At first, vodka brings you joy - then it gives you an aggravation.

Vodka and good sense never get along.

Imbibe vodka and wine as much as your back can sustain.

To get drunk with vodka is the same as sell you soul to the devil.

Ivan is drinking vodka, while the devil is placing his bid.

Man drinks to celebrate, but he douses in vodka quenching his sorrow.

Never blame vodka for your drunkenness.

If you leave some vodka in your glass, you don't love me.
Note: The ancient Russian tradition implies that vodka is drunk "bottoms up" not to hurt the host's feelings. No one will be forcing you to drink all your vodka by full glasses, however, once you drink a toast to someone present, you will be obliged to finish your glass bottoms up. In other words, it's one of the ways to show your respect for that person.

One charka for your health, the other, for feeling nice, the third, for a quarrel.

RUSSIAN SPIRITS... ...strong vodka, strong character!

Note: Charka: an old Russian measure of liquids used for vodka retail sales beginning from the 16th century. A charka contained a single dose of vodka which initially contained ab. 150 gr. (with vodka's strength of 18-20° [per cent of alcohol], as in 16th-17th centuries). In the 19th century, when vodka reached today's level of strength of ab. 40° èëè 70° Proof), a smaller single dose - half a charka - was approved containing (ab. 70 gr.)

When you are offered a drink, drink it up!
Note: The old-time Russian tradition presupposes that a dear guest is welcomed with a charka of vodka. If you don't drink it, you will hurt the host's feelings.

You will err if you drink by small swigs: you ain't get funky but you get drunky.
Note: This paradoxical proverb, on the face of it, has a sound and logical explanation. Mind it that alcohol is absorbed by blood already in your mouth through the mucous membrane, then absorption continues in your throat and gullet. Noteworthily, alcohol penetrates into blood momentarily obviating the liver membrane. It usually happens when you drink vodka by small swigs and all the alcohol in absorbed by blood even before it gets to the stomach. In the meantime, when you drink vodka by bigger portions, most of the alcohol is neutralized in your stomach by the food products available in it. All remaining alcohol is processed by your liver. It is very important that you have the right selection of food products in your stomach. When vodka was preceded and followed by abundant meals, over 40% of the alcohol will be neutralized right in the stomach!

It's my nature: I buy drinks for whatever I take off me.
Note: In the days of old, taverns sold vodka not only for money, but also for clothes, so drunkards often spent not only all their money, but also their clothes for buying drinks. Hence the expression "drink to the last thread."

Bread helps man stand firm on his feet, and vodka knocks him down.

You will always drink the vodka you have poured in your friend's glass.

Tea isn't vodka: you can't have much of it.

Vodka without beer is money wasted!

There are no ugly women, but there may be not enough vodka!

As long as we have vodka, we'll always get something to eat!

Man is not drunk if it takes two other men to walk him with his feet barely moving, but man is drunk indeed when lies prone in dirt, barely breathing, feeling a dog lick his face but being unable to say "Get out!"

I'll drink the whole night through, but I won't stay for the night.

Man does not suffer from too much to drink, but from the hangover.

When you drink, don't "opokhmeliaisia;" when you have fun, don't let it last forever; when you play [cards], but don't play to recoup your losses!
Note: "opokhmeliatsia" - to have another drink the morning after for feeling better after you have had too much the night before.

Drink, but don't drink up you mind!

Note: "Ukha" is a fish soup cooked from freshly caught fish.

Drink to forget your sorrow.

You drink water, and I'll drink rum: You'll be drunk, and I'll only blush.

The first charka comes like a stick in your throat, the second flies in like a falcon, the others just dive like small birdies.

When man drinks, he is in trouble, when he doesn't, he is in double trouble.

Vodka is no friend to your trade.

If you drink, you will die, if you don't drink, you will also dies, so it's better to die when you drink.

If you understand drunken talk, you will also understand the pigs' "oink-oink."

A drunkard will sleep it off, and a fool never will.