Part 8/10:
As the Soviet Union faced economic hardships in the late 20th century, the state increasingly relied on the sale of cheap vodka to placate its populace. Episodes of social despair turned into public health crises that culminated in the need for drastic measures, like Gorbachev’s ill-fated prohibition, which ultimately fostered an underground market for vodka production.
Today, more than three decades after the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia grapples with the consequences of its long history with vodka. While the state monopoly has been replaced by privately-owned production, the systemic alcoholism that once fueled the Tsar's regime remains a persistent issue, mirrored by rising crime rates and deteriorating social conditions.