Pity people who enjoy drinking! But now they give the smoker a rest? Going after drinkers and the obese. Oh boy! It never ends, does it!
In 1970 in almost any neighborhood bar in Brockton, you could get a 16 oz. Narragansit (Nasty Narrie) and a shot of bar whiskey for $.60!
Workingman's luncheon special.
The Gorbachev lesson
Putin has not forgotten his history lessons. The last Russian leader to interfere with his countrymen's drinking habits was former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, whose well-intentioned attempt in the 1980s to reduce alcoholism was a political disaster.
Appalled by statistics that reported up to 40 percent of the Russian adult male population was alcoholic, "Misha" cut back production and hours that vodka could be sold -- earning the utter disdain of the Russians.
Although the benefits were obvious -- longer life expectancy, fewer divorces and accidents -- Russians hated sobriety by government decree.
Gorbachev's efforts resulted in huge revenue losses, lengthy lines and a booming black market in alcohol. More than that, they lost Gorbachev the affection he expected from the Russian people for Glasnost; instead he received only their loathing.
Gorbachev reportedly tells this story: "This guy," he says, "was standing in line for 10 hours to buy vodka, and finally decided to go to the Kremlin to kill Gorbachev. The next day, the guy was back in the vodka line: 'It didn't work,' he tells the others. 'The line to the Kremlin is even longer.'"