The War - Temperance Measures in Russia

The Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia. The War - Temperance Measures in Russia.

The Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia

The War - Temperance Measures in Russia: despatch from his Majesty's Ambassador at Petrograd enclosing a memorandum on the subject of the temperance measures adopted in Russia since the outbreak of the European War

Melbourne : Albert J Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria. No 108 - F6748.

Folio (340x210mm) cream single leaf, printed to both sides, [2]pp,

When World War I broke out in 1914, almost all of the participant countries, including Russia, restricted alcohol. Because of the policies noted here, closing all liquor outlets and prohibiting the sale of alcohol until the end of the war, Russia was able to put its armies in the field much quicker than Germany, securing early victories on the Eastern Front.  Although the Tsar had been seeking to reduce his empire's reliance on and addiction to vodka (spurred on by the Government's absolute control for some centuries of vodka production and distribution) for some time, in September 1914 he effectively invoked prohibition; making Russia the first prohibition country in the world, five years early than the USA.   Some scholars now contend that this prohibition and its economic consequences, was one of the main causes contributing to the Russian Revolution.  Prohibition of State controlled Vodka continued until Stalin came to power in 1924.

The recipient, Sir Edward Grey was the British Foreign Secretary.  Why he forwarded it to the Australian Parliament or why it was published in 1915 is unclear; however,during World War I temperance and patriotism had become firmly welded together in the public's mind due to increased activism by the temperance movement.  In 1915 there was a significant debate about temperance and its importance to the war effort.  Bipartisan political and religious support meant that temperance measures (but not prohibition) were enacted throughout Australia, such as early closing hours, to 'preserve the empire' and 'support the troops'.

An intriguing insight into the confluence of war and prohibition.  A fine copy.

§  Trove records 1 holding.  Only 950 copies were produced.