Anti-Alcohol, Soviet Propaganda

A vivid artifact of Mikhail Gorbachev's ambitious anti-alcohol campaign, this 1985 Soviet propaganda poster by A. Ordinartsey transforms social messaging into bold graphic satire. Three grotesque green drinkers, depicted as degenerate types clutching bottles and cigarettes, tumble down the stairs of a residential building entrance as a powerful red worker's fist drives them out. The Russian text plays on 'na troikh,' the Soviet slang for three strangers pooling money to share a bottle. Published by Plakat in Moscow, the official state propaganda publisher, this poster represents the visual arsenal deployed against what Soviet authorities saw as a national epidemic. Gorbachev's 1985 decree slashed vodka production, restricted sales hours, and launched an aggressive visual campaign to shame public drinking. The 'podezd,' or building entrance stairwell, was a notorious gathering spot for communal drinking, making this image immediately recognizable to Soviet citizens. A striking example of late Soviet graphic design, this poster captures a pivotal moment in the final decade of the USSR. For collectors of Cold War ephemera, propaganda art, or Soviet social history, it offers both visual impact and historical resonance. Size: 16.75" x 21.25" Artist: A. Ordinartsey Condition: Good, Age-appropriate wear, fading and toning. General border wear. Diagonal creases. Scattered background blemishes. Please use the photo zoom feature to get a better understanding of overall condition. *Additional photos available upon request.