oohh, I actually didn’t know about this. did it have the same effect as here in the US, where booze production was forced “underground” and fostered organized crime? did the Soviet Union have mafia-esque crime rings peddling in black market goods? I imagine they must have. this is very interesting, I’ve gotta look more into this
There’s a lot to read about Soviet and Russian organised crime. (In fact Soviet organised crime led to the historical event with the best name ever, the bitch wars)
I don’t know if there’s a lot to read about the role of organised crime specifically during the early soviet government, but I’m sure you can find something interesting.
I can understand trying it and then deciding it wasn’t worth it or something. But they never stopped making cigarettes and in ample supply too. I remember reading that during the collapse of the 90s America were shipping aid packages of cigarettes because privatised companies couldn’t keep up with Russian demand for cigarettes and the cigarette rationing was eroding regime support.
it would have been a deeply unpopular move. same as if they’d tried to prevent alcohol consumption.
Okay but they did do that though. Lenin instituted prohibition.
oohh, I actually didn’t know about this. did it have the same effect as here in the US, where booze production was forced “underground” and fostered organized crime? did the Soviet Union have mafia-esque crime rings peddling in black market goods? I imagine they must have. this is very interesting, I’ve gotta look more into this
There’s a lot to read about Soviet and Russian organised crime. (In fact Soviet organised crime led to the historical event with the best name ever, the bitch wars) I don’t know if there’s a lot to read about the role of organised crime specifically during the early soviet government, but I’m sure you can find something interesting.
and then stalin cancelled it. maybe just to make more money and not cos it was unpopular? i dunno.
I can understand trying it and then deciding it wasn’t worth it or something. But they never stopped making cigarettes and in ample supply too. I remember reading that during the collapse of the 90s America were shipping aid packages of cigarettes because privatised companies couldn’t keep up with Russian demand for cigarettes and the cigarette rationing was eroding regime support.