Cesar Chelala: Vodka is Putin’s worst enemy
\"What explains the Russian addiction to alcohol, particularly vodka? One reason is that excessive drinking has been promoted by the state at various times to increase revenues from taxes on alcohol,\" says Chelala.
As fear increases in the West about Russia's imperial ambitions, President Vladimir Putin has to confront his most powerful enemy at home -- vodka -- an addiction to which has a long history in the country and which has had a devastating effect on Russians' health and quality of life and on the country's economy and social fabric.
