The general drunkenness of Russians is a myth. However, a certain percentage of people who abuse intoxicated drinks have always existed in Russia. And the way Russians behaved with drunken people confirms that drunkenness was a shame.
The history of drunkenness in Russia
It is believed that in the pre-Christian and early Christian period in Russia they drank in moderation, since most people did not have access to strong drinks. Wine was brought from overseas, it was too expensive and only the nobility and the higher clergy could afford it. And they did not drink too much, since wine, according to Greek custom, was usually diluted with water.
Common people used kvass, honey, beer, mash, and only on special occasions. Austrian ambassador Sigismund Herberstein testifies: "Eminent or rich men honor the holidays by arranging feasts and drunkenness at the end of the service, and the common people mostly work, saying that celebrating is the master's business."
Meanwhile, Pryzhkov, giving in the book "History of taverns in Russia" a description of the feasts arranged in 1148 by the Novgorod prince Izyaslav and in 1152 by the Kiev prince Vyacheslav, mentions: had tremendous cultural significance."
What did this lead to? Back in 1377, near the river with the "speaking" name Piana, the army of Prince Ivan of Suzdal, who was a relative of Dmitry Donskoy, fell in a battle with the Tatars. The warriors turned into easy prey for the enemies, because instead of preparing for battle they indulged in "merriment and frivolity." The same thing happened during the Battle of Suzdal. The squad of the Moscow prince Vasily II, who lost their vigilance after drinking, was defeated, and the prince himself was captured.
By the way, even then there was a remedy called "hangover". It was a greasy and spicy stew with lots of pickles and tasted like pickle.
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However, drunkenness was not common. People suffering from this defect were subject to public condemnation.
Pre-Petrine era
In 1474, under Ivan III, an attempt was made for the first time to restore at least some order in the alcoholic sphere. The king forbade the free brewing of honey and beer, as well as the use of intoxicating drinks on days other than holidays.
Vasily III, in turn, built a settlement in Moscow called Naleyki. There one could indulge in drunken drinks whenever and as much as necessary, but this concerned only foreigners. Russians were not allowed there.
In 1552, by order of Ivan the Terrible, the first "tsar's tavern" was opened in the capital, where "green wine" was served. Ordinary people could only buy it in taverns so that the funds went to the treasury, while the aristocracy and the king's associates were allowed to produce and consume alcohol at home. By the way, vodka was served to the tsar's guardsmen in taverns, and everyone else was forced to be content with wine.
At the same time, drunkards (in Russia they were called “cock-ups”) were imprisoned in the so-called “beer” prison for the appearance in public places drunk. They were kept there until they sober up. If a person was detained for drunkenness a second time, he was subjected to beating with batogs. The third time, they beat me with a whip and sentenced me to prison.
If the offender was detained for drunkenness more than once, then he could be put in a barrel of alcohol. Its contents consisted of fermentation and distillation products and was so strong that the unfortunate man was literally pickled alive. Sometimes the flesh was separated from the bones and a person died a terrible death.
Patriarch Nikon introduced a ban on alcohol in monasteries, if someone violated this taboo, he could be defrocked and sent somewhere to a remote monastery, and sermons against drunkenness began to be read in churches.
If a person died of drunkenness, he was buried outside the cemetery, usually at intersections, for the edification of others.
During the reign of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich Quiet, drinking establishments were taken out of the city boundaries, and their number decreased. At the same time, alcohol became three times more expensive, and one person was forbidden to let go of more than one glass (this is about 150 grams). If someone was convicted of clandestine production and sale of alcoholic beverages, then he was threatened with imprisonment, coupled with confiscation of property. It was also forbidden to sell alcohol on fast days, religious holidays and certain days of the week.
Under Peter I, the policy towards drunkenness was twofold. On the one hand, the tsar regularly organized "assemblies" where alcohol was served in fairly decent quantities. On the other hand, the subjects who abused alcoholic beverages were subjected to rather severe punishment under him: a medal "For drunkenness" weighing up to 12 kilograms was hung on their chests.
How drunkards were "treated"
In medieval herbalists, there are many recipes for drunkenness. For example, recommendations to add to alcohol powder from crushed bugs, mucus from toads and frogs, horse manure and even cadaveric worms.
Such a method can be considered relatively close to medicine. A patient with alcoholism was let in bees, which stung him with might and main, and then brought a pile. This caused a semblance of anaphylactic shock, and the person was already afraid to drink so as not to die.
If the representatives of the upper strata of society were still treated condescendingly (for example, during feasts, special people were assigned to those who sipped alcohol, taking them out to "ventilate" and relieve their stomach), then for ordinary peasants or artisans libations could end in failure - at best, violent "treatment", and at worst - lashes, prison, and even death.
