Drinking and alcoholism are a big part of any countries society, but in Russia, it is sometimes taken to the extreme. Ever since Prince Vladimir decided to convert the nation to Orthodox Christianity because of its tolerance of alcohol in 988, Russia has been almost accustomed to drinking (Brown). Writing about this topic seemed important because it is not a coincidence that Russia's population is declining and the death rate is increasing; it is in some part due to alcoholism. 
             Alcohol has almost always been a part of Russia's culture, and you can see just how important it is to the country through its history. Drinking has been part of Russia's culture for a long time, and sometimes even plays a role in wars and fighting. In 1223, Russians lost a battle against the Mongols and Tartars because they entered the battle drunk. Also, during World War II, Soldiers were given 100 grams of vodka a day for their courage by Stalin ("In need of a Vodka Tonic"). In the 18th century, some people were even encouraged to drink by high ranked people. Peter the Great was pro-drinking, and even got drunks out of prison if they agreed to fight in the military ("In Need of a Vodka Tonic"). Alcohol has been a part of Russia's history for so long, it is now even considered a "social norm." Toasts, social gatherings, even meals, most likely have constant drinking until it is unanimously decided to stop. Stopping drinking before everyone else is done is "poor form", and bottles are typically finished if opened (Hanks). Even though drinking has always been a part of Russian culture it does not necessarily mean it is safe, and you can see the negative effects of it by the plummeting life expectancy, birth rates, and population in Russia today.
             Russians intake a very high dosage of alcohol a year, about eight gallons per adult male according to (Brown), or about eighteen liters according to (Schrad). This much consumption is more than double the United ...