In the summer of 1980, democracy managed to leak right in the heart of the Soviet Union. Brazenly, confidently and without unnecessary conversations. It brought a bunch of attributes of the sweet life, completely unknown and unnecessary to Soviet people. Enemy joys even included sex. Yes, it could appear in the Soviet Union then but failed to invoke interest among the audience. Because an impressive part of the audience was politely but insistently expelled from the city, and the remaining part... they ate. And had no time to deal with trifles.

Moscow was flooded with unprecedented foods, even a “buffet” appeared. It was not available to ordinary residents, being located at a catering outlet of the main Olympic Press Center and in a couple of restaurants, but quite soon tales of the oversea miracle were flying over the entire capital. Shelves with abundance of products in grocery shops were at arm's length. And they stretched their hands — to jams, mustard in tubes, bananas for 1.8 rubles per kg, liquors, sausage (and even cold slicing) and cigarettes with confusing names. Yes — and to chewing gum as well.

Ship tons of chewing gum

Apart from sex, the Soviet Union lacked chewing gum. It was perceived by the ruling party as the most harmful product, not in the gastronomic sense — in the ideological one. Propaganda of a bourgeois lifestyle, so to speak. Of course, that made a return from overseas trips without a few packