where'd ya get that footage of Detroit?", but then I noticed the street sign & saw that it is actually from Detroit. Doh!

[@Altrantis]

Looks like fallout.

[@EricMuller]

I could be mistaken, but it looks like it was from a youtuber CharlieBo313

[@marijakurosaki3967]

@@Altrantis I want to say it was in this neighborhood. www.google.com/maps/@42.4321929,-83.1080446,3a,75y,196.44h,85.06t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sXNxeptfs31FIqy4EOTNSdQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

[@marijakurosaki3967]

@@EricMuller, could be, but since I'm from metro Detroit, it looked so very familiar when we'd go "downtown". In this neighborhood, even the police are cautions when driving through it. www.google.com/maps/@42.4322965,-83.1101678,3a,60y,311.73h,92.42t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1ss8vMgy-Y-uHA1BeLrx8Piw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

[@marijakurosaki3967]

@@daniel06977, every Detroiter hopes & prays for that day.

[@fancywrong6405]

Not-so-fun fact: The russian space agency Roskosmos switched from ethanol as rocket fuel to a form of kerosine because the workers started DRINKING THE ROCKET FUEL. EDIT: Wow thanks for all those likes! Now please listen to my fucking album, I'm broke

[@Shrike200]

Some Soviet aircraft radar and electronic systems worked on a constant loss cooling system using alcohol as a coolant. For example the MiG21 airbourne intercept radar, which could only be active for twenty minutes or so before the coolant ran out. Same problem. 'Oh look Yuri, the planes are back! *And I can promise they used their radars. A lot.*' wink, wink...

[@jacobackley502]

Brazil had a similar problem with automobile fuel. They used ethanol derived from sugar cane (the sugar husks are burnt in electricity plants, fun fact) but people would drink fuel instead of using it in cars. They started adding gasoline to their ethanol to dissuade the thirsty patron.

[@LuizAlexPhoenix]

@@jacobackley502 Eh... The Gasoline part was mainly due to efficiency and as a price modifier. Yes, people drank it but the change was more to do with economic worries than social ones. The government used to change the mix every year or so until the Car Wash scandal was brought forward by the traitors in Paraná and it dealt a severe blow to Petrobras.

[@jacobackley502]

@@LuizAlexPhoenix that sounds more realistic. I heard this is a business law class and it sounded way over simplified

[@EliteFlight]

Jacob Ackley Actually no, in my business classes we were told the same thing about ethanol being drinkin’ by some Americans, so they began adding gasoline to the mix.

[@cloeshay87]

Vodka had ruined my life, from the age of 23 and into 27, I just left the hospital from withdrawal and parts of my organs shutting down from that, please stop when you can if you feel like you have a problem

[@kasperthefriendlyghost8821]

I've had a hard time with alcohol. I feel something not right. I'm the age you've suggested but I've been doing it longer than four years not vodka but vodka and beer. I had a loss close to me and many things but I know it isn't the answer. I want life and to live but I feel as though I lie to myself because I continue to do so.

[@davidhanft5927]

@@kasperthefriendlyghost8821 go to an AA meeting. I’m almost 23 was a hardcore heroin / fent addict for almost 2 years and NA absolutely saved my life. I’d no doubt would be six feet in the ground if I hadn’t decided to go to NA and I’m so thankful for what it has done for me. Addiction is probably one of the most deadly, depressing, and soul sucking diseases out there. It kills hundreds of thousands each year, I wouldn’t wish what I went through on my worst enemy. Truly one of the worst states a person can live in, and it’s one of the hardest things to get out of but it is possible. The important thing is to keep trying, because once you stop trying to quit and have lost the will to live it’s very hard to ever come back.

[@Мартичан]

why stop if in the end it doesn't even matter 😭😭😭😭😞 😂😂😂😂

[@UndercoverNormie]

@@Мартичан Because it kills you mentally, physically, and most importantly, spiritually.

[@Мартичан]

@@UndercoverNormie those are statistics of people who experienced trauma and used alcohol to cope, overall, alcohol does not kill you mentally! It makes you relaxed and happy. Everything in moderation

[@legion999]

Honestly the russian people have historically had it pretty rough.

[@ax1s663]

Its gotten a bit easier, hopefully i get out of russia ASAP

[@insomnious7592]

@@ax1s663 А ты уверен что мамка отпустит? Из России он бежать собрался, клоун 😂

[@Ro0p]

@ScarletDespair who are you to say such a thing? don't make such quick judgments and think of their circumstances.

[@512TheWolf512]

No wonder. Living under tyranny throughout their history, and still to this day the only thing that changed is the tyrant's name

[@DerEchteBabo]

They still had it better than 2/3 of the world though

[@nobleherring3059]

Every time I drive through a visibly broke ass neighborhood, I just can't help but notice the liquor stores are the only thing around that don't seem to be on the edge of failure

[@arthas640]

Makes sense even without the misery angle since alcohol is INSANELY cheap to produce in large quantities so the markups are insane. My state had a monopoly for awhile and i knew someone who worked for the state at the time and since they controlled both retail and distribution if they sold something for $1 they only bought it for about $0.20. Even after the monopoly ended the state taxes still made up over 50% of the end cost. That's without getting into how much the store itself makes off of it.

[@davidduffy2046]

Yes, It is not just a Russian problem

[@Mnnvint]

@@arthas640 Using alcohol for social control was profitable in the short term for the Russian leadership, but in the long run it contributed a lot to Russia's technological and economic backwardness before the revolution (and it probably didn't help after either, once the communists defaulted back to alcohol profiteering). In a decent modern welfare state where you try to have social safety nets for neglected children, give people healthcare etc, the state doesn't collect nearly enough in vice taxes to make it profitable for them. It's profitable only as an extractive operation.

[@arthas640]

@@Mnnvint that's actually why I support legal weed. It's a vice like alcohol or cigarettes but doesnt have the same health drawbacks or the same dangers. It can cause respiratory problems like tobacco and car accidents like alcohol but only at a fraction the rate of either and Is far less addictive then either. With sky high taxes it can still bring in a ton of revenue and have a net benefit... you know, assuming the government doesnt just piss all the money away at least.

[@mechamudskipper]

@@arthas640 i dunno, wouldn't that just pile onto the existing problem because now you have to worry about weed too on top of alcohol and tobacco

[@dynamixstudios9920]

“Everything in moderation, including moderation” - Oscar Wilde

[@mohamedelhaddade6371]

as if 1 glass of alcohol will give you nothing bad ? right

[@andrewprahst2529]

What about the moderation of moderation?

[@Gia1911Logous]

Can I just say, he stole tbat from Kleobulos the Lyndian, who was a Greek and sajd the very famous quote "Πάν μέτρον άριστον'

[@Eroil]

I thought of something very similar a while ago and now am slightly disappointed to see it's already a known and popular quote lol. Guess that means that viewpoint is helping more people since more are aware of it, but can't help but to think about it selfishly

[@ThreeLeftOverCrest]

@@andrewprahst2529 Everything in moderation, even the thought of everything in moderation has to be in moderation. Moderation moderation moderation.

[@MalevolentSpirit234]

Being a little kid growing up in Moscow, I had seen the ugly side of alcoholism within my family. I saw just how dysfunctional my family had become to ever increasing alcoholism by my dad and just the state of despair that put on my mom due in addition to the economic collapse and tough financial situation. It was because of this that I swore that I would lay off drinking (as well as smoking) when I would grow up, which is something that served quite incredibly now that I am an adult. I am not a fan of bragging, but... I have developed a fairly rare yet strong type of self control regarding drunken partying currently dominant in U.S. colleges (I am an immigrant to the U.S.) which in turn helped me make more time for studying without sacrificing my hobbies. It is an awesome thing to be free of alcohol addiction. Alcohol can be fine in life, but only in heavily controlled doses. For those battling against alcohol addiction, its a fight worth fighting. I guess my family story of alcoholism helped me immunize myself against it :)

[@Joyride37]

I feel you brother. I served some time in the army and the alcoholic culture in the services is nuts. It makes sense unfortunately, relatively rural to full on remote base life (or ships if you’re navy), stuck in barracks, not much to do but drink. The expectation/joke is the salty/experienced ones get through the duty day with smokes, dip, and lots of cans of monster, and let loose with hard drinking at night. Every night. Not everyone does it, id say more dont than do, but it is a constant background idea and you see it often enough. Like you, I never touch alcohol a these parties (which are the only way to socialize so it’s you learn to tolerate drink flowing parties or you have few friends), nor do I smoke or drink monster during the day, nor ever have. Lot of people straight up don’t believe that’s possible and think I’m lying. Because how do I get through the day without caffeine, or deal with stress without cigs or alcohol? I find it very easy to do, and I’m healthier for it. But it’s sad it seems so impossible for some, more so when it’s a straight up addiction they’re in denial about

[@fujithegreat6069]

Kudos brosky! It's up to us to break away from generational trauma.

[@clam3822]

with good family support, fathers need not go to the bottle for comfort.

[@TheIT221]

It’s good you stood up to addiction. I’ve also seen first hand what tragedy it can do to families

[@Ifraneljadida]

I'm an American, family came here in the 1800s and before the revolution, and its stories like yours that just show how damn productive our immigrants are. That perspective on life is almost impossible to teach - just keep doing it and hopefully people will admire your actions and copy it. Well done sir

[@TheJosep70]

When I got married in Ukraine they told me: "There are no ugly women... Just not enough vodka."

[@juliovc5630]

Right he was

[@dingdongism]

@Josep Duran Ladies, gentlemen, and enbies: The Male Gaze.

[@americantoastman7296]

Boomer humor

[@the_kombinator]

To be honest, I saw very few unattractive women in Kyiv.

[@erniebuchinski3614]

That's kind of like the old saying we have out West that they all look better at closing time, or that I've never been to bed with an ugly woman, but I've sure woken up with a few . . .

[@Lethgar_Smith]

As someone who used to work in a liquor store, I can attest to the fact that the entire industry is supported by alcoholism and not by the casual drinker. The majority of our customers were overwhelmingly daily visitors. It was a big city, good area, national chain. Some guys were the functional type. They come in the morning everyday and buy their half pint of brandy or vodka and head off to work. Sometimes they pop in on the way home. Then there were the walking dead. They come in about every two to three days and buy a half gallon jug of the cheapest vodka we sold. Young people loading up for the weekend. Middle aged suburbanites loading up shopping carts for some big shindig or their daughter's wedding. But overall were those guys that came in everyday. They were half our business.

[@Tomatow]

Just got out working in a liquor store, wasn't too bad as a job. But I saw the daily guys, even saw one guy straighten his life out get a new car, and ditch his cheating ex who got him fired. It was an interesting job.

[@garak55]

I have a similar experience working at my dad's corner store where we sold lotterie tickets and scratch games as well tobacco and beer. Most of our revenue was from a handful of regular clients that would spend their entire paychecks every week on these addiction, it was really disgusting. It put me through college but it feels really dirty somehow. Considering how heavily taxed those addictive things are, I think our enlightened west is not so far off in terms of exploiting addiction for a quick buck by our political elites.

[@Lethgar_Smith]

@@garak55 absolutely

[@evil993]

@@garak55 the lotto ones are the saddest, to me. What a glaring red flag of a sign of absolute failure when the fact that many schools depend on such money is portrayed as a good thing. Addiction in general is a huge fucking problem in this country, and since I'm dealing with it myself I can absolutely see why it continues to be such a problem. There are very few paths to redemption these days, and of those, even fewer include rational paths that are backed up by legitimate science and not just political appearances. The hoops you have to go through, for example, just to get into a basic form of treatment subsidized by the state in any way, are so insanely against you and your recovery, it's fucking heartless and ridiculous. This "rules are the rules" mentality, when taken to the extreme and discussing addiction, very often leads to death. This is not a question of moral character. Addiction is a disease that changes you and your brain forever.

[@garak55]

​@@evil993 People should look up what Switzerland (one of the most conservative country in the western world) did to tackle their opioids epidemic in the 90s. It was such a down to earth, results oriented approach that I'm really surprised people haven't replicated it. Basically, you could go to a clinic to get your fix completely free of charge but if and only if you showed up at 7 am. This forced people to start having to sleep early so less possibilities to get into trouble, live during the day so more in tune with the rest of society etc... Completely free means theft/prostitution is not necessary anymore so less chances to get in trouble. After a few fix, they would require the patients to go see a therapist, again free of charge. Most patients would agree because most people don't actually like being an addict of course. After some therapy sessions they would be put in contact with some job boards and require them to attend some job training and slowly integrated back into society. The point here is that strict prohibition doesn't work because addiction litterally changes your brain. On the other hand, the more liberal approach of harm reduction by itself is worthless. Sure people die less if they have access to clean needles but if you don't require them to make changes in their lives it's just stagnation. So yeah, an effective, goal oriented way of dealing with addiction on a large scale exists but implementing it requires a certain political framework that neither the right (prohibitionist) or the left (harm reduction) is willing to cede ground on.

[@TTstone616]

"Misery as an economic commodity" Now theres an interesting perspective....

[@ethanstump]

more commodities are based on fear than you would expect.

[@ethanstump]

@Blaster Master also the cosmetic and beauty industry. and self help industry, and insurance. and banking, and cybersecurity.

[@niilespunkari8832]

Italian mafia families used this too, they bribe politicians not to invest in certain slums, this because the slums are a good breeding ground for new recruits for them.

[@basilforth]

Yep, sounds similar to environmental alarmism, inflammation of racism and COVID panic-mongering. Who benefits? Certainly not the people being provoked.

[@Rynewulf]

@@basilforth uhuh. Just compare US and Sweden to New Zealand buddy

[@peteralbrecht473]

I stopped drinking before my son was born my wive helped me immensely, never gave up hope and prayed and cried and waited. I was close to rock bottom, when i finally gave up and said it's enough. Three weeks therapy and my new life began with the help of a good support group that reminded me how good and important it is to stay sober. I had 3 failed attempts before, so i knew, how hard it was and how tempting one beer could be. By the grace of God i could stop and never looked back. My family, my wive and meanwhile my 5 kids are thankful, that i left this evil behind.

[@masha22092000r]

Good for you!🎉

[@tulipalll]

Magnificent 👏👏👏 ❤

[@AeneasGemini]

The reason the rest of the world sees Russian alcoholism as a joke is because the West doesn't want to see alcoholism as a problem. You have older folks complaining about silly things like Gamer addiction, but they don't ever say zilch about alcoholism even though it's far worse. This is because people don't want to see the harm in something they enjoy, especially when they enjoy it too much

[@davidtucker9498]

America has its own history with Alcoholism and actually tried to cure with with Prohibition, which ultimately failed. We recognise the problem, but we don't know how to fix it without violating our ideals of individual freedom.

[@stretopovermind9680]

@@davidtucker9498 What is the point of freedom when it is not supported by will and guided by knowledge?

[@sorryi6685]

@@davidtucker9498 because of black marketing, Mafia and Taxe loss than InDiViDual freedom

[@jacksonlarson6099]

Yep. I live in Wisconsin, and I have seen lives fall apart as the result of alcoholism. Yet, no one in this state dares to say anything about it. Just like with Russia: when it's one person, it's addiction. When it's many people, it's culture.

[@ZombieStar2000]

This describes America's outlook to a T. In media, alcoholism is more often than not the butt of a joke, and when it isn't it's a deadbeat, abusive father/husband. Alcoholism is very rarely treated seriously, or from a place of understanding. The only education we're given about alcohol is, "Don't drink if you're underage and don't drink and drive." Outside of that, anything goes just because no one wants to acknowledge what a major issue it is. Case in point: you can live in the middle of the woods and chances are good that there's an AA meeting within twenty miles of you.

[@OutsidersRo]

My grandfather drank himself to death. My father drank himself to death. My father in law drank himself 'till the point that he lost his minds - and then died. I was raised in the midst of alcohol. I was an alcoholic half of my life. A miserable, miserabile life!... Whoever is gripped by this flagel, is almost as good as dead. I managed to escape...but it was extremely hard.

[@jsv8898]

well played sir, respect

[@peterrisbergs7156]

Russian cigarettes were just as bad. I brought Belamor Kanals back to Texas and Mexicans loved them-they thought it was marijuana. Light a Russian cigarette and it smells like a sofa set on fire.

[@sebastianriemer1777]

My family has a similar problem but with nicotine. Watched my grandfather die a slow and painful death, now my father is withering away and I also struggle with that addiction. I really hope my daughter will never touch that stuff.

[@rockhawksam]

God bless you in your recovery!!

[@dudeseriously79]

Same. It is very difficult if not almost impossible for anyone who isn't basically being guided (spiritually or physically or both) to quitting for good.

[@Kabutoes]

Ivan the Third: “THE BAR IS OPEN!” Lenin: “The bar is closed” Stalin: “THE BAR IS OPEN!” Gorbachev: “The bar is closed” Yeltsin: “THE BAR IS OPEN!”

[@robertn2951]

Putin: "I am the barman in chief"

[@Eridelm]

If the sea was made of vodka I would become a submarine @Yeltsin

[@MrEgorXXX]

Putin: the bar is open and i made a brand new drink called "Novichok". Lets check it out!

[@112steinway]

No no no, Yeltsin would have drunk the entire bar on his own.

[@captainnutt2995]

@@MrEgorXXX I don't know is this joke or serious but Putin never use Novichok.

[@treylem3]

Thanks for this history. My sweet little sister started drinking to 'unwind and cope' with her husband (he had been a vodka alcoholic for years. She died of stomach fluid and cancer. Rest in peace little sis, I pray you're with mom and dad.

[@syndeybinch]

I’m so sorry for your losses

[@treylem3]

@@syndeybinch Thank you

[@S_goldman_]

So sorry for your loss 😢❤ If you don't mind me asking, did she drink wine every night? I have a glass of wine and I'm wondering how dangerous that could be overtime.

[@dianahalwaysseekingbrown407]

Alcohol was my gateway... Recovering addict 4 yrs clean

[@Kraut_the_Parrot]

congrats! Keep on!

[@turcanudan9386]

If you get addicted, it's your fault. If you can't handle more then a few shots, don't drink more then a few.

[@dianahalwaysseekingbrown407]

@@turcanudan9386 sad when backwards and uneducated folks try to chime in.

[@bountifulauto8257]

Monolit wat

[@MrDasfried]

@@turcanudan9386 bro nobody here was talking bout faults so just fuck off please

[@belltowersubductions5104]

As an Irishman who doesn't drink, the pride many of us take in our alcoholism is starting to look even more depressing after this video...

[@Darwinist]

I´m sure if you look into it you will find a similar history of the British gently encouraging the excessive drinking culture on your fair isle as well back in the day...

[@Victor-nd2gj]

Why would you brag about that😂😂😂😂😭😭😭😭

[@belltowersubductions5104]

@@Victor-nd2gj I'm not the one bragging, I'm the one depressed about how much everyone else is bragging.

[@morganschiller2288]

Yes, but your alcohol is delicious.

[@zephyr6927]

@@morganschiller2288 bruh

[@randomdude-4353]

Russians: we are stuck in a system forcing us to get addicted to vodka Nonrussians: Haha funny Russian man go drink

[@coltonbates629]

@TURD BURGLAR WhY DoNt ThEY JuSt StAHp BeIng SaD?

[@ushikiii]

@TURD BURGLAR Russians are in a tight space right now, it would make sense for the population to drink. You need a foundation to build confidence and integrity, there isn't even sand for Russians. I hope their people will find a way out of that cold hell.

[@keepinmahprivacy9754]

@TURD BURGLAR They have some development and freedom, but the difference from the 20th century is, now instead of Communist party members stealing everything from the people, it's members of the party that used to be named the Communist party stealing everything from the people.

[@stretopovermind9680]

@@ushikiii - it would make sense for the population to drink Wrong. Drinking _never_ makes any sense.

[@ushikiii]

@@stretopovermind9680I can agree with that. I don't drink and I don't think drinking is good it just that populations that are deprived turn to substances a lot of the times. I didn't mean they should drink but it makes sense why Russians do drink, because they are depressed.

[@moncorp1]

I used to travel to russia on business. Many times. Learned to really love the place. Made some good friends there, saw some very cool things and places. But I can tell you this, there is a percentage of the population absolutely wrecked by alcohol. I was over there 23 times and 8 of those times I'd see someone dead in the street from being hit by a vehicle. At first I thought it strange, but then my driver or translator would tell me that those were drunks that were either intentionally committing suicide or were drunks that were so wasted they would step out into traffic and get hit. Always seemed to be between 7-10 at night.

[@juanmonge7418]

Visit a town close to an Indian reservation. You will see people lying on the street with cheap beer.

[@S_goldman_]

People also drive there drunk or just drive aggressively

[@Liusila]

What city or area did you use to travel to in Russia?

[@gerardadri9389]

about 6:35 - George Orwell also notes in 1984 that the only relief the civilians have under big brother are bad quality cigarettes and foul tasting liquor.

[@therideneverends1697]

I always thought that was a funny bit, a part of the book people look over

[@nathanseper8738]

Meanwhile, Inner Party members are allowed to enjoy wine. 1984 is such a deep book despite its unambiguously vile setting.

[@nulolove]

And in Animal first they banned alcohol then when Napoleon becomes the leader he alcohol

[@yankeehunter4726]

That is a really bad vicious circle. Bad economy/no goverment revenue > Life becomes worse for the people > People start to drink/goverment sells vodka for revenue > workers become inefficient > Bad economy/no goverment revenue

[@stevencooper4422]

Imagine poisoning your own population you rule over. That's got to be the most stupid long term strategy.

