The book of the world-famous Russian economist V.K. Dmitriev (1868-1913), not reprinted since 1911, gives a deep socio-economic analysis of the causes, essence and consequences of one of the tragic phenomena of Russian life in the late XIX - early. XX century - alcoholism. The impact on alcohol consumption of industrial and agricultural crises, crop failures, "sobriety measures" is analyzed; the originality of the formation of the market in various provinces and many other aspects of the national life of Russia during this period are investigated. The author connects the growth of alcoholism with the "disintegration" of the patriarchal village, the fragile centuries-old life foundations of the Russian peasant under the influence of the development of capitalism, the industrialization of the economy, and the growth of urban industrial centers. For economists, historians, sociologists and everyone interested in the problems of the history and economy of Russia.