In Soviet times, there was always a problem with alcohol. And some periods were generally marked by its complete absence on store shelves. Therefore, my parents, like many other fellow citizens, made the right acquaintances and used other methods.
This was especially intensified on the eve of the New Year – the main holiday of the country.
And almost everyone drank that day. That is, what managed to fall to the date. At the same time, various incidents and funny cases happened in our family.
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Soviet champagne
Of course, there was champagne even before the USSR. But “thanks” to the new power that came to destroyed Russia, it was completely forgotten. At the same time, the beginning of the revival of the culture of drinking champagne was noted in the 50s and was actively “advertised”.
Cinema also played a significant role in this matter, where a new drink was regularly demonstrated.
It was there that I saw champagne, or rather, in the famous film “The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!”. I was 12-14 years old. And the parents set out to buy champagne for the next New Year’s table.
The matter turned out to be difficult, since in our province the store shelves were half empty and various delicacies were obtained by acquaintance.
However, my mother was distinguished by enviable persistence and our next New Year was marked by a large number of products that we had not tried before: caviar, champagne, pike perch, sausage and much more.
And so, just a few minutes before the chiming clock, the green beauty decided to join us, but without calculating, she collapsed right on the festive table. As a result, all cuts and small crumbled salads flew in different directions.
But the main “tragedy” was a shattered bottle of champagne. Mom sobbed, father humored and consoled her, and we, the children, quickly removed the pieces and collected what could be saved.
Of course, I tried champagne, but that was for another time. That night, adults drank the old fashioned way – “bitter”.
The price for 1 bottle was not too high – about 5,50-6 rubles, but it was difficult to find champagne.
Beer
Although this drink was popular among the entire population of the Soviet Union, I don’t remember anyone celebrating the New Year with it. Most often, beer was reserved for the morning – to drown out a headache and drive away a hangover.
Even students rarely chose it as a celebratory drink, preferring inexpensive wines, port wine or vodka.
Beer was rather considered an everyday drink, something on a par with kvass. I remember following him with a can, standing in line and carrying a cool beer home.
Although there was some advertising from television. For example, all in the same film “The Irony of Fate” friends drank beer, celebrating the approaching New Year. Although, most likely, the whole thing was in the surroundings of the bath.
The price depended on the brand and varied from 24 to 60 kopecks per 1 liter. Beer was also sold in glass bottles (35-55 kopecks), but it was extremely rare in this form. At least in our province.
Homemade tinctures and liqueurs
Many families could not do without home “preparations”. They were put in advance so that they would be ready for the holiday and have time to pass the “approbation”. So my grandparents, who have their own summer cottage with various plantings, always put cranberries on cognac (okay, on moonshine dyed with tea), made pepper, homemade berry wine and much more.
Under the latter rise all the recipes for drinks that they somehow managed to get from acquaintances.
Especially they helped out during the “dry law”. Grandparents were even offered a business – to sell their products. But they did it for the family and loved ones, so they didn’t even think about making money on alcohol. They just ate and that’s it.
With the same drinks, we were saved on the “ill-fated” New Year with a fallen Christmas tree: my mother and grandmother drank currant wine, my father and grandfather – peppercorns, and my sister and I – the soda we already rely on.
It is impossible to name the price of such alcohol, because it was made with one’s own hands and from products that were most often at home. Although sometimes it was possible to purchase store-bought “exotics” – Peppercorns (9,10 rubles), bitters (6 rubles) and various liqueurs (1,15 – 2 rubles per bottle 0,5).
Vodka
Well, how can one not remember the main Russian drink – vodka! No holiday is complete without it. In addition, in some periods of the USSR, it was the most affordable alcohol: before the war, a bottle cost 1 ruble, after the Second World War it rose to 21,20 rubles, but in less than 10 years the price became 3,62 on average, and in the next 20 years, vodka cost about 2,8 rubles.
That is why it was so widespread. And everyone drank it – students, doctors, and party leaders.
It didn’t get past me either. However, post-student time fell on the “dry law”, and I remember the rise in price of vodka to almost 10 rubles. And then the tinctures and liquors came in handy again.
Although for the wedding, my future wife and I still stood in a huge queue and bought such a “necessary” product. Needless to say, we, the newlyweds, did not need alcohol at all?
But we did the wedding for the New Year, so we walked more than chic. At least the invited guests were happy.
And what did your families drink on New Year’s Eve? Did you manage to “get” champagne?