An illustration split diagonally between a yellow and red background. On the left, a baby doll wears a red top with a rooster; on the right, a bottle of vodka and a glass. The Russian text “или, или” reads “either, or”.

New publication chronicles Soviet anti-alcohol posters throughout the ages

Words: Owen Pritchard
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Date: 16 March 2017; Work
Graphic Design

Alcohol is a new publication from Fuel that presents a comprehensive collection of previously unpublished Soviet anti-alcohol posters. The book covers designs produced from the 1960s to the 80s with a particular focus on images created during the Gorbachev years. The posters were displayed in public places and served as information posters warning against the social and personal effects of alcohol and alcoholism.

Compiled, edited and designed by Damon Murray and Stephen Sorrell, Alcohol includes two essays titled Surviving Gorbachev’s Prohibition and The origins and significance of alcoholism in Russia written by Alexi Plutser-Sarno. The 248-page book takes an alternative look at end of a political era. Each poster is translated with slogans such as “Little by little you end up with a hooligan” accompanied with graphics that include red-nosed and bleary eyed cartoon characters and hard hitting constructivist-style compositions.

The book comes with a lenticular cover that animates one of the designs, and the launch coincides with an exhibition of the posters at Pushkin House, London, opening on the 23 March.

An illustration of a large bottle of alcohol dressed in a blue worker’s coat and cap. The bottle holds a pass and a wrench, attempting to enter a factory gate marked “Проходная”. A large red hand reaches from the top right to stop them. Russian text at the bottom warns alcohol not to try and sneak into the workshop. — Above
A Ordinatsev, 1981: Special clothes, or overalls can’t disguise alcohol. Don’t try and get it into the workshop – don’t slip it past security!

A graphic poster featuring a large hourglass shape. The top half shows a vibrant, colourful landscape with a red sun and concentric rainbow arcs, while the bottom half is filled with a grey pile of empty bottles. Russian text at the top reads “НЕ ПРОПИВАЙ ЖИЗНЬ”. — Above
I M Maistrovsky, 1977: Don’t drink your life away

An illustration of a person being dragged by the collar by a humanoid bottle of vodka. The bottle wears a headscarf and has a label that reads “ГОРІЛКА 40°”. In the background, a doctor looks on from a doorway marked “ЛІКАРНЯ”. Large text at the bottom reads “Довела...”.

A Soviet propaganda poster on an orange background shows a pair of scissors shaped like a vodka bottle. The blades cut through a family photograph, separating a person with a tired expression from two children and another person. Russian text at the bottom reads “Много несчастий и зла Водка семье принесла.” — Above
I Fridman, 1977: Vodka has brought much evil and wrongdoing to the family

A red illustration of a person swinging a large hammer down towards a bottle of vodka. The bottle is depicted as a creature with legs, lying on its side. A factory with smoking chimneys stands in the background against a yellow sky. A black banner at the bottom reads “ПЬЯНСТВУ-БОЙ!”. — Above
V Zharinov, 1977: Drunkenness will not be tolerated!

An illustration of a person’s face split in two. One half is a clean, gold silhouette, while the other is a gaunt, haggard face contained within the shape of a bottle. Cyrillic text at the bottom reads “не губи себея!”. — Above
V Briskin, 1963: Don’t Wreck Yourself

A Soviet-style illustration of a muscular person in workwear, looking determined. They hold a green bottle that transforms into a serpent, with the word “пьянство” written along its body. A bold red banner above reads “Преодолеем!”. — Above
E Bor, 1985: We will overcome! Alcoholism

An illustration of a smiling person with a red face and a black suit, walking arm-in-arm with a giant bottle of vodka. The bottle has a face and legs, and a label that reads “Водка”. Below them, a line of text in Cyrillic script is set against a grey background with a factory skyline. — Above
V O Pashenko, 1981: This is a shameful union – a slacker and vodka

An illustration for a poster showing a person with pink skin and a cigarette in their mouth, curled up inside a black gear. A large red broom sweeps them out of the gear. Ukrainian text in the top right reads “Такум, як він, ми кажем: „Годі! Нема вам місця на заводі!“”. — Above
O K Kohan, 1986: To your sort, we say: “Enough! There’s no place for you at the planet!”

An illustration of a person in a brown coat and red scarf whose head is a glass of purple liquid. They hold a bottle, pouring more purple liquid into the glass. A piece of pickle on a fork is held in their other hand. At the top, bold text reads “ALCOHOL”. — Above
Fuel: Alcohol cover

Further Info

www.fuel-design.com

About the Author

Owen Pritchard

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Owen joined It’s Nice That as Editor in November of 2015 leading and overseeing all editorial content across online, print and the events programme, before leaving in early 2018.

New publication chronicles Soviet anti-alcohol posters throughout the ages

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