Thread: drinking

Did they say why? And is this all of Russia, or certain places? I would assume the whole country, right? That is unfortunate since I have not made it to Russia yet and have not been able to experience drinking in the park like this...

These new laws will apply to the whole country, but I have no idea if they will be enforced outside of the major cities. A new law was just passed that makes it illegal to show beer commercials on tv between 7am -10pm and part 2 of the law will restrict what is depicted in beer commercials. This is all being done by the government to combat the rise in teenage drinking and problems related to alchohol.
But I don't know how the public will react when the weather warms and we can't relax with a beer on the park bench. Even if the sale and consumption of beer in the outdoor cafes is allowed, I think the majority of the people will be angry. Beer and food at those cafes is 2-3X the price in the stores and many people bring their own beer and a picnic to enjoy on a blanket under a tree.

Originally Posted by JB

A new law was just passed that makes it illegal to show beer commercials on tv between 7am -10pm and part 2 of the law will restrict what is depicted in beer commercials. This is all being done by the government to combat the rise in teenage drinking and problems related to alchohol.

Wow. Things aren't even that insane here. Restricting commercials? Come on now.
Isn't there a possibility of teen drinking getting worse with all these new laws? I know underage drinkers who do it simply because they are not supposed to. As soon as you tell someone 'you absolutely cannot do this.' What do you think is going to happen? Some decisions aren't very well thought out by governments-including our own. As far as the law goes, what happens to people who get caught or don't follow them? Like, what is/are the punishment(s)?

The proposed law on drinking in public is still a proposal, so far no idea on what penalty will be. As far as the tv ads go the tv stations are pretty careful not to violate the law and risk getting shut down.
And I can't imagine how these laws will curb underage drinking. So far there doesn't seem to be any enforcement of a legal drinking age and hey, it's Russia. It's not easy to make a living and who's going to ask for ID if there are no serious penalties for selling to underage customers? Some parents send their kids to the corner store to get bread and a bottle of beer for dinner, so it's not unusual like it would be here. When I was in the Far East we'd send the kids down to the corner beer kiosk with a few rubles and a big jar to get fresh beer for lunch.

Originally Posted by JB

hot tea, lots of sugar, lemon slices in sugar, or honey and lemon for a sore throat

There we go again - your ignorance is sure compensated by your imagination. "Russian tea" - tea with lemon - is a stupid Western stereotype - I've never seen anyone drink their tea with "lemon slices in sugar". Most people don't put any sugar in their tea - what the hell for, it spoils the taste. It's you, crazy Westerners, who wear your teeth on your key chain, it's you, who drink your tea with sugar.

Originally Posted by JB

Yesterday, in Russian news, I saw that a new law is being proposed that will outlaw drinking beer in public. This includes metros, parks, sidewlks etc.

It is and has always been illegal to drink (just about anything, including juices unless you're sipping it throw a straw) on the metro, so they can't possibly be passing a law on that cos it's already there. Get your facts straight.

P.S. I'll be keeping an eye on you, JB, and exposing your every lying attempt.

Have you come off your medication too early again VM?

Originally Posted by JB

When I was in the Far East we'd send the kids down to the corner beer kiosk with a few rubles and a big jar to get fresh beer for lunch.

Thereby setting us all an excellent example in parenting. Bravo, JB, encore!

Well VM I guess when I was in St. Petersburg I should have taken you up on that "charming" invitation you sent to my message box (darn I can't find the barfing smiley). We could have gone to tea so you could demonstrate for me how Russians don't put sugar (or sweetened lemons) in their tea.
Now if you can just convince all of my Russian relatives and guests to stop pouring so much sugar in their tea I could save a few rubles and have more room in my pantry!
And I don't remember seeing people drinking beer on the St Peterburg metro but in Moscow it is a daily ritual (along with riders kicking the empty bottles that roll around the car).
And as for parenting, I don't tell people of other cultures how to raise their kids in their own country.

...and hey, it's Russia

I've got a feeling you're trying to insinuate something...

And as for parenting, I don't tell people of other cultures how to raise their kids in their own country

Course you don't - show me an idiot who'd listen to a cowgirl. You are a cowgirl, aren't you? (Don't disappoint me, I'm counting on your being a cowgirl.)

You know, the first time I saw Americans drink tea I almost fainted - the amount of sugar your people put in their tea is unbelievable. But then, most Americans die of cardiovascular deseases...

You should see how much sugar Itatians shovel into one shot of esspresso on their noon break!

Of course I'm a cowgirl
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/ ... -11NOV.jpg

I hope that is'nt rubber you have wrapped on your horn there JB.

rubber?

Oh, I thought you would know! Cowboys across America started taking rubber from an old innertube and wrapping strips around the horns on their saddles, years and years ago. This gives their ropes (lariets) grip just like rodeo cowboys and team ropers.

However this practice is severely frowned upon in buckaroo circles in Northern Califonia, Oregon, Nevada and Southern Idaho. These places hold to the original Spanish tradition of doing things and would never put rubber on their saddle horns. To do so would be a disgrace. Many times I have seen and heard a "buckaroo boss" tell some new guy, who is about to throw his saddle on a horse, "Before you ride for this outfit you had better cut the rubber of that horn". I even worked for a guy that made us all cut our back cinchas off too. Our horns are wrapped with "mule hide", it is really just crome tanned and split cowhide. It is white or grey, perhaps it is on your saddle in the photo, it is hard to see. Since it looks like you are carrying what looks to be a short, braided rawhide reata it should be safe to assume that you do not have a rubber wrapped horn. If you did, that reata would probably break the first time you roped a cow with it.
Anyway I am glad to see that you have the good sense and judgement to be a cowgirl! And a very pretty one too, I might add!

The saddle is an antique working saddle that was retired many years ago and brought out only for shows. All the appointments, including my dress, are exact reproductions of the rodeo equipment of a 1912 cowgirl. I was riding in the Salinas Rodeo with 3 friends (a matched group of 4). The only problem was matching the horses. The rodeo lasts 4 days and even though our horses matched on the 1st day, every day one of us had to get a new mount. The combination of screaming crowds, balloons and cannon fire (don't ask) was hard on the poor pony's nerves!

Originally Posted by JB

Of course I'm a cowgirl
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/ ... -11NOV.jpg

Thanks for the photo, JB. Could you clear something up for me, please? That graceful creature in the foreground is a horse and the big fat boletus growing on its back and trying to look like a person wearing a hat is you, right? Or is it the other way round? From what I've heard horses are lovely critters...

No silly, I'm the horse.

I leave for a weekend and this thread is no longer about drinking, but rather...horses. Nice.

We can go back to drinking. But then it's always so tempting to follow VM off topic.
Well here's how to make those sweet lemon slices that nobody in Russia really has with tea.......
Slice a whole lemon into very thin circles, then layer the slices with lots sugar in a glass jar or covered dish. Put in the fridge and after 2 days or so the lemon juice melts the sugar and makes a syrup. You can add sugar every day until the syrup is thick and the sugar no longer melts. Serve the slices in the syrup with tea.