The superpowers vie over vodka
The U.S.S.R. and China are bristling again, but bordering countries can breathe easilyfor the time being. The squabble is over vodka, specifically the 600,000 cases a year that are exported to the U.S. Although imports are a mere drop in the shaker compared with the total 30.7 million cases of vodka sold in the U.S. last year, the Soviets, with their Stolichnaya brand (on average, $10.50 for an 80-proof fifth), account for about 80% of import sales. Or did, until the invasion of Afghanistan set some flag-waving saloonkeepers to...
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