SCIENTIST SOUNDS WARNING AS RUSSIA LEADS EUROPE IN ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION.

A Russian scientist has told an international conference that alcohol is the country’s main cause of premature death. Dr. Aleksandr Nemtsov said Russia has the highest alcohol consumption levels in Europe. To make matters worse, as much as 68 percent of total domestic liquor production is adulterated, leading to more deaths. Nemtsov called this a threat "not only to public health but to the nation’s gene pool." (Itar-Tass, December 15)

Yeltsin Authorizes Carrying of Firearms.