One of the most prominent Russian traditions is excessive drinking. Peter the Great was famous for his drinking displays. If he has read ‘Khrushchev Remembers’, he cannot forget its descriptions of Stalin’s long night drunkenness.
Russian winters are long and cold. The Soviet government always kept vodka relatively cheap.
Lynn Visson’s “Wedded Strangers” discusses the reason for the Russian cultural attachment to alcohol:
“For years, alcohol was the only form of entertainment. Russians are very respectful of drink and drunkards. There is a tenderness and even affection that sober Russians have for their intoxicated brothers.”
Refusing to drink as much as the rest of the company is considered disrespectful.
The more you can drink and hold your liquor, the more the Russians will hold you in high esteem. Drinking alone is considered alcoholic. Drinking in company, even excessively, is considered normal behavior.
Russians always have a reason to drink. They drink on holidays, in company, on special occasions, with guests; They drink by births, deaths and marriages.
They toast new purchases; they call this ‘washing’ the new acquisition. A Russian never runs out of reasons to drink.
A member of the group raises a toast after filling the glasses. After the toast, each member of the group drains shot glass-sized glasses of hard liquor (usually vodka).
Everyone takes turns making a toast. A simple toast to remember is ‘Nas darovia’, which means ‘To your health’