UDC

94(47).083

DOI

10.37482/2687-1505-V197

Authors

Ol’ga V. Kalyuzhnaya
Vladimir Law Institute of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia; ul. Bol’shaya Nizhegorodskaya 67е, Vladimir, 600020, Russian Federation;
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9167-6652 e-mail: kalyuzhka@list.ru

Abstract

This article examines the projects aimed to combat peasant drunkenness that were discussed by the local committees of the Special Meeting on the Needs of the Agricultural Industry in Russia in 1902–1903. The attitude of the committee members to drunkenness as a social, economic and medical problem is shown. Committee members identified the following factors as provoking peasant drunkenness: monopoly on alcohol (which prompted an increase in illegal trade), large number of holidays, as well as traditions of drinking alcoholic beverages in connection with socially significant events. Further, key negative phenomena of peasant life caused by drunkenness highlighted by the participants of the local committees are analysed here: economic and moral decline, increased crime rate, and growing number of diseases (primarily mental). In addition, the main projects against drunkenness that were discussed by the district and provincial committees are considered. The projects proposed can be roughly grouped as follows: measures for substituting vodka for milder alcoholic beverages (in particular, beer); measures for restricting the use and sale of vodka (a ban on sale during holidays and socially significant events, as well as a complete ban on production and sale); tougher penalties on drunkards; educational measures. The final decisions adopted by the committees were, however, less stringent and mainly focused on reducing the consumption of alcoholic beverages in the street and limiting the places and hours of sale of vodka, as well as on spiritual and moral education of peasants by teachers and clerics.

Keywords

fight against drunkenness, monopoly on alcohol, vodka, peasantry, peasant everyday life, drunkenness

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