Hide the Booze, Lose the Empire

Speaking of Russkie prohibitionism, the National Security Archive has published a big batch of declassified 1985 documents relating to Ronald Reagan's first summit meeting with Mikhail Gorbachev, and the general state of perestroika at the time. My favorite of the bunch is the minutes from a disastrous April 4, 1985 Politburo meeting about launching a robust new "anti-alcohol campaign." Some excerpts from the recommendations by Comrade Solomentsev:

The need to increase the prices for wine and vodka products with the purpose of decreasing the demand for those was discussed.

A proposal was introduced to increase the legal age of persons to whom alcoholic drinks could be sold.

It seems expedient to prohibit selling spirits to persons younger than 21.

It would serve the interest of preserving and strengthening [people's] health in the most critical period of their physical development.

It is extremely important that the proposed regulations forbids sale of alcohol to persons of draft age and to young servicemen, which consequently, will help improve the discipline in the army.

I think that even if at first we will not be able to achieve implementation of this ban everywhere, still, its moral and psychological influence will definitely be very positive and will serve as a serious restraining factor. […]

I would like to emphasize that the drafts of the proposed documents reflect the opinion and the mood of wide masses, of the party and Soviet organs, and of public organizations.

Yeah right, commie! As the NSA points out, these proposals "became the source of great public outcry and resulted in significant losses of productivity in wine-producing areas in Southern Russia, Moldavia and Georgia." Proving once again that you just don't stand between a man and his booze, especially a Russian and his vodka.