Another usual misconception about Russia.
In 1913 Russia was on 18th place by the alcohol consumption (then there were a bit over 50 countries on the globe of which 20 or so were regarded in this rating, meaning it was next to last place), while France was the leader. Russians consumed about 7 times less alcohol than French per one person.
Russia still consumes less alcohol per person than Britain for example. And governmental policy against alcohol consumption and smoking is quite successful, considering the fact that they are not trying to prohibit it completely. Yet.
Though, our former chief sanitary doctor Onischenko was always saying that the man who consumed a glass of alcohol within last month is drunk and one who did that within last year is a drunkard...