Fighting alcohol abuse (on the press publications of Naddniprianska Ukraine of the late XIX – early XX centuries)

Abstract

The aim of the study is to determine the main topics of publications that reflect the processes of sobering up society in the late nineteenth – early twentieth century. The object of the study was the press of several groups: mass, religious, specialized (medical, scientific, industrial and practical, anti-alcohol), which covered the production of alcoholic beverages and combating alcoholism. Mostly it is the press of Kherson, Tavriya, Volyn, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Kyiv regions (such as «Vestnik vinodeliya / Bulletin of Winemaking», «Vinogradarstvo i vinodeliye / Viticulture and Winemaking», «Zdorovaya zhyzn / Healthy life», «Seyatel trezvosti / Sober sower», «Zeleny zmiy / Green snake», «Ruskiy inok / Russian monk», «Volynskaya nedelya / Volyn week», «Nezhinets», etc.). Methods. Among the research methods are monitoring the array of periodicals of most regions of Naddniprianska Ukraine, methods of classification, historical, logical, descriptive, generalization. Results and conclusions. It was found that according to the purpose of periodicals, the discussion was conducted mainly in two directions: 1) upholding the culture of viticulture and hops, the rise of the wine and beer industry, care for the quality and hygienic and medical properties of grape drinks, improving the wine market, the fight against counterfeiting of beverages; denial not of alcohol itself, but of alcoholism; 2) protection of public health, application at all levels of measures to combat drunkenness and alcoholism that threaten life and well-being of the peoples of many countries. In this aspect, not only government orders were used, but also purposeful religious conversations were held, trust committees on public sobriety and sobriety societies were established, social and medical palliative care was used, involved cultural and educational activities, which were emphasized by the press.