But I'm not sure that you can put the English and the Russians in the same class.  I mean, we're talking about a country in which vodka is imbibed for an astronomical number of health reasons.  And and equal number of social reasons.  So having some quota of vodka in your veins at all times is a defacto given.  That's not really "drinking."  That's the control group.  Not for alcoholics, for everyone.  (Things have changed I think.)  It may even be considered dangerous NOT to have vodka in you (what will kill the latent germs in you?!)  

I began to panic when after a few months I'd lost the ability to feel drunk or buzzed.  My two states were conscious and not.

"Pretending that you already know the answer when you don't is not actually very helpful." ~Migeru.