Alcohol surrogates (1985–1987)
알코올 대용품 (1985–1987)
Refers to non-beverage ethanol-containing products consumed as substitutes for alcoholic drinks when the 1985 anti-alcohol campaign slashed the legal supply. Common surrogates included BF glue, windshield cleaner, dichlorvos, colognes, and medicinal tinctures, either drunk directly or distilled to extract ethanol. Between 1985 and 1987, BF glue sales rose from 760 to 1,000 tons and windshield cleaner from 6,500 to 7,400 tons; in 1987 alone, more than 40,000 alcohol-surrogate poisonings were recorded, with 11,000 deaths.
In depth
Background
Consumption of alcohol surrogates existed in the USSR before 1985, but the Gorbachev anti-alcohol campaign dramatically increased both its scale and social visibility. As vodka prices rose two- to threefold and legal sale hours shrank to 2–7 pm, demand shifted to cheap, widely available substitutes.
Main Items and Classification
The Russian Wikipedia article "Суррогаты алкоголя" classifies surrogates into three groups: (1) ethanol-containing: colognes, lotions, medicinal tinctures, denatured alcohol; (2) mixed-alcohol: BF glue, hydraulic fluids; (3) non-ethanol: acetone, dichlorvos, ethylene glycol.
Scale of Consumption
According to Goskomstat data, BF glue sales rose from 760 tons in 1985 to 1,000 tons in 1987; windshield cleaner from 6,500 to 7,400 tons; dichlorvos from 115 million to 135 million cans. In 1987 the USSR Ministry of Health recorded over 40,000 alcohol-surrogate poisonings, of which 11,000 were fatal.
Distinction from Samogon
Surrogate consumption is distinct from the samogon (home-distilled spirit) problem. Samogon is drinkable alcohol fermented and distilled from sugar; surrogate consumption means ingesting or distilling industrial, medical, or household products never intended for drinking. Samogon production caused a sugar shortage; surrogate consumption caused poisoning and death directly.
Related historical events
Sources
- Wikipedia (RU) BF glue sales 760→1,000 tons, windshield cleaner 6,500→7,400 tons, dichlorvos 115→135 million cans (1985–1987); 44,000 alcohol-surrogate poisonings and 11,000 deaths in 1987
- Wikipedia (RU) classification of alcohol surrogates: ethanol-containing (colognes, medicinal tinctures, denatured alcohol), mixed-alcohol (BF glue, hydraulic fluids), non-ethanol (acetone, dichlorvos, ethylene glycol)
- pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Bhattacharya, Gathmann & Miller (2013): BF glue from 760 to 1,000 tons, glass cleaner from 6,500 to 7,400 tons; cologne and medicinal compounds as surrogates; large-scale theft of industrial alcohol
- demoscope.ru 40,000 toxic-substance poisonings with 11,000 deaths; people turned to cologne, pharmacy tinctures, and antifreeze