On this day: Russians praise sobriety

All-Russian Sobriety Day is celebrated on Sept. 11. For the first time, this event was marked in 1913. On this day the Orthodox also celebrate the day of the beheading of John the Baptist. The prophet did not drink, but he was killed at a drunken feast. On this day believers observe a strict fast.

On the Day of Sobriety in the Russian Empire wine shops were closed and did not sell alcohol. In modern Russia, many regions organize exhibitions and events dedicated to life without alcohol.

Read more: Soviet hangover: How people drank beer in the USSR

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