Thread: sweeping changes in alcohol laws

Strict control. OK, in my state, Beer, wine and liquor is bought at a licensed retailer. We call them Package Stores because everything must be put into a package ("packy" for short). No supermarkets or convenience stores. MUST be 21 years of age with ID. 8am to 11 pm Monday - Saturday, noon -11pm Sunday. A store wouldn't risk selling to an intoxicated person or under-age because they lose their license. Some towns are dry (nothing in stores or restaurants, no bars). No drinking in public (parks, beaches, buses, streets, etc).

Varies by state except the 21 years old part. Jack Daniels whiskey is made in a dry county. Some states still have drive-through liquor stores.

Yeah what you describe Capcoddah, sounds about the same.

Windup Merchantski, yes, this stereotype is mostly true, although these ferries are the most notorious boozing places in Northern Europe.

It was even worse before the EU, when all the liquor was completely tax free, which made a huge price difference. There is a little island in the middle of the Baltic sea, called Åland which has limited independence. It decided to stay outside the EU. For that reason all the ferries that stop there, can still sell tax free alcohol.

I am in Sweden at the moment and had to close the window at my hotel because drunk people were being noisy all night on the street outside. I had the same problem when I was in Latvia recently, but for some reason, Swedes are more noisy.
I hate this culture of just boozing and hanging around on the street while drunk. It should be illegal. I wish the police would take them, then maybe they wouldn't do it again, or at least do it at home.

Recently I was in Belarus, there, there was no problem with hooligans whatsoever. I only saw one really drunk person the whole time I was there. I know it is considered a police state etc, but in a way they are doing people a favour when they stop people from abusing alcohol and disturbing others.

What is the situation with this in Russia? Lots of drunk people creating trouble? What does the police do with them, if anything?

Originally Posted by Hanna

What is the situation with this in Russia? Lots of drunk people creating trouble? What does the police do with them, if anything?

Drunk people partying on the streets are pretty common in Russia. But in my town, for example, if they starting to cause trouble or cry drunken songs too loud police usually quickly deals with them. I remember when my wife visited Belarus for the first time and we were walking with her by the streets of Vitebsk around 11 pm she was really surprised how we didn't see any drunk persons at the streets. But right after she said that we were approached by a completely drunk guy with a black eye. He was very polite though, asked for a cigarette and left. And I said to her: "See? And you were worrying. You can feel like home now".

In Belarus you must be 18 years old to buy alcohol and cigarettes. You should show your passport to confirm your age. But if you are enough adult (having beard etc) sellers can sell it without passport. Drinking at the street is forbidden. You will be catch by the militia patrol and pay a fine. You can drink only at home and at special designated places (For example: http://www.nest.by/files/imagecache/...dnonews.by.jpg). If you are drunk, but not lying down on the street, sleeping on the bench militia will say nothing to you. But if you disturb other people you will be catch for the violation of public order. You will be transfered to the detoxication center and when you get sober you will pay a fine for the violations and pay for a staying at the center.

I really like that there was so little anti social behaviour in Belarus.
No vandalism, graffiti, yobbery or drunk people on the street.
I wonder why there is less of that in Belarus than in Latvia for example. or maybe Russia? What do you think?

In Minsk I saw the police go up to a drunk man who had collapsed on the street. I thought "now he's really going to get it!" I hate when the police is too brutal so I thought I'd watch to see what they'd do.
But actually they were not brutal at all. They just went up to him and actually asked him how he was doing and tried to get him on his feet without being violent or aggressive at all. They were nicer than British or Swedish police would have been, for sure. I was really surprised to see that.
I didn't stay to see what happened after that. Maybe they drove him to a cell to sober up like Dmitry said.

If he could say where he lives, they even could drive him home. It depends on situation.

No vandalism, graffiti, yobbery or drunk people on the street.

Did you spot any signs of life there?

I had a nice time there. I am glad I went there although it was in a way a substitute for going to Russia (had some visa trousbles).
Belarus is a really nice country though. The people are great and it's completely Russian speaking, as opposed to Ukraine.
There is not a lot of tourism so people are really nice and hospitable.



This is the only graffiti I saw in Belarus. It was on a wall of an small industrial area by the Minskoe More recreation area



Waiting for a concert on the main square in Vitebsk:



Street scene from central Minsk



A street with lots of outdoors cafes and restaurants in Vitebsk:


Some "encouragement" for young people from the government of Belarus...


Skaters at the Hero City Monument in Minsk:

Hanna, I've been trying to get it since you first time wrote about it, still I can't: what's wrong with graffiti to you? You've even been putting graffiti in the same category with crime rate... Why is that? Is it something personal?

Graffiti sounds a bit too glamorous, I can't think of a better word. What I mean is the anti-social behaviour or vandalism (yes, it's criminal) of using spray cans to paint messages and pictures on walls.
It's usually ugly and sometimes also vulgar.

Those countries that can and want to spend money on it have it removed immediately after it is reported. Others have really harsh penalties for it.

In the UK it's not very common anymore. In Sweden I am seeing quite a bit of it, but not quite as much as Latvia.

When somebody takes the time and expense to fix up a building or a public place to make it look nice, it's awful if some stupid kids come and desicrate it.

I'd like to seem them properly punished so they are put off it and don't do it again.
Yes, I dislike it because it's ugly and it costs tax payers money to have it removed. When it happens in metro trains etc it causes delays and add costs to tickets.

It's your perogative to like graffiti and vandalism if you want Eric, but I don't and neither do most people in society.