October 18, 2021

Fair Trade


Fair Trade
If your alcohol comes in clear plastic bottles with white caps, that's a bad sign. Boxes full of turned-in booze in Orenburg. TASS

Orenburg city officials are getting creative in finding ways to drive down instances of alcohol poisoning in their city. After all, man does not live on moonshine alone.

Local government has begun a program to trade illicit alcoholic beverages for groceries. Those with bottles of home-distilled drinks can drop them off at one of a chain of grocery stores and receive food in return. Not only will this get the potentially tinted beverages off the streets, authorities say: it'll also help drive down Orenburg's yearly cases of alcohol poisonings.

Given the generally very, very, very low quality of homemade brew, even Russian media thinks participants are getting a deal by receiving food worth many times more than the moonshine, and without the hangover.

If you happen to be an Orenburg home distiller, maybe it's time to turn to baking?

You Might Also Like

Tenders of the Vine
  • January 01, 2021

Tenders of the Vine

Where we explore Russia’s oenophilic intentions and vine-driven tourism, rooted in the hills of Krasnodar Krai.
Kvass
  • July 01, 2021

Kvass

Our old gals in the village cast a wary eye on all food from the store, because who knows what they’ve got in there?
When Well-Oiled, Skip the Fat
  • June 16, 2021

When Well-Oiled, Skip the Fat

If you enjoy a hefty pour (or three!), you might think twice about what you consume to offset the effects of a night of drinking.
Vodka vs. Coronavirus
  • March 20, 2020

Vodka vs. Coronavirus

Russia’s Ministry of Health discussed ways vodka can affect the coronavirus (spoiler alert: not much).
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas
October 01, 2013

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.

 
A Taste of Russia
November 01, 2012

A Taste of Russia

The definitive modern cookbook on Russian cuisine has been totally updated and redesigned in a 30th Anniversary Edition. Layering superbly researched recipes with informative essays on the dishes' rich historical and cultural context, A Taste of Russia includes over 200 recipes on everything from borshch to blini, from Salmon Coulibiac to Beef Stew with Rum, from Marinated Mushrooms to Walnut-honey Filled Pies. A Taste of Russia shows off the best that Russian cooking has to offer. Full of great quotes from Russian literature about Russian food and designed in a convenient wide format that stays open during use.

The Latchkey Murders
July 01, 2015

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...

Driving Down Russia's Spine
June 01, 2016

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 

The Moscow Eccentric
December 01, 2016

The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.

At the Circus
January 01, 2013

At the Circus

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.

White Magic
June 01, 2021

White Magic

The thirteen tales in this volume – all written by Russian émigrés, writers who fled their native country in the early twentieth century – contain a fair dose of magic and mysticism, of terror and the supernatural. There are Petersburg revenants, grief-stricken avengers, Lithuanian vampires, flying skeletons, murders and duels, and even a ghostly Edgar Allen Poe.

Little Golden Calf
February 01, 2010

Little Golden Calf

Our edition of The Little Golden Calf, one of the greatest Russian satires ever, is the first new translation of this classic novel in nearly fifty years. It is also the first unabridged, uncensored English translation ever, and is 100% true to the original 1931 serial publication in the Russian journal 30 Dnei. Anne O. Fisher’s translation is copiously annotated, and includes an introduction by Alexandra Ilf, the daughter of one of the book’s two co-authors.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955