A fact about Russians

[UMaineTeach]

I learned a sad fact about Russians this weekend from DH's aunt.

Did you know that, even today, 80-90% of all Russians are alcoholics.



WTF.
I couldn't get into an argument with her since I'd never win. I did move seats to get farther away from her.

[Kristinmo]

Is it 80% of all ages or do the stereotypes strictly apply to adults?

[casmgn]

I don't have the exact statistics, but the alcoholism rate is very high. Medvedev had declared the problem a national disaster.

[Deleted]

Aug 13, 2012 21:27:04 GMT -5 NewOrleans said:

Aug 13, 2012 21:11:41 GMT -5 Kristinmo said:

Is it 80% of all ages or do the stereotypes strictly apply to adults?

I think about 20% of kids between 10-15 are regular drinkers.

My family went to Russia when I was in high school. The kids in my family ranged from 14 to 19. The Russians offered us vodka - straight, of course - at 8:00 a.m.

Pretty sure my face looked like this:

[Kristinmo]

I don't deny that there is a drinking problem in Russia. But 80-90%??

[casmgn]

It was just a year ago that beer was actually classified as an alcoholic beverage.

[emilyj]

I'll have to inform my two friends from Russia that they are most likely alcoholics.

[Deleted]

Aug 13, 2012 21:59:18 GMT -5 emilyj said:

I'll have to inform my two friends from Russia that they are most likely alcoholics.

LOL.

Yeah, I know it's a problem, but the 80-90% figure does seem high.

I think I just like the Russians because they make Wisconsinites look downright moderate in our drinking.

[starlily]

Aug 13, 2012 21:47:56 GMT -5 @angryharpy said:

Aug 13, 2012 21:27:04 GMT -5 NewOrleans said:

I think about 20% of kids between 10-15 are regular drinkers.

My family went to Russia when I was in high school. The kids in my family ranged from 14 to 19. The Russians offered us vodka - straight, of course - at 8:00 a.m.

Pretty sure my face looked like this:

Many years ago gold medalist Oksana Baiul got a DUI & then went on Oprah for the requisite mea culpa. Except I bet her agent really didn't expect her to say instead (paraphrasing): "Eh. I'm Russian and we drink vodka. It's just what we do."

[ttt]

Aug 13, 2012 21:59:18 GMT -5 emilyj said:

I'll have to inform my two friends from Russia that they are most likely alcoholics.

Only one and 4/5 of them.

[OscarQ]

2 million alcoholics according to this article. 142 million total population

This is kind of eyebrow raising though: "The number of Russian children aged 10-14 who drink alcohol exceeds 10 million."

m.theatlanticwire.com/global/2011/02/alcoholism-is-killing-off-russian-men/17768/

[UMaineTeach]

so she was close
80-90% is just .01% rounded.

[starlily]

Aug 13, 2012 22:11:57 GMT -5 NewOrleans said:

Oksana Baiul is Ukrainian. Why would she call herself Russian?

Don't know, but she said it. I was actually fuzzy on the first half of the conversation. It was long island iced teas, not vodka: www.apnewsarchive.com/1997/Baiul-talks-with-Oprah-about-car-crash/id-1fe0bf31f62d559b2f63f59de2cb7d3a

[decemberwedding07]

Aug 13, 2012 22:01:06 GMT -5 @angryharpy said:

Aug 13, 2012 21:59:18 GMT -5 emilyj said:

I'll have to inform my two friends from Russia that they are most likely alcoholics.

LOL.

Yeah, I know it's a problem, but the 80-90% figure does seem high.

I think I just like the Russians because they make Wisconsinites look downright moderate in our drinking.

I feel like I remember hearing, from a legitimate source, that that figure is about right for adult males in many rural areas. It was a long time ago, so I can't remember where I read it or how to find it again. I think it said something about not drinking being totally unacceptable for men in those areas. If that's a cultural norm, then alcoholism would easily follow.