Prohibition in the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union

By the mid-17th century, one-third of the population's working men were indebted to the government's taverns, which generated substantial revenue.

However, authorities believed the move was needed to improve wartime economic productivity, social orderliness, and military recruitment.

[2][3] Michael Demitrovitch Tchelisheff, credited with leading the prohibition, opposed alcohol because he personally believed that drunkenness benefited autocratic rulers.

However, following Lenin's death, Joseph Stalin repealed the prohibition in 1925 and brought back the state vodka monopoly system to increase government revenue.

It is believed that,[weasel words] among other things, the negative attitude towards this prohibition contributed to Boris Yeltsin's popularity compared to Mikhail Gorbachev.