Russians and alcohol

Now some of you, some of the six or so people who read my words, may think "couldn't you just put Russians?" to which I would reply "you're exactly the kind of person who'll like the link further down in this post" to which you might reply "what link?" and then I'd probably get all flustered and worry about how derailed this post was getting with conversation rather than actually getting to the point and... oh yeah, the post, right.

If one were to click on this link about the new classification of beer then I think that one might come to the conclusion that Russia has a drinking problem. Or several drinking problems.

Either way this is one of the reasons why I think that Russians are awesome.

Not the problems, not the early deaths due to vodka consumption, not the fact that in Russia beer has been being sold as a healthy alternative to spirits, no, not those things, not at all. The reason that this qualifies, for me, as a reason why Russians are awesome is that they have, until recently, taken the view, in law, that unless your drink contains more than 10% alcohol then you're not really drinking. That drink, that single figure of alcohol content drink, should not be classed as drinking because, you know, it's not real drinking.

I can't help but admire that attitude.