Alcohol Abuse And the Soviet Military

Abstract

Alcohol abuse in the Soviet Union has been the subject of jokes and misinterpretation in the West. This article describes the cultural, sociological, and political forces around and within the Soviet drinking problem. The Western stereotype of the Soviet soldier as a drunkard is tempered with a prediction suggesting how warfare may affect his drinking habits. Possible short and long-term effects of continued alcohol abuse by large portions of the Soviet population are examined for its impact on their future military potential. The article attempts to refocus attention away from traditional preconceptions of Soviet drinking and toward areas that will affect current and future soldiers' performances.