[@AureliusLaurentius1099]

Go to war with a foreign power > Looses the war because your populations are mostly drunkards > bad economy/no government revenue

[@jonathannetherton6727]

Your population is chronically addicted to the substances you control - price surges and shortages the stick, surpluses the carrot. So what if you rule a drunken half-hearted oligarchy, you rule absolutely and on a level beyond rationality. You just have to be more willing to rule in hell than serve in heaven. Most leaders are fine with this choice.

[@apollomars1678]

UNIRONICAL sometimes it is a good spiral. bad economy >/+ no goverment budget > life for people sucks > people start to do all kind of drugs > state give a high quality, local drug to secure quality standarts > money + better drug situation > life for people improve > more investments by better view of live > good economy dont belive it? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rothaus same story, invented 1790 to fight foreign beer for local products and to switch drinker from liquor to beer of good quality. made to a monopol by the monarch, got into public hands 1918 and still remains.

[@hschan5976]

Yes but the government doesn't have to sell vodka to make revenue. There are other ways to increase revenue such as by improving work environment of businesses and individuals by clamping down on corruption but this requires strengthening judicial independence and transparency which inevitably also reduces the level of control that the government has over the society. But Putin is not willing to lose control. Rather he wants to stay in power forever. Therein lies the conflict of interest between improving his country and keeping control.

[@hummingpylon]

I was born in USSR, both of my parents were alcoholics and died in their 40s, that is the average life span of an alcoholic if they get lucky and not get poisoned by the cheap moonshine. In case of vodka it can be the heart of the party sure, but it is also bondage, humiliation, degradation, dehumanization, ruination and annihilation.

[@godisdeadandwememedhim4174]

Wow I’am so sad for your and your parents

[@coltonbates629]

@tiernan wearen Good for you, man. Hold strong, good luck

[@ahmetmertozturk7099]

I hope everything is going well for you now.

[@trevorcorey7910]

That’s a lotta tions

[@MrCmon113]

Worth it.

[@Miklos82]

I remember a joke told by my high school history teacher that their were many factories in Russia that produced only two products- industrial strength alcohol and cheap vodka. The problem was, no one knew where one production line ended and the other began...

[@kubz1570]

Imagine a Russian Breaking Bad spinoff but instead of meth, they make homemade vodka.

[@pilotj9467]

"Dmitri, we have to brew."

[@Vezmus1337]

"Gather the potatoes, Dmitri!" "Da, science comrade!"

[@terzon2644]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXvFZ3tjbdB7eac here you go buddy

[@brandonprendergast8342]

Thanks

[@kubz1570]

@@terzon2644 Oh my god

[@LA2047]

You know the most constant thing about the state-sponsored addiction programs? Whether they be vodka in Russia or opioids in the US, the people who profited most from their societal harm never face one, single, damned penalty.

[@E4439Qv5]

Purdue got hit, but we both know they were just the middlemen. The producers got away.

[@Snyde70]

@@E4439Qv5 The company got hit, as far as I know the individuals responsible got off scott free and made off insane amounts of wealth.

[@msachin4885]

@@Snyde70 Read up on the Sacklers: the fathers of the Vicodin crisis in the US. Purdue did take a hit but the Sacklers, who most experts believe is at the heart of the issue, have remained untouchable to a 3rd world country degree. Their personal wealth as a family is still unknown but estimates have put even Bezos to shame. In terms of consequence, the fact that you likely may have ever heard of them speaks volumes about how easily they got away with it

[@8ofwands300]

How is the opioid problem in the USA " state sponsored"? I think unfettered capitalism is more to blame. And, yes in the USA many of these pharmaceutical companies and owners are being slapped with huge lawsuits by various states. And these lawsuits are generating billions of dollars in settlements. So in that respect there is some accountability. But how the money gets spent to address this problem is the question.

[@msimon6808]

Addiction is a symptom of PTSD. Dr. Lonny Shavelson found that 70% of female heroin addicts were sexually abused in childhood. People in Chronic Pain Chronically Take pain Relievers. We persecute such people and call it morality. There are no addictive substances. There is only pain and pain relief.

[@HomersIlliad]

I'd like to learn more about Mexico's addiction to tacos, please. Edit: Wait, is this a real thing?

[@erickhiguera6644]

more like addiction to corn-based food

[@richardarmstrong9770]

More like the government has literally been overpowered by drug cartels

[@lizzetcortes4033]

Almost everything we eat has some form of corn in it and our health services spend more on treatment for obesity related diseases for a single month than they do on cancer and pediatric treatment in a whole year

[@PlamThePlam]

more like more like

[@spartanx9293]

@@lizzetcortes4033 well there also rice and beans (my grandma's mexican American and almost every meal she made had rice corn or beans)

[@EyubYildirim]

I am not from Russia but I want to comment on this topic. I am an alcoholic as of now. I love to drink with friends and if not one is available I drink by myself. It takes my mind off the daily struggles. I am functional at this point, alcohol doesn't affect my daily life, I drink mostly at night. But I am afraid that a day will come and I will go to work drunk. I want to quit but I am unable to do so. I cannot socialize without it, I cannot sleep without it. I am drunk writing this comment. Thank you for this video.

[@kingcaique]

You can become free of its influence. It’ll be hard, but you can do it! You got this!

[@emanuelmaldoileacont8253]

Ur dumbb af,u say it doesn t affect ur life when it clearly does Wake up and stop crying here

[@jvharbin8337]

Phenobarbital can help with the withdrawal symptoms. Get help now before you damage your liver to the point of no return.

[@merlingeikie]

Yes...organised withdrawal avoids serious dangerous sudden withdrawal.

[@stephenwest6738]

@burybury4206 AA has helped millions. Stop hurting people

[@rodericfabian1785]

Yes, comrade. Religion is the opiate of the people. Here, have some vodka.

[@davidtucker9498]

@Daniel Kolbin And yet, if the Russian people had listened to Jesus, they would not be addicted to Vodka...

[@davidtucker9498]

​@Daniel Kolbin So are you stupid, or just grossly ignorant? Ephesians 5:18 "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit," Romans 13:13 "Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy." 1 Peter 4:3 "For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries." Galatians 5:21 "envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." Isaiah 5:11 "Woe to those who rise early in the morning that they may pursue strong drink, Who stay up late in the evening that wine may inflame them!" Habakkuk 2:15 “Woe to you who make your neighbors drink, Who mix in your venom even to make them drunk So as to look on their nakedness! Luke 21:34 “Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap;" Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise." Proverbs 23:20 "Do not be with heavy drinkers of wine, Or with gluttonous eaters of meat;" Isaiah 5:22 "Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine And valiant men in mixing strong drink," 1 Timothy 3:3 "not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but [be] gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money." 1 Corinthians 6:10 "nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God." Proverbs 23:21 "For the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty, And drowsiness will clothe one with rags."

[@okanugurlu3261]

haha

[@HeroinChrist]

David Tucker I fear those who take such confidence in the ancient words of unknown men, for those same men have claimed to be ordered by Yahweh to rape and murder innocent beings. Many historical figures who have “listened to Jesus” were the most brutal of men, and rightfully so considering the word of their lord.

[@astreocclu]

@@HeroinChrist "Most brutal of men", compared to hitler, stalin, lenin, mao, pol pot? You were taught your history by anti Christian forces, you should probably rethink it.

[@cow1816]

I like how this implies that the Russian royal family somehow screwed up SO bad that even the drunk peasants still got angry enough to rise up and overthrow the tsar

[@EarlFaulk]

Oh believe me when I say there were a lot of members of the Romanov family that were pissed at the Tsar for allowing Rasputin so much influence. After all it was a prince that shot him dead. I doubt it was really any drunk peasants that contributed to the fall. It was more likely their own family....

[@stuckupcurlyguy]

Imperial Russia was dysfunctional in every way by the end. They couldn't even wage war effectively, which is basically the purpose of the state in an autocracy. Most of the population lived in abject poverty, ethnic minorities everywhere wanted freedom, and they lagged behind severely in industrialisation. But with that said it was moreso the industrial workers in the cities and the army which caused the revolution with the help of certain well-known revolutionaries.

[@tiernanwearen8096]

@@stuckupcurlyguy and the tzar was a incompetent idiot

[@Giruno56]

@@tiernanwearen8096 I don't think he was stupid. He just wasn't a tough figure that the decaying Russian Imperial system needed.

[@tiernanwearen8096]

@@Giruno56 he was he declared war on austro Hungary and came to Serbias aid yet he had no legal obligation to do this. He started a war against Japan was a staunch anti semetite.

[@Berjozka]

I am Russian, I live in Siberia. My family has a deep relationship with vodka. My grandfather is a drunk who started drinking vodka in the 80s and has been a different person ever since. I was born in 2004 and my parents (aged 22 and 20) lived in this drunk grandfather's apartment because they couldn't afford an apartment and wanted to save money to buy a new apartment without a mortgage. In 2008, one fine day, my grandfather got so drunk that he literally kicked my parents and me, a 4-year-old child, out of the house in the middle of winter (about -35C). We had to stay with friends for a while, and then during the financial mortgage crisis of 2008, my parents bought an apartment that we had to pay for 18 years. With some government help, we finished paying for it in 2020. This is a tragic story about how vodka ruined my parents' future, because my grandfather was not a bad person - he paid me a lot of attention. I remember how he taught me to count, play chess, draw and so on, but vodka... drives him crazy. He was a professional chess player, a sailor (he even has a medal for participating in the underwater exercises on nuclear submarine), great grandfather and now... he is a lonely old man. Since 2008, none of my family members regularly drink alcohol. Dont drink. Ever.

[@tixan]

Wow, russians actually finish paying for apartments before they die? ^^ If they bought apartment during 2008, and it was finished being paid for 2020, how did you get 18 years? Isn't it 12?

[@somepartyhere]

@@tixan our citizens may ask government for subsidization if they can prove that they don't have their own flat/house, I believe that this is what they did if their monthly income didn't allow them to pay comfortably.

[@tixan]

@@somepartyhere ah, cool didn't know. I was born in Russa but moved when I was 10 so no idea how the system works there now today :)

[@deenzmartin6695]

stop being an extremist.

[@TTFerdinand]

I'm an Estonian so this video applies to us as well. One of my grandfathers was a drunk. He had a mild personality and I never saw him get aggressive, but he loved to sing very loud and I remember being a little kid, being scared and hiding in the bedroom when he took up a song with his buddies. My grandma HATED his friends, many times she kicked them out, but they came back when she was not around. She hid all the vodka bottles, but sometimes he would find one, get drunk and tear the place up in search for more. Sometimes he would disappear for days to drink with his friends and then come back home, humble as a lamb and with shit in his pants, literally. But he loved my grandma and he loved us kids and we really should've had more respect for him. Then one November morning he went missing. We alerted the police, mobilised search parties, no result. Local fishermen found him in April, when the snow had thawed. He had stumbled into a nearby river and drowned. I was keeping company to my grandma when the police arrived with the news, so we organised a recovery team with a ZIL-130 truck and took him home. I was riding in the back with the corpse, I remember staring at it, half eaten by animals, water sloshing around in the cavity where lungs had once been. It was back in 1993, but there are some things you can't unsee.

