European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 17, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 18 the stars and stripes tuesday september 17. 1985 sobering effects of a soviet crackdown today s crossword by Alison Smale associated press t he much heralded crackdown on drinking in the soviet Union has shut Dow hundreds of liquor stores landed thousand sin trouble with the Law and reportedly slice alcohol sales by up to a third. The measures. Imposed june 1 in an attempt to curb a problem that is said to be responsible Lor most crime and absenteeism included raising the drinking age irom 18 to 21. Cutting sales hours and imposing harsher penalties Lor being drunk in Public. According to reports in the state run Media liquor sales since have fallen Between 20 and 30 percent across the country. Across the capital dozens of wine stores and liquor departments in Lood shops have been shut Down. There Are Long lines at Moscow liquor stores from opening Lime at 2 . To closing time at 7 . In past weeks rumours that Vodka sales would be banned entirely during the world youth festival lengthened lines further. But Only a Tew liquor stores closed during the eight Day festival while the wine departments of other stores turned to Selling ice Cream and soft drinks Only. Such efforts to curb liquor sales Are matched by a strict Clampdown on official drinking. Soviet hospitality traditionally consists of much toasting in Vodka or other liquor. Now. Officials refuse to drink before 2 . And Many visiting delegations Are offered no drinks at All. French parliamentarians who recently visited the wine Loving Southern Republic of Georgia eventually bought their own wine after attending several dry receptions a Western Diplomat in Moscow said. At Moscow s International press Center the bar and restaurant now sell liquor Only after 7 . Every week the newspapers print dozens of letters from readers praising the crackdown a feeling generally reflected in conversations with muscovites. Newspapers also highlight problems. For instance two journalists from the russian Republic daily Sovie Skaya Rossiya surveyed Moscow kiosks supposed to offer the traditional russian soil drink known As kvas. More often than not they Lound. The kiosks had none of the bitter dark brew Lor Sale. Such Delic tennies encourage the consumer to buy liquor the newspaper suggested. Newspapers have also sought to discourage drinking by reporting increased police vigilance about alcohol related Ollen ses. Interior minister Vitaly v. Fedorchuk told the communist party daily pravda that 15,000 violations of the new measures had come to Light in the six weeks after they were introduced. Two Moscow newspapers printing Dally reports on the anti alcohol Campaign have detailed How offenders caught drunk in Public have been reprimanded sacked and even expelled from the communist party. One report in Moskovskaya pravda Moscow truth said a police swoop through the City one mid july night turned up 364 alcohol offences As against 273 a week before. Those who sell and brew booze illegally Are the target of such raids and the police Are relying heavily on citizens informing on offenders. Pravda suggested one source for illegal booze is the shelves of now closed liquor stores. More than $245,000 Worth of bottles were found in just three closed stores in the far East port of Vladivostok it said noting several people there had been caught Selling booze off hours. One policeman however cautioned apparently anxious citizens that the crackdown will not go too far. Maj. Gen. Anatoly p. Who Rich interviewed by Llivera Turnay gazeta stressed the crackdown would not Slacken. But he added that police Are not empowered to haul citizens off the Street at will. No one is going to be stopped just like that he said unless it s a wife who runs into her husband near the liquor  uhf i across 38 Eskimo 53 Root veg. I Scarlett s boat Eta lehome 41 inept Down 6 Likely actor 1 carry8 word with 42 Sailor 2 Low god end or 45 Jack 3 knocks wind in the 4 French 12 Sharif pulpit artist13-Norma 46 pent 5 where the _ " House action i level 6 treaty 48 High 7 Palmer stadium peg49 Corrida 8 vip cheer 9 Singer 50 cartoon outline1st Peter 10 Arrow 51 German Plosive River 20 woodwinds 52 Toady s 14 French River 15 Toupee 17 entreaty18 Stam Merin sounds 21 Hosto party drink22 Legal org. 23 thespian26 Rembrandt for one 30 distort31 Melody 32 Verdi opera 33 Blue dye35 vex 36 table scrap 37 Maria Saunt poison11 Meadows 16 roman Road a g. Solution time 27 Man. 9-17 Anu. To yesterday s Puzzle 20 Osaji