ПРОДАЖ АЛКОГОЛЬНИХ ВИРОБІВ В УКРАЇНСЬКОМУ СЕЛІ В ДРУГІЙ ПОЛОВИНІ 1940-х – 1980-х РОКАХ (НА МАТЕРІАЛАХ ДІЯЛЬНОСТІ УКООПСПІЛКИ)

Abstract

Various economic, social and cultural aspects of the sale, production and consumption of alcoholic beverages remain little studied today in Ukrainian modern historiography. On the other hand, foreign historiography, in particular English-speaking, has advanced much further in this area. The article makes an attempt, on the basis of previously unpublished archival sources, to reveal the features and study the socio-economic aspects of the sale of alcoholic beverages in the Ukrainian village through the retail trade network of consumer cooperatives of the Ukrainian SSR (Ukoopspilka) in the second half of the 1940s – 1980s. Analyzed the annual reports of the Ukoopspilka and determined the specific weight of vodka and alcoholic beverages in the structure of retail turnover in certain years of the study period. Disparity was revealed in the distribution of alcoholic beverages funds between the trading systems of the city and the village. The article highlights the influence of the «anti-alcohol laws» of 1958 and 1972 on the trade and production activities of consumer cooperation in Ukraine. As a result of the study, it was found that alcohol during the entire study period constituted a significant part of the trade and public catering turnover in rural areas. The discriminatory system of distribution of commodity funds sent the vast majority of high-quality alcohol (grape wines, liqueurs, aged cognacs, etc.) to the state trade system, that is, to cities and industrial centers, but mainly vodka and low-quality fruit and berry wines came to the countryside. The availability of alcohol, as well as some customs and the lack of a variety of leisure activities in the countryside led to an increase in the alcoholization of the population.