January 1, 2013 -In a desperate effort to control runaway alcoholism, the government of Russia has officially declared beer is an alcoholic beverage. - Beer and other beverages containing less than 10 percent alcohol were previously categorized as food and readily available as juice from street kiosks and 24-hour shops, and Russians often enjoyed a brew on their way to work in the morning. - The Russians even have a saying: "Beer without vodka is like throwing money to the wind," -