Russia: The State of Alcoholism

Grand Prince Vladimir proclaimed, "Drinking is the joy of the Russes, we cannot do without it". He himself adopted Christianity rather than Islam because it allowed the consumption of alcohol, seen as a reason for the whole country to embrace that faith in AD 900. In the year of 1386, "aqua vitae", more commonly known as vodka, was introduced in Moscow as a medical potion rather than a beverage. Alchemists dedicated extensive treatises to aqua vitae, often considering it the fifth element under the Hermetic writings, the primary four being earth, water, air and fire. There has been a…