Why are Russians alcoholics?

[JEELEN]

Because they don't have any good weed?

If you had to live in Russia you'd drink too.

Most sensible assessments: liquor is Russia is cheap (often homebrewed).

Something odd here:

"In the 1990s, Russia experienced a resurgence of tuberculosis, considered a disease of poverty."

Ummm, no: tb is a medical condition, caused by bacteria. The spread of tb is most likely connected with the collapse of the health care system, as mentioned in the last paragraph of the OP.

And what's with the inane poll?

[SlowwHand]

It's either climate or culture. I have to think that if the climate improved, all else would have to improve a little bit.
I'm voting climate.

[MikeH]

Why isn't everyone an alcoholic?

[Lancer]

The Russians are alcoholics because (drum roll please) they drink too much.

[loinburger]

"In the 1990s, Russia experienced a resurgence of tuberculosis, considered a disease of poverty."

Ummm, no: tb is a medical condition, caused by bacteria.

You are not very bright.

[Asher]

Most sensible assessments: liquor is Russia is cheap (often homebrewed).

Something odd here:

"In the 1990s, Russia experienced a resurgence of tuberculosis, considered a disease of poverty."

Ummm, no: tb is a medical condition, caused by bacteria. The spread of tb is most likely connected with the collapse of the health care system, as mentioned in the last paragraph of the OP.

And what's with the inane poll?

INANE?

HOW RUDE!

[onodera]

Drinking culture.
Bizarre Russian drinking habit #1: If a guy stands outside a pub and he shows a given number of fingers (2, 3, etc) to you it means he wants to split the cost of a bottle of vodka (or other drink) with that number of people (whoever shows up and wants in, in other words).

Outside a pub? In Russia? It should be a grocery store, not a pub.

Well, the reasons are clear.
1. It's the drinking culture, fostered by the Imperial goverment that used vodka as a form of taxation on the peasant masses. Alcohol is a very important part of social life here. One of the people I know, an Israeli Jew, was puzzled by a poll in a Russian blog, "which of the dead classical writers would you have liked to drink together with?". It took him several minutes to guess that a long, honest talk over that bottle was implied. In vina veritas.
2. It's the price. It has fallen dramatically, compared with an average salary. Before, you had to pool your roubles to buy one, now you can afford to buy first and find your drinkmates later.
3. It's the economy. In towns and villages where large, state-owned enterprises were the main source of employment, the situation is the most dire.

Of course, you don't have to believe my words, because I'm Russian and I don't drink at all.

[bumfister]

Of course, you don't have to believe my words, because I'm Russian and I don't drink at all.

Clearly you are not a real Russian and you're part Chechen or something.

[dannubis]

Outside a pub? In Russia? It should be a grocery store, not a pub.

Well, the reasons are clear.
1. It's the drinking culture, fostered by the Imperial goverment that used vodka as a form of taxation on the peasant masses. Alcohol is a very important part of social life here. One of the people I know, an Israeli Jew, was puzzled by a poll in a Russian blog, "which of the dead classical writers would you have liked to drink together with?". It took him several minutes to guess that a long, honest talk over that bottle was implied. In vina veritas.
2. It's the price. It has fallen dramatically, compared with an average salary. Before, you had to pool your roubles to buy one, now you can afford to buy first and find your drinkmates later.
3. It's the economy. In towns and villages where large, state-owned enterprises were the main source of employment, the situation is the most dire.

I don't care why, but it has made you annoying SOBs. Russians are really the only people I loathe working with.

[rah]

I prefer our Russian developers over their Indian counterparts.
They communicate better and don't quite smell as bad.

[dannubis]

True as that may be, Indians tend to be less of SOBs once you put them in their place.

[Blaupanzer]

People, culture, and climate. Melancholie people caught in a very cold climate, with a culture that does not condemn heavy drinking leads to heavy drinking. Or so it seems.

[Japher]

True as that may be, Indians tend to be less of SOBs once you put them in their place.

Where's that? Running a casino?

[JEELEN]

You are not very bright.

That may be, but I'm at least brighter than you.

[Boris Godunov]

That may be, but I'm at least brighter than you.

No.

Why are Russians alcoholics?

I say it's because of Russian gloominess. Russians have to have the most depressing culture in the world. Their art is all about pessimism, sadness, angst, etc. Nobody leaves a Russian opera whistling the tunes cheerfully, they leave needing a stiff drink...