[@BIGBOPPER41]

I constantly rewatch this video. It applies so well to my Hispanic family. Alcohol has been a running problem with my Grandpa and now a few of my uncles. But you also opened my eyes a bit to how alcohol can be used as a tool. Thank you. People like you inspire me to try and teach. I'm thinking of becoming a history teacher. My love for history is always fueled by things like this. As well as analyses such as this. Thank you, very much. Even if this is a very old video, it's still helpful, and still holds so much value.

[@David-cj8wv]

Yep, I also come from a Hispanic family and alcoholism is a massive problem that’s usually just turned into a meme about the funny drunk uncle and swept under the rug but living around alcoholism made me reject alcohol entirely for years. I drink occasionally now but I’m careful about not getting shitfaced

[@vxxiii4160]

> "The relationship between a society and an addicting substance" > Shows Mexico Ball with a taco You know what, you're right.

[@jonni1486]

>space after meme arrow

[@Vistresian1941]

"meme arrow"

[@XavierbTM1221]

americans and their lovely cocaine addiction medium.com/@aboutrecovery/america-is-the-world-s-largest-consumer-of-cocaine-abb4f0c1da27

[@1N73RC3P7OR]

@@XavierbTM1221 Whataboutism

[@daemonspudguy]

@@jonni1486 it's called a greater than symbol, or chevron.

[@nolimendoza4588]

During peacekeeping duty with the US Army in Bosnia-Herzogovinia and Serbia-Montenegro in the late 1990"s, there was a brigade of Russian soldiers across the river from my brigade. As a physician, I had a counterpart and colleague who I shared time with in caring for our joint military "community". Sadly, alcoholism was rampant in their camp. Despite alcohol rations, there were Russian soldiers who sought other forms of inebriation. My Russian colleague and I attended to severe cases including one fatality who drank vehicle fluids. It was a very eye opening experience, and a sad one.

[@jeffersonaraldi7168]

The positive thing about Russkies drinking Vodka is that they start Killing each other.

[@alexursu4403]

Sadly the still that was often featured in M * A * S * H always felt realistic.

[@josmclove4426]

Herzegovina

[@tatianaes3354]

*It was certainly true for the 1990s.* However, since the 2010s Russia is not even in top ten in terms of alcohol equivalent consumption per capita. The whole video is just a xenophobic smear, pretending that a real issue from twenty five years ago is a current one. Of course, there are still people who drink a lot, but nowadays, there is no difference with most other countries.

[@marcofloresmfcs1]

This is one reason why Russian is loosing and will loose against Ukraine

[@tsunamisurfer6595]

Fun fact: since 2004 alcohol consumption in Russia dropped quite a lot (from 20.3 liters per person per year to 12.8, although it jumped back to 14 last year).

[@an2qzavok]

Quality of life improved quite a bit since then, I guess.

[@miniusername2082]

i think its because 90s were very bad in Russia, and part of this progress is just regression to the mean. Also the new generation is actually pretty good comparatively. Gyms and working out in general are also getting a lot more popular, so is hiking and healthy food. There is more talk about personal and social responsibility. Its still a long way to go, especially in the country, but there is progress. It is possible that there are some systemic reasons as well that I'm not aware of of course. All I know comes from personal experience only.

[@jonmarkusringen1067]

I'v heard they are trying to make beer more popular in russia to combat the high vodka consumption, since beer is no way neer as adictive or dangerous as vodka.

[@Grzhegorzh]

There is a factual error in the clip -Russian government actually pushed back alcohol consumption by imposing tax pressure (so-called akcyz - акцыз) for alcohol producers and limiting minimum price for retail - effect is that average bottle price increased over years. Also they banned any kind of ads on alcohol, try to limit appearance of alcohol consumption on TV and movies targeted at younger audiences. Lately however they eased pressure a bit in terms of taxes, probably to use the very same budget profit said in the clip

[@Grzhegorzh]

@@jonmarkusringen1067 raise of interest in beer is a consequence of the taxation policies on liquor products, there was no intentional replacement, just a market's reaction to regulations

[@maxprice1118]

I’m a terrible alcoholic and when I was in Russia 20 years ago I was shocked by the alcoholic drinking in Russia. And I had lived in Ireland before I went there.

[@FekalistaGrzybowory-lz8lh]

Comparing to casual Russian you was almost an abstint. I know that, cause I used to live in former Soviet Union

[@Leonhart_93]

In that case I don't know how they survive to be 50.

[@TeacherDoug7]

@@Leonhart_93 I'm guessing the lucky ones die in the army.

[@Gia1911Logous]

In the 80s, the USSR was just like: "Help us destroy capitalism for only 9.99"

[@instantinople3796]

You again

[@m4albino201]

That cost me kompot blyat

[@cuckheadmcgee8490]

More like $2

[@terry8794]

Well guess what; it's happening again under woke globalist corporations that sell rampant consumeristic products to the West while exploiting laborers in foreign countries over at Asia, Africa, and other places, all while they say "fight capitalism" and "fight injustice!"

[@primeroyal7434]

I nomnom u rEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

[@imperatormaximus8952]

I'm from Poland, my mom (who lived during the communist times) said that if you invited people to a party everyone had to drink because while drunk you can say things (about the government) that you wouldn't normally, so a sober person could report you to the authorities.

[@Band_Aid_Man_]

my slovak roommate tells me that in music you could not directly disrespect someone, like a politician; therefore, they would use things in their environment to make an indirect comment of contempt.

[@mewmimo8465]

@Safwaan I think the authorities who let them pass also wanted some freedom of speech,unless the fuhrer knows,it's ok

[@aemilious6267]

well that's just waste of energy and time, why does it matter to drink and talk when you won't remember a single thing tomorrow!

[@ReySchultz121]

@@aemilious6267 Frustration births many things.

[@LMB222]

@@Band_Aid_Man_ there was an entire system of "replacement words" in the Soviet Bloc (PL, CS, HU etc). You say A, but everyone knows you mean Ä. The commies can't call you for saying A, though.

[@mattpinkerton6562]

I'd like to make a note on Australia's drinking culture. In late 2019 there was a report that studied our dangerous 'drinking culture' enticing many young men to become alcoholics before their 16th birthday, and how in Aussie culture sobriety is often frowned upon. This report was effectively, though not completely, banned from the public eye, as it was perceived as a threat to the alcohol industry and to the government's high taxes on alcohol.

[@dundun3687]

That and gambling too.

[@D0MIN0W4LKER]

I BLAME COLD ONEA BECAUSE MAX IS A GODDAMN APE WHO FELL OFF INCREEIBLY HARD AND NOW HE RUNS A SHOW WHERE HES DRUNK AND DUMB. WOW WHAT A LIFE RIGHT?

[@localneo-graphic4647]

I hate Australia so much. Highest alcohol consumption outside Eastern Europe, highest drug use in the world, some of the highest gambling rates in the world, yet it's supposed to be this great rich country.

[@tracesprite6078]

Rather wonderfully, one fifth of all adult Australians don't drink at all. Let's keep going in that direction and let's not let vaping slide us back into smoking, which we were in the process of abandoning.

[@lm_b5080]

in France, there was an effort to promote Dry January, but this was completely shut down by the French government who are deep in the pockets of the alcohol industry

[@pppaprenka]

My family comes from siberia and used to work the higher up managing jobs for a few generations at one of the tsar alcohol plants before the revolution. I am really really lucky about the fact, that there is little to none alcoholism in my immediate family. But my mom is afraid to reach out to potential relatives back there in siberia because she knows they might probably be hard alcoholics and we will only have problems after contacting them.

[@FekalistaGrzybowory-lz8lh]

Здоровье!

[@kaiji6479]

I don't know if anyone will read this but nevermind. I started smoking cigarettes when I was 17 years old whilst working a job over the summer. The job went in cycles with two different groups running the workcycles on and off. One of the parties was extremely bad and there were so few people working there with pervious experience of that particular work. They wanted to run the show their way which basically went against over 15 years of normal procedure, and as it foreshadows, it didn't work out. Things got so stressful and neglecting that I picked up smoking for a tad bit over three years. I stopped smoking for a few months but when summer came and I worked there again I resumed my smoking habits and it's been that way ever since. I usually don't smoke much when I ain't working there in the summer time, but nowadays I find myself, more often than not, buying cigarettes just to smoke for a day or two and then going a few days without moking. Sadly this has become a habit. A hard one to resist at that. But after watching this video I see so many similarities to alcohol and cigarette abuse that I don't think I can ignore the fact anymore. I start and stop smoking because of the hopelessness of my situation, relative to my circumstances, and the "despair" that I feel about it all. The sensation that smoking, at first, gives me soothes those feeling, but it doesn't take long before the emotions comes back equally as strong as before. The fact that smoking temporarily sates the need to quell those feeling is what made me realize that alcohol is just the same, and that it continues pushing me down a hole that only gets harder and harder to climb out of the longer I continue. I guess what I am trying to say is that this video put it so bluntly that there is no way I can brush it off or disguise it as a consequence of my circumstances, but rather that I this is an issue that I need to grab a hold of, and most importantly that my life hangs in the balance even though death, or serious injury, from substance abuse creeps up slowly. I'm going to take care of myself in different ways from now on. There are many people out there in the world that have it worse off than me and for me to sit here and whine whilst clinging to the cheap fix of cigarettes seems both hypocritical and naivé. So thank you for making the video and for opening my eyes!

[@pleaseenteraname1215]

Is your name refrence to kaiji anime its good one. Im inspired by your story i cant stand cigerettes smell but have smoked about 20 I have urges but didnt smoke remembering how bad cancer is hope you get over your habit.

[@pleaseenteraname1215]

Is your name reference to kaiji anime its good anime aimed at addiction and lazy people. I have urges to smoke but dont let them win me by remembering cancer hope you get kick it too.

[@waysidetimes9226]

I had a similar experience with smoking/vaping. Would vape heavily to get through call center work. Kept stopping and starting and ended up cycling between vaping and ciggy butts. Getting a new job was the main reason I quit. I haven't felt that constant empty dread/anxiety since. But my Mom also got breast cancer recently, and used that emotional leverage (as well as a family history of lung cancer) to get me to stop. That really pushed me over the edge. Haven't vaped in about 6 months. Still have a cigarette every socially every now and then, but I've had a half empty pack on my desk since quitting and haven't felt the urge. I have a super addictive (or maybe indulgent?) personality, but I get annoyed at my addictions and temporarily quit. They usually come back 3-6 months later. Nicotine was always the least rewarding. Weed and alcohol are hard. That's my piece. I related to yours and appreciated hearing a similar experience. Hope you can find your own personal motivation to quit.

