Anti-Alcohol Campaign of 1985–1988 as a Factor Demographic Processes: Analysis of Regional Historiography

The article analyses the historical literature on the anti-alcohol campaign of 1985–1988 in Russian regions. It is concluded that some of the works do not consider the impact of the campaign on demographic changes, while the reduction in the volume of sales and consumption of alcoholic beverages, a decrease in the number of alcoholics, alcoholic psychosis, fight against bootlegging, alcoholic crimes are examined in detail. A decrease in mortality, an increase in the birth rate, an increase in the life expectancy of the population in the context of the fight against alcoholism are touched upon only in a number of studies (for example, in materials from Western Siberia, Udmurtia, Bashkiria). The problem is most studied in the Udmurt Republic, where the influence of the campaign on marriage and divorce was also considered. Additionally, in Udmurtia, the ethnic component of the influence of the anti-alcohol campaign on demographic processes was analysed. Therefore, it was concluded that the greatest reduction in mortality occurred among the Udmurts living in rural areas.