Drug and Alcoholic Practice Holygmism in the Working Population South of Ukraine (End of Xix - Beginning of Xx Century)

Abstract

The article covers the activities of the Russian Empire Government and the local Guardianships of Public Sobriety in the field of combating alcoholism among the working population of Southern Ukraine in the late XIX – the early XX centuries. A reform of the state wine monopoly, the alcohol industry development and the growth of drinking establishments in the region are considered. It was noted that the introduction of the monopoly streamlined the production and sale of alcohol. However, the problem of alcoholism was not fully understood by the state because of the traditional priority of state interests over public ones.The reasons of alcoholization of the Southern Ukrainian governorates’ (provinces’) working population are revealed. It was found that the Katerynoslav Governorate was the first in consuming liquor among other governorates of the Russian Empire. It could be explained by its economic situation, the large concentration of workers in the mining enterprises and mostly male composition of the population. The attention was paid to the local Guardianships of Public Sobriety (the Guardianships), their activities in dealing with drinking among workers. Their primary measures in the fight against alcoholism are covered. They are the following: lectures, talks and readings; opening of tea rooms, cheap canteens and reading libraries. It is justified that the joint activity of the government and the Guardianships, although not completed, contributed to the reduction of alcohol consumption by the population.