[@niggow]

Great comment, keep it up brother. Stay away from that stuff and face forward - when you put effort into it, things get better and brighter!

[@MrPennywise1540]

Always remember that there are far worst situations and that you are lucky to have the few things you have instead of having nothing. Plus, in our times, we have much more and better products quality than our father and much much more than our grandfathers. We have air conditioner even in our cars and each one a super computer in our pockets!!! I wish my mother could enjoy this marvells...

[@Posark]

When I was visiting Belarus a few decades ago, my friend’s father said he was diabetic and needed to avoid alcohol. However he could still drink “a little bit.” After his third shot of vodka, I asked with some worry, how much was a little bit? He measured with his hand about a third of the way up the 750 ml bottle

[@Activatedv]

Damn this just made me realize I have a problem 😂

[@kavaop2121]

@@Activatedv

[@LMB222]

A third of 750ml is a "quart". That's how much I, a non diabetic, can usually drink.

[@cesenu19]

Alcohol is so prevailing in eastern country. I am slav myself. I drank from the very young age(13 yo). Times are changing but drinking is ingrained in culture

[@antman5474]

250ml of 37% proof vodka is roughly equivalent to 3 pints of 4.8% proof larger.

[@dzikikucdominator7370]

Since vodka was invented in Poland, I can say, we gottem boys

[@squelchotron8259]

The longest revenge.

[@lovepeace9727]

Thanx mate.

[@dzingishan640]

@Marek Tužák pretty intresting but you have to check statistic of your country...

[@lostaccount7323]

You had no choice bro, but it was either extinction or communism. In the end, it's more like rescuing, isn't it?

[@jozefkucera8402]

Dzingis Han Slovaks are tough but not drunk

[@666kingdrummer]

An Old Soviet cynical joke goes something like this: One day a little girl is home watching TV with her Father, an official report comes on from the Kremlin that announces that the price of all Alcohol in the Soviet Union will be going up by several Rubles. The Little Girl is ecstatic, she looks at her Father and asks, "Papa, does this mean you will drink less?" He looks at her and says, "No, but you will Eat less."

[@automnejoy5308]

So dark but so true.

[@hugosophy]

He neglects to mention that many of these people reach a point where their alcoholism becomes a debilitating disease. If they don’t drink they can very literally die. Alcohol withdrawal is one of the deadliest health conditions that can occur.

[@annat6131]

Absolutely correct

[@Xpwnxage]

Same with Benzodiazipines. Two of the few substances that can kill you with withdrawal. Don't ever quit cold turkey. Medicinal low dose benzo withdrawal was the worst thing I ever experienced, I couldn't imagine what high dose recreational withdrawal would be like.

[@edanpino-xt1ph]

One of my neighbors is like this. He’s a veteran with a rather sad and violent story, and he drinks to not die. I pity the man, and I love him and his family like friends. I just wish there was something like Narcan for alcoholics

[@krono5el]

literally all of europes history, even before they arrived in europe they were already booze hounds.

[@misspat7555]

Yep. Valium, possibly at quite high doses, can be required to prevent seizures; then comes the slow process of tapering off the Valium. Doctors often know nothing about this process; the high initial doses that may be needed, or how to taper the dosage. 🤦‍♀️

[@Ostentatiousnessness]

As someone who works in a bottle shop, I can assure you that the miseries that cause alcoholism and stem from it are much more horrible to witness every day.

[@comedybroski]

You sell it prick

[@volkerhartnegg8211]

is this the reason Ruzzians are the most disgusting people in the world?

[@msimon6808]

Addiction is a symptom of PTSD. Dr. Lonny Shavelson found that 70% of female heroin addicts were sexually abused in childhood. People in Chronic Pain Chronically Take pain Relievers. We persecute such people and call it morality. There are no addictive substances. There is only pain and pain relief.

[@thatonelocalauthority2809]

It’s not alcohols fault that people can’t take things with moderation. Those who blame the substance merely want a scapegoat for their own failures.

[@gabrielseth5142]

I watch this other KZbinr from time to time, Sergei Sputnikoff (Ushanka show) and he would talk about life in the Ukraine as apart of the USSR. He said when he was growing up it was common for workers like his father to go to work, come home on time and be drunk off their asses because they would be drinking so much while they were at work they wouldn't even bother going to a friend's house or to a place to grab drinks. Another little anecdote he brought up was the marriage test. Back in the USSR drinking was a huge problem and so fathers would have a sit down chat with their daughters boyfriends and they would pour them drink after drink and they wanted to see at what point the potential son in law would say "no thanks" because they didn't care if the guy had a high position or a car or was handsome, they just didn't want him to be an alcoholic

[@pigpig252]

Of all your videos this is the one I often find myself recommending to people. It’s so wonderfully written and produced. Perfectly concise. Short and sweet.

[@DiegoTheRebel]

"Russians drink like it's an Olympic sport."

[@michaellyga4726]

Who said it wasn’t?

[@kgboftheussr3856]

It's not a Olympic sport For us it's our national sport 😁

[@johnxina2927]

That Vodka it's hard ok

[@divineintellect6420]

We call it “literball”

[@TheDrunkenGunsmith]

I have swam in Olympic sized pool of alcohol

[@wokejesus6501]

"The average russian would finish the bottle in one sitting, negating the need for a recloseable bottle." When I was an alky I worked my way up for about three years until one night I realized I had polished off a bottle of Old Crow by myself. I thought about my new girlfriend and I hung up the bottle for a year. Never had a problem since. If you are killing a liter of vodka every day you are definitely killing yourself at a what I would describe as a moderate-to-brisk pace.

[@samuelnix8488]

Glad you kicked the habit. Best of luck to you

[@parimabartender]

I drink a handle of skol twice a week

[@wokejesus6501]

@@parimabartender as in two drinking sessions a week that take down one handle each? Or spaced out

[@parimabartender]

@@wokejesus6501 like 2 3rd of a fifth one or two nights a week half that another 2 sober another 2 or so

[@wokejesus6501]

@@parimabartender if you're gonna go alky for awhile that's the way to do it. Instead of being always steadily buzzed, sober up for part of the week so you get that nice contrast. I used booze to quit hard drugs so I know a thing or two about functional addiction. For instance, "functional" is always a relative term.

[@jonathanjoestar4911]

Aight somebody put this on a playlist called “actual Hentai” I think they made a mistake with this one.

[@davitdavid7165]

Trols lol

[@SkulloMad]

Is it? Because it seems like Russian's have a history of getting fucked by their senpai's.

[@jonathanjoestar4911]

Skullomadness huh, you are right.

[@patrikpass2962]

@@jonathanjoestar4911 pls center you profile pic

[@apalsnerg]

Hentai hentai hentai hentai hentai hentai ANIMATED NIHON PORN! Hentai hentai hentai hentai hentai hentai TENTACLES AND MORE, OH MY!

[@fearthekilt]

I'm a Scottish American and alcoholism destroyed my life. I'm sober 8 years now and I have a good life now with a hopeful future.

[@tiocfaidharla251]

I've been sober 26 days now, this is helping me. Awesome documentary

[@devonwhite2443]

Keep it up? Praying for you!

[@tiocfaidharla251]

@@devonwhite2443 thank you!

[@mylerwilson4879]

It’s been 5 months since you commented. How is it now?

[@tiocfaidharla251]

@@mylerwilson4879 good thanks for asking. Fell off the wagon for a few weeks because I was on vacation but I'm back to being sober. One day at a time

[@operleutnant7235]

@@tiocfaidharla251 how are you doing now man? Hope you keep it up!

[@juanpaez3382]

if vodka has no smell then why can my mom always smell it on my breath

[@MechWarrior894]

Like an alcoholic can smell his sweet mistress...I don't know how to describe it aside from excellent smell, or a distinct marker.

[@matthew8153]

Juan Páez Because nowadays we mix vodka with other drinks.

[@dustieyyy2747]

@@matthew8153 nah dude, 'proper slav' vodka always has that magical smell of regret and mistakes that will occur during the next 4 hours after downing a nice half liter bottle

[@austy_whasty7941]

The fug? So I drink a lot. And I like vodka a lot but vodka definitely has a smell that smell being alcohol. other liquors especially brown liquors tend to have notes of other things in the bouquet.there’s things that happened to it during the process or added to it to give it something other than just straight chemical alcohol smell and flavor. And a final point I don’t think there’s really anything on earth that doesn’t have a taste the closest thing I can think of is like 30X distilled water or something and even that has a Taste so to speak because I would still know it’s 30X distilled water. Hahah what a fun thing to think about thanks 😊

[@henryburby6077]

Its probably because alcohol drys out your mouth, giving you bad breath.

[@bradmurray1736]

"a lost war Being fought in Afghanistan" Huh where have I heard that before.

[@a-drewg1716]

Britain twice, I think the Russian Empire As-well. The Genghis Khan (while he would almost systematically wipe out the entire population, it was the place he lost his first major battle and the same for Alexander the great). Oh Also the USA.

[@nickart1372]

@@a-drewg1716 I still have no idea why they just wouldn't let them be. Leave them to their own devices. Let them regress or progress. Why does it have to be our children that bear the brunt of some idiotic power struggle for a land no one gives a fuck about.

[@dannylojkovic9680]

Nick Art to make it worse, Afghanistan has been continuously at war with itself aside from a 40 year stretch between 1940-1980 when the Soviets invaded. The tribes there hate each other, and then go to war with invaders, and then go back to war with each other. It’s being discussed now with Democrats claiming they’ll pull troops out with or without a treaty. Even if we do get a treaty, the Taliban will go back to war with the Afghan gov once we leave. The gov (supposedly) doesn’t want us to leave because of this, since they know they won’t be able to stop the Taliban from taking the government over. Regardless, it’s not our problem, and they need to find a way to deal with these tribal issues. Economic development in rural areas could help, but I don’t really know much about their economic capabilities.

[@frrascon]

Funny back then people referred to Afganistan as The Soviet Union's Vietnam.

[@TheRedKing247]

The greeks, the indians, the arabs, the british, the soviets and now, just now, the americans. Empires go to die in Afghanistan.

[@scronx]

Fascinating, depressing, crucial but rarely covered subjects. Bravo and thank you!

[@kori7986]

My father was 50% Russian and his family had all been heavy drinkers. Originally his drinking was moderated but eventually he started drinking a lot more. He was hiding it well for a long time until my family noticed memory problems, he was brought to the hospital and it turned out that his brain was rotting. One and a half years later and he has gone back to normal aside from his memory still being bad.

[@zacksmith5963]

If he was scotsman u might ve nvr noticed

[@ize100]

How tf did he survive brain rot

[@guydreamr]

They don't call it alcoholic dementia for nothing ;)

[@tracesprite6078]

Yes, you actually end up with a section of your brain dead inside you.

[@lucylocket5262]

Korsakoff's syndrome. It's not a coincidence that the name of this type of dementia comes from russian surname...

[@TheGloriousLobsterEmperor]

1:09 Trust me, vodka definitely has a taste. Granted, that taste is drain cleaner. But a taste nonetheless.

[@damondisepio8259]

And.. you know what drain cleaner tastes like? Im getting concerned

[@dagda1180]

@@damondisepio8259 You ever smelled drain cleaner? You can probably imagine.

[@purplereign2978]

Oh it has a taste...like nail polish remover 😵

[@thegoodlydragon7452]

Alcohol has a taste. High quality vodka is considered high quality on account of all other tastes being effectively removed. Low quality vodka has some taste besides the alcohol.

[@illegalewahrheiten2911]

@@thegoodlydragon7452 When everybody else in the world people have spent thousands of years inventing drinks to take away some of that awful methanole taste...

[@vadim6385]

Actually, Czar Nicholas The Second (the last Czar, 1898-1917) severely limited vodka production, and his government promoted anti alcohol programs, which cut alcohol consumption to less than 1 liter per person a year (which is next to nothing), practice kept well into the 1930s, when Stalin reopened vodka distilleries. Even then, alcohol consumption per capita rose only up to like 2-3 liters per person (in Western Europe and the US it's like 8-10). Modern issues with alcohol started in 1960s, when the Soviet government decided they want to cash in on that "drunk money", and started to promote "moderate drinking", where chugging vodka by the bottle is not okay, but couple glasses of wine or mugs of beer after work is good for you, and certainly won't turn you into an alcoholic. This continued into the 80s, when alcohol consumption rose up to 10-12 liters per capita, and together with that came rise of violent crime, workplace accidents, diseases, birth rates plummeted, worker productivity fell drastically. In 1985, when Soviet Premier Nikita Gorbachev tried to enact a "dry law" which drastically limited alcohol production and sale, it was too late. The Soviet economy was already too dependent on "drunk money" from alcohol sale, and with the war in Afghanistan, Chernobyl disaster, and inefficiency of planned economy, Soviet Union collapsed. Gorbachev's successors first declared an open market for alcohol production, but seeing that the market was overflooded by cheap imports and low quality counterfeits, which also didn't bring any money to the state, Russian government have reinstated state monopoly on vodka production, where only a handful of state-approved producers were allowed to run vodka distilleries. To this day, you can't buy in Russia vodka that isn't Russian (like Finlandia, Absolut, Van Gogh, etc.). And for Russian people - well, they still keep dying of alcohol abuse. But there's a glimmer of hope. With the global economy, modern Russia is, well, modernising. Alcohol consumption is slowly declining among younger Russians, who saw the horrors of alcoholism when growing up, and see that life can be better when you're not constantly shitfaced.

[@ageofassassins6780]

Every generation saw but they drunk anyway.This problem will live forever.

[@slawawacker]

Russian alcohol consumption down 43% since 2003. 77% of all Russians either do not drink alcohol or drink it only once a month. Countries like Germany and France now consume more alcohol than Russia. As a result of government actions, the period from 2003 to 2017 saw the prevalence of alcohol dependence in patients registered in state-run treatment services fall by 38%, the prevalence of harmful use of alcohol drop by 54%, and the prevalence of alcoholic psychosis reduce by 64%. Additionally, cardiovascular deaths, which are thought to mirror changes in per capita alcohol consumption, showed a decline of 48% in men and 52% in women during the same period. And homicides, suicides, and deaths from transport accidents-all further indirect indicators of the effects of alcohol consumption-decreased by 56% in both sexes during this time. www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/01/russian-alcohol-consumption-down-40-since-2003-who www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(19)32265-2/fulltext

[@LjuboCupic1912]

@@ageofassassins6780 yeah, but nobody knew the exact extent of it until now, since back then we didn’t have that information.

[@Sharp931]

@@slawawacker That's nice. Meanwhile my government practically promotes alcoholism by allowing its production at home.🤬

[@johnsavard7583]

Oh, so that's why Nicholas II was the czar that got overthrown in a revolution...

[@Mojo_Jojo_001]

Fantastic video. Gave me some new perspectives on how alcohol was used as a tool. It was fantastic how you linked that to the degradation of communities in a snow ball effect and compared it to the drug problems here in the U.S. Thanks for the thoughtful and balanced approach.

[@wl4dymir]

We had exchange students from Russia in high school. One of them (we were all around 15yo) was an alcoholic. He would hide bottles of wine under the bed to drink one entirely before going to school and throughout the day drink something like a small bottle of cheap whiskey or vodka, and then drink some more wine and beer in the evening. I mean, everybody liked to drink back then even at this age but we would do like 1 big party every month or so, this guy was drunk 24/7 it was kind of scary and sad. He wasn't a bad dude too, very gentle and all, never angry or aggressive like you could imagine a drunk would be.

[@ClaudeMagicbox]

Drank a bottle of wine in the morning before school at age 15? By now he is a hopeless drunkard sleeping in his own vomit.

[@frankmiller95]

That comes later. After a prolonged period, drinking changes the chemistry of the brain.

[@danfobb8301]

sounds like my Swiss friends, but they are all rich and productive. Do not blame it all on alcohol. Ever notice that in the Sun also Rises th drinking is non stop

[@smcc839]

Could have started using it to self medicate anxiety, then it becomes a spiraling feedback loop because withdrawal makes anxiety worse.

[@msimon6808]

Addiction is a symptom of PTSD. Dr. Lonny Shavelson found that 70% of female heroin addicts were sexually abused in childhood. People in Chronic Pain Chronically Take pain Relievers. We persecute such people and call it morality. There are no addictive substances. There is only pain and pain relief.

[@bellis724]

I got really sad whenever he started talking about the American opioid crisis not because I thought he was wrong but because he was right. It’s really sad honestly, I can see the affects in my own neighborhood because I don’t live in some suburb but you really do see people that look like zombies, people who have completely surrendered their own lives to a substance. It’s sad man really. I really hope it gets better really.

[@masonthunkwell9786]

You mean people that were lied to and sold down the river by their own doctors. The focus should be on all the "legitimate" companies and doctor's offices driving people toward addiction to line their own pockets and we should be furious, not sad.

[@bellis724]

Mason Thunkwell Yes

[@Jesse-qy6ur]

@@masonthunkwell9786 American oligarchs deserve more attention than your comment gives them, plus there's the inherent sickness of a social system that casts its citizens off as a surplus population. Doctors are just the men who were flown in from overseas who are pointing the gun at you; it required an entire highly-developed system to get them there.

[@wmd202]

American alcohol addition and poverty has existed for a long time but it was never reported on. Until cheap legal opiodes appeared to replace the cheap alcohol with deverstating effects. The american consumption of illicite drugs and the demand for such is another tragic story

[@coraltown1]

the same type were doing meth before that, crack/blow before that, etc, etc .. the victim bit is a myth

[@Sammie1053]

I recently heard about a famous quote by Vladimir the Great. His city was debating whether to adopt Christianity or Islam as its official religion. They decided on Christianity, allegedly in large part because Islam prohibits the drinking of alcohol. Vladimir is quoted as saying "Drinking is the joy of all Rus'. We cannot exist without that pleasure."

[@ДаниилКушнарёв-х1ч]

Allah is gay, thats why

[@BumAssNigga408]

in Christianity being drunk is a sin however you may drink until you are buzzed.

[@XIUnicron]

@@ДаниилКушнарёв-х1ч how dare you insult Allah :( its okay for him to be gay after all he watches all the porn in the world

[@angrymumlukwarrior2249]

@@XIUnicron Allah is God you Are calling God gay

[@angrymumlukwarrior2249]

@@ДаниилКушнарёв-х1ч dont call Allah gay you Are gay

[@JohnNorton5280]

I worked for a Czech film company where crew would go into the village for lunch and drink beer. I would find little Becherovka bottles on set. And I'd drink with them after work. I also lived in Seoul. How I didn't become an alcoholic is a miracle. No taste for it anymore, and no desire.

[@MyopicTurtle]

One of my roommates, here in America, bought a handle of Stolichnaya about a year ago that's still sitting on top of our fridge. The taste isn't bad considering the price, but Tolstoy's words can be deeply felt when it hits your stomach.

[@IsraelCountryCube]

You Russian? If so you badass! Or are your like us boring ass Americans lol.

[@MacMan2152]

vodka is spirit mixed with water, its taste or effect doesn't really differ from one brand to another

[@MyopicTurtle]

@@MacMan2152 Theoretically you'd be right, but try a few different brands, and it's difficult to miss differences in flavor. This could certainly be the result of some combination of cognitive biases, but blind taste tests seem to corroborate this. Fore example: offthepresses.blogspot.com/2010/03/vodkas-and-their-differences.html and www.nytimes.com/2005/01/26/dining/a-humble-old-label-ices-its-rivals.html

[@LV-426...]

Handle? What do you mean by handle? You probably meant bottle.

[@MyopicTurtle]

@@LV-426... handle is a slang term for half a gallon of liquor, a quantity that it's commonly sold in.

[@glittermarsian5054]

When the Soviet Union collapsed, the average lifespan shrunk to around 59 years among russian men.

[@transforgoku]

Did the suicide rates skyrocket after the fall or was it all because of vodka addiction?

[@fhialsdhkt43tg72]

@@transforgoku General poverty, under Jelzin even serious malnourishment became a widespread thing again

[@effexon]

Out of curiosity, what was it before collapse? In US due to opioid epidemic, it has started to fall also , albeit not segregating men and women, just all people.

[@Trainzfan21century]

Everything got better in the Eastern Bloc after the collapse. Russia is getting what it deserves.

[@effexon]

@@Trainzfan21century True, they outsourced everything to satellite countries and "just partied" in Moscow.

[@SherbertLW]

I've been in recovery and abstinent from alcohol for almost six years. This video reminded me so much of the power vodka and other alcoholic drinks once had over me. I'm so grateful that I have gotten past this today, its tragic to learn more about the hidden history of how these destructive tendencies can be promoted to gain power. I felt this video so viscerally :( Thank you for sharing the story of so many generations of addicted people.

[@michaelfitzpatrickjr]

Hell yeah. Good for u!

[@spunkysparks1779]

Omg. I know right? I'm so glad I dont drink anymore.

[@apathyguy8338]

Not me. After 25 years of sobriety listening to some blowhard who clearly has no education on the topic of addiction or alcoholism talk about it with a child like lack of understanding of what addiction truly is is rather insulting. As though just drinking too much will turn anybody into an alcoholic. This bloviating moron should go back to the board and invite somebody who knows what they're talking about to help him write in an informed and worthwhile way.

[@msimon6808]

Addiction is a symptom of PTSD. Dr. Lonny Shavelson found that 70% of female heroin addicts were sexually abused in childhood. People in Chronic Pain Chronically Take pain Relievers. We persecute such people and call it morality. There are no addictive substances. There is only pain and pain relief.

[@seanC3i]

Congratulations! Keep up the good work :)

[@manavnaik1607]

As a former addict I 100% woke up and decided that I wanted to be an addict one day. Life sucked it seemed better and I just googled what drug numbs ur emotions the most. If anyone here is suffering from substance abuse just know it definitely is your choice but that’s an empowering thing to realize as an addict bc tbh a lot of us don’t think of it as our choice for a while.

[@myson999]

Yeah true.

[@vacafuega]

Some of us are raised into addiction from early childhood - it's not impossible but it's mighty tough to quit when you don't remember a time "before"

[@Leonhart_93]

It's the first time I hear someone willingly become an addict. And here I thought that it's not a choice, but people are either raised with it or happen upon it by chance.Did you really not realize it would ultimately add more misery, instead of making it better?

[@manavnaik1607]

@@Leonhart_93 honestly yeah. It seems dumb now in hindsight but i was 15 and simping over a girl. I just didnt want to deal with the emotions and I would go to any length to gwt over it.

[@alexacosta2140]

I’m from Mexico and the same can be said of my culture. Kids start doing blow and smoking as early as 10 down there. They’ll do literally anything but fix our country... Edit: when I say “they’ll” I mean the country in general. The entire culture revolves around alcoholism and drugs.

[@Feelthefx]

I went down to Tijuana and there were 12-15 year old kids sniffing glue/paint. So sad

[@Nicolas-hh5cp]

@Mialisus Don't wish for one, be that Ubermensch.

[@implodingcolon1058]

What's 'blow' mean?

[@Nicolas-hh5cp]

@@implodingcolon1058 Cocaine

[@RealYsaacs]

Yeh, now think about the people who raised those children. It is clearly the fault of lazy, unattentive parents that children start doing drugs.

[@Carlos-ln8fd]

"As long as American life was something to be escaped from, the cartel would always be assured a bottomless pool of new customers". -Thomas Pynchon

[@BY-bj6ic]

"I feel different now, and better, for having had been green, even a sickly green, even for a minute" Thomas Pynchon

[@drrisen-9442]

The irony being that people tend to flee TO America to escape the CARTEL.

[@baconsir1159]

Well, that and rampant poverty

[@fives5555arc]

Unrelated to the Topic but does anyone know the name of the background music that plays at the start of 2:36. I have heard for so long but can’t find its name

[@toolongforyoutoread6]

@@fives5555arc I don't know the exact name but it sounds like Prokofiev.

[@Lost_Gemini]

This makes me so fucking sad. My parents are from russia. My grandma was an alcoholic, so I never got to know her.. My father rarely drinks alcohol. I now feel really proud of him!

[@michelegraham1181]

I don't drink, nor have I ever had a drink. I don't use drugs either. However, I've struggled with horrible depression since I was 15. Sometimes, now that I'm in my late 30s, that's all I want. Even though I've never tried it. I've been on antidepressants, been to therapists, you name it. But in my hopeless moments, I just want something quick that will take the pain away. But I don't because I know that it's too dangerous for me and won't fix my problems. However, because I feel this way, I completely understand how people could fall into alcoholism and drug addiction.

[@docd2295]

Keep not drinking it. You feel good for the night and more depressed the next few days. It’s quite literally a cycle of spiritual death and the quick good feeling is not worth the worse bad that comes. Even from moderate drinking in my experience. Also, drinking when depressed doesn’t even always feel good sometimes it makes the depression worse in the moment especially when you’re alone.

[@gregorywhite9095]

I hear you man and you have my sympathy cause I've been there...please take care of yourself.

[@automnejoy5308]

I'm your age. I've been drunk a few times. It was peer pressure in college. It was really strange. It's like you're possessed or something. There's someone in you that is having a good time but it's not really you. Your mouth is saying crazy things and you're running around, but it's like you're just going through the motions. You don't feel it deep down, if that makes sense. It's all very shallow and artificial. And you start feeling sick even when you are still "having fun." But you feel REALLY bad the next day and it's like recovering from an illness, because that's what you've done to yourself. You've literally ingested poison. I would not recommend it.

[@dorisfromage2349]

My father was a Soviet specialist in academia, and he told me of how cab drivers would soak a folded handkerchief in vodka and then lay it on the tops of their heads under their caps, absorbing the alcohol through their skin to get their buzz on. He once mentioned something about vodka enemas, but that these tended to be fatal because the inner tissues absorbed too much of the alcohol too fast.

[@michaeldromes3948]

We have something like that in Czechia, though of course nowhere near as bad. It's fucking sad how people view our alcoholism as a part of being a czech, something to be proud of.

[@liltrump799]

Je to součástí naší kultury.

[@stuckupcurlyguy]

Czechia is PRETTY bad though. From what I have read.

[@netyimeni169]

Yeah same shit in russia if you are not drinking you are weirdo in their eyes

[@tiernanwearen8096]

@@netyimeni169 yes my grandfather was a alcoholic. I myself have tried vodka it tastes horrible so since then I have given up alcohol entirely

[@garryjones1776]

Yes, same with Poland

[@polterghast12]

You gotta love it when people ask for a source when you literally put a source at the end of the video. Maybe just maybe it's because they didn't watch the video, and only said that because they already hate you.

[@jonasg9816]

@@Surteronarto Source?

[@ninjiango9126]

@@Surteronarto Where's your source? I don't know much about Kraut either, only watched a few of his videos, but seems your info is false and he was the one that got doxxed according to his We wuz huitez video.

[@charlesuzozie5747]

@@ninjiango9126 what's doxxed?

[@ninjiango9126]

@@charlesuzozie5747 Doxxing is when someone posts your address on the internet so everybody knows where you live, which can lead to swatting when someone calls a swat team to your house, and people have died from it. That's why it's a big deal when people get doxxed.

[@Lambda_Ovine]

@@Surteronarto Are you referring to that time Kraut warned some people on the right about the scammer Red Pilled Couch, who he himself had his private information out on the public?.

[@garretttedeman]

Nailed it -- 100% ...Outstanding video that summarizes a lot in ~10 min.

[@Gia1911Logous]

Funnily enough, it's not only Russia who is quite literally drinking itself to death Finland also has this problem and also Estonia Estonia has 0.84 Men to Women Eatio because the men are literally drinking till they drop dead

[@lnopia]

Are estonian women pretty? I think those odds

[@lauriv20]

My estonian grandfather drank himself to death at 61 before I was born

[@mrsauceman5721]

Seems like everyone is overdosing / drinking themselves to death now...

[@ungetabe]

@3rd Degree Burns i gotta say, even though Western European countries drink more moderately, there is still a huge alcoholism issue there. I know that a few decades ago in France, people drank wine like you'd drink water. The issue is still present, as alcohol is prevalent in everyday life. The default social gathering here is going to a bar to drink a pint or two with friends. Parties include alcohol by default too. And alcoholism is still a big issue.

[@stefthorman8548]

@3rd Degree Burns keeping the people stupid enough to pay the water, food, and sugar tax. By selling the vodka cheaper then bottled water.

[@kalsikherensk8440]

So Destroy all Humans 2 was actually making a legit point?" "THEY'RE TAKING AWAY YOUR VODKA!" [audible gasps] "We can cope with anything, if we are having Vodka!" "If it weren't for Vodka, Russia would've been democracy 100 years ago!"

[@the.dandy.man2]

thats why its was funny as hell

[@Lex60]

Before the Spaniards came to America, alcohol was strictly regulated on the eyes of the Aztec population. The pulque [a fermented drink made from agave] was a popular drink BUT becoming intoxicated was seem as the worst thing a regular person could do. Only two groups of people are permitted to be seem drunk: seniors [because they are old and retired and need to enjoy the rest of their days] and warriors [risky profession and low chances to become old]. Those point of views were lost and now we have an alcoholism problematic rate in Mexico. You seem people angry because the prices of tomatoes are up, but they will pay three or four times more for six beers when the breweries closed a couple months ago. Parents will leave their children starve while they beg on the street to buy a bottle of cheap alcohol. Now, for nearly all the countries, is kinda late to teach population that alcohol in excess is bad when is part of their culture to be seen as funny drunks.

[@zoltankaparthy9095]

I am surprised to learn the Aztecs drank distilled spirits. I had no idea that they knew distillation.

[@halphantom2274]

@@zoltankaparthy9095 , he said fermented. So in highest case the alcohol percentage of wine, i think.

[@halphantom2274]

Just return to magic mushrooms and leave alcohol behind. Alcohol is a shitty substance as a drug. Only good for desinfecting stuff.

[@MrArthoz]

That is so sad...my family doesn't drink and I have never intentionally tasted alcohol my entire life. Looking at how my friends sometimes got drunk, I've often wondered why people drink it. At least I know why people take drugs...doctor gave me morphine after a major surgery to help dull the pain, best sleep I had in my entire life up to the moment the dose ran out. Is that the same thing with alcohol?

[@halphantom2274]

​@@MrArthoz , every "family" or category of drugs has a different mechanism it works by and also different effects. Some specificaly bind to receptors in the brain, others function indirectly. Some stimulate, others calm down. Alcohol has different effects in different doses. Maybe that's, why it's so wide spread. In small amounts it stimulates and in higher doses it numbs. It's rather a poison, not a drug that is similar to neurotransmitters with a specific effect.

[@liviodefranza]

I've been few times to Russia to visit my wife family and I was overwhelmed by their drinking culture. Bear in mind that her family is generally ok for Russian standards, they were not drinking every day and in big quantities. I remember when I came to their dacha they were offering me vodka/cognac several times in row, and I can drink a lot without problems, but I just DON'T SEE THE POINT. In some aspects Russian drinking culture looks like binge drinking (drinking to get drunk). I'm a Mediterranean (Croatian & Italian) used to a different drinking culture, we drink for pleasure & alcohol is a "tool" to enjoy food. I told them to stop offering me vodka/cognac because I don't like to be pressured to drink alcohol. Later on I manage to change their habits, they started to appreciate wine because they realized that it doesn't have bad side effects like vodka/cognac and it's good for health (especially red wine).

[@zlr9022]

maybe im wrong, but wasnt red wine being "healthy" debunked? maybe its the extra ingredients and notes in the wine which are good for you, but alcohol is alcohol and damages your body.

[@VasileIuga]

I think Romania, Moldova, Belarus were even worse. In Romania there is the plum, apple, pear version, even more concentrated, called horincă/pălincă/Jin ars/țuică, widely made in the country side without a license in the past. But I think the consumption dropped off since the clients died. But this was a quality product, rarely present on the market or afforded, used as gifts, bribery by farmers. The rest used cheap vodka, cheap beer, rum, pure factory alcohol and medicinal alcohol, the famous one being "Mona", filtered through bread slices. So I think in the 90 was hard to measure the consumption.

[@gaborbendeguzfeher625]

In Hungary despite the fact we consider ourselves middle europeans, I think we live up for the slavic standards in alcoholism. We have the typical vodka beer duo, BUT we have a shit tons of vineries and even more fruit trees our culture DEMANDS to consume wine and fruit spirits. So we live up between mixed standards and it leads to overconsume both of them. So fear not Eastern Europe you are not alone with cultural alcoholism Hungary stands next to you!

[@화차-v7q]

Russian adults drink less than French & Germans, and the US has world's highest drug death rate, and half of US women and 70% of men considered borderline alcoholic

[@thevividbookmark1235]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKrGg4KllKZrf7s

[@thomastruant8837]

In the us you can get 95% alcohol made from corn for around $20 for 750 ml it's called everclear it's basically a tellaportation potion where you wake up in strange places

[@thatromanfella8377]

Got a Romanian friend, his family makes the pear ''wine'' you speak of. 40 proof is no joke

[@lw9954]

My dad has always told me that my grandfather was a great man - a masterful decorator, a kind man and a very strong willed leader. He painted all the houses in our old city. (oldest in Europe, very important cultural monuments to our folklore) Alcoholism killed him in his early 60's. Liver cirrhosis, he died in horrible pain and despair. It crushed the once strong willed man as the years went on. I've never had the chance of meeting him. I am named after him and I will never become a drunk. Now I'm a medical student.

[@msimon6808]

Addiction is a symptom of PTSD. Dr. Lonny Shavelson found that 70% of female heroin addicts were sexually abused in childhood. People in Chronic Pain Chronically Take pain Relievers. We persecute such people and call it morality. There are no addictive substances. There is only pain and pain relief.

[@peterrisbergs7156]

My uncle in Latvia(now 93) said that under communism you stood in front of the vodka store and held either two or three fingers on your thigh signalling that you wanted either one or two passer bys to pitch in a ruble for a bottle of vodka.

[@coldloner7453]

Aye good for you to follow a better path.

[@yordanberov8678]

Here is my story. My grandfather (Bulgaria) was a good technician, however he was almost permanently drunk. Worse, when drunk he violently beat my mother and my aunt, as well as my grandomother (his wife). They all fled in the 90s. He died of liver cancer in 2017 and I only met him once . So, just like yoyz I promised my self to never be a drunk

[@patty109109]

@@yordanberov8678 the best way to never be a drunk is to never drink. Become a teetotaler. I’m so thankful I stopped entirely early in my adult life.

[@Bedinsis]

I always thought one of the commandments of Animalism in Animal Farm stood out as odd from the others("No animal shall drink alcohol"). If Orwell was writing with the knowledge that the Bolsheviks were pro-abolitionists then that commandment makes a lot more sense.

[@masterofreality926]

Orwell sympatized to communism ?

[@Pulsar-1919]

I saw the animated Animal Farm film as a child, and although I had no idea what it was about, it scared the shit out of me. I need to watch it again and get a better understanding of it

[@Centurion101B3C]

George Orwell was pretty well versed on topics of Marxism and Leninism. As was Aldous Huxley by the way.

[@tbotalpha8133]

@@masterofreality926 Orwell supported socialism when he was younger, but lost faith in the ideology after witnessing the behaviour of the communists during the Spanish Civil War, and learning of the horrific authoritarianism of the Soviet Union. I'm not sure what his stance was at the end of his life, but he certainly had little faith in any of the existing attempts at communism (that he knew of).

[@neitherman9997]

@@tbotalpha8133 From what I know, he would have been considered a libertarian socialist. iirc he still believe in the ideas, but despised how it was trying to be implemented.

[@Kiannka]

The fact that Gorbatschow wanted prohibition is really ironic if you consider the fact that probably one of the most well known cheap vodka brands in europe is named after him

[@ricksarvas6563]

As an American that lived in Russia in for a few years in the mid 90s, it amazed me how prevalent vodka was in every part of Russian culture. For those that have never seen how bad this problem was themselves, I would describe it like this: First, think about what American culture is like. Next, take every occurrence where you would normally drink soft drinks in an average day, then replace it with vodka. This includes home, work, walking around town, etc. It was really that bad. Each day, I would see drunk people everywhere I went - public transportation, hanging out by kiosks, passed out on the sidewalks or in the snow. For me, the really sad part about whole experience was that none of the locals seemed to think this was the least bit unusual.

[@roshansreedhar4727]

Mid 90's too, pretty much the lowest point in recent history for them.

[@ashram12]

The soft drink comparison helps explain why diabetes and obesity is such a problem for Americans. I’m from Western Europe, and I just drink water most days.

[@ClaudeMagicbox]

I did business with Russians around 2008-2014. Remember that going to Moskva for business meetings was a pain in the ass, I'm a good drinker myself but have always respected the "After 6 PM" rule myself... these guys started drinking liquor during meetings at 10 AM and I remember that when meetings were over and they wanted to go out and dine/party I was always cooked and would go back to my hotel (they refused to talk business if I didn't down at least a few shots of vodka myself). Fortunately as I had an EMEA position I traveled to many places and never stayed in Russia more than 2-3 days at a time.

[@irving7313]

Can I ask...Why did you live in Russia in the mid 90s?

[@Matryoshka26]

90s was the hardest times for Russia. Perestroika time. A lot has changed there since then. Youth is does not drink like that. It’s nothing like the West is going through these days with the fentanyl addiction though. Like here in the US where I live. That’s a crisis we’ll never climb out of.

[@RyanPowerhouse]

Now that's a voice made for narration.

[@ianpj11]

69th like 😎

[@Palladiosios]

I know, right?

[@n3v3rg01ngback]

US: We have a similar relationship with synthetic opioids. Russia: Hold my krokodil.

[@worldoftancraft]

that famous foreigners' habit of retarded loanings from dead/dying languages. Because there's no such word as "crocodile" in English, I sure, I sure it does not exist here.

[@vanpenguin22]

While I miss my dad, The best thing he ever did for me was to demonstrate to me exactly where i was heading by getting there first, as in, He died of liver failure. And in doing so, put forth the impetus whereby i never drank again. 24 years sober last March. Thanks Dad! Thank you Jesus.

[@Lilas.Duveteux]

My russian dad also told me that cemeteries were hot beds of alcohol trafficking. In Russia, it is good etiquette to thank people with gifts, usually alcohol. As a reward for funeral services, the families of any diseased person would give the undertaker vodka. However, no matter how much of a hardcore alcoholic one can be, no one can possibly drink one vodka bottle per funeral in a large city.

[@tiernanwearen8096]

During prohibition in the USA bootleggers used fake funerals as a way to shift their illicit goods

[@crinji3890]

There is also a tradition (in Far Eastern Russia, at least) of leaving behind a glass of vodka and some sweets, cookies and other snacks along with flowers after the funeral or after cleaning up and maintaining the graves (usually during spring, during the so-called "parents day")

[@Tonyslgb]

Alcohol consumption is indeed a big issue in Russia and some East European countries. However I am astonished by the author's uncritical depiction of the issue with some MAJOR modifications. Specifically I mean the statement about 429 years of the supposedly imperial monopoly on vodka in Russia that had made it a drink of choice (suprised that specifically vodka is that important here) Some facts provided by Wiki: 1. First wine monopoly 1474-1533 (yes vodka indeed belonged to the "wine"class). Introduced by Ivan the Third (that's correct). It gives us 59 years of monopoly. 2. Second wine monopoly 1652-1681; Lasts for 29 years 3. Third wine monopoly 1696-1716 introduced and then abolished by Peter the Great in favor of the excise taxes; Lasts for 20 years 4. Fourth wine monopoly 1894 - 1913 (was fully launched in 1906). That's 19 years for the whole period. Here the imperial period ends and it gives us in total 439 (not 429) years from 1474 to 1913. The monopoly years are in total 127. And that is 29% of the total time the author tells us about . Make your own conclusions about conspiracy statements, but please pay attention to what you are being told and stay critical. The credibility of the author is dubious at best, but that's my opinion. What he is driven by is even a more interesting question. Some fun facts: The soviets had indeed introduced Fifth wine monopoly that lasted from 1924 to 1992. When I considered taking it into the total period it became clear that one passed the 500 year mark, which is not as comparable to 429 as 439. Stolichnaya vodka was far from the most popular vodka brand in USSR, what many sources state. It is however the only brand that was imported to USA in exchange for american import of the Pepsi brand to the USSR since the 1970s. That is the apparent reason to why Stolichnaya has stayed a big favourite when it comes to the depiction of vodka in Hollywood and in general american movies since the 80s. And finally, a bit more positive note. Russia clearly has struggled with alcohol abuse for a long time. And the reasons as usual are complicated. But the statistics from WHO give us some hope. Alcohol consumption per capita has dropped from 15,76 litres in 2011 to under 10 litres in 2019. That's a lot (50% reduction) if you ask me. And hopefully is a statement of some measures that finally give feasible results. This one was a big chunk of text. Thanks for the attention!

[@forthepotentates7526]

Kraut is often biased towards some nationalities and ethnicities.

[@givemeyoureggs456]

@@forthepotentates7526 A person of history cant not be unbiased. As a person studying history the sources are more than biased depending on what they know and want they want to be known

[@larslundandersen7722]

The drop in Alcohol consumption doesn't mean anything unless you hold it up against alcohol consumption in other countries, or alcohol consumption seen through an analysis of a healthy diet. Less than 10 litres of alcohol over what? 1 week? 1 month?. You need to go up to around 9 months, before a consumption of less than 10 litres of Vodka is even remotely near-healthy. Russia has a LONG WAY to go before its even remotely in a good place when it comes to alcohol consumption

[@Namburiadityasairam2605]

@@larslundandersen7722 bruh....it's over one year obviously when he says alcohol consumption in 2019...that's a stupid statement to make, the who reports yearly consumption

[@tinydestroyer4672]

@@larslundandersen7722 he says in 2019 dumb dumb

[@El_Presidente_5337]

Germans with beer: 😅

[@LafayetteDS]

Ha siktir

[@thegoodlydragon7452]

Of course, like everywhere, there are some alcoholics in Germany. But as a whole, the beer drinking is usually moderate or when people do binge drink it’s a weekend or event sort of thing. Also, beer is not as alcoholic as vodka. If you down a typical easy-drinking 4.5% German lager you give your body some time to process the alcohol before adding more, consequently it’s way harder to get drunk. The Germans know this which is why their drinking age for beer is 16 while you have to be 18 for spirits.

[@thegoodlydragon7452]

@JoeRingo118 What does it mean to drink due to abundance? Why would having money make you more inclined to drink?

[@markofthedevil845]

Thank you for validating ALL of my conceptions about this. 1 year sober (again) on a razorblade tightrope. Sickening yet there is some comfort in reaffirmation.... I bought the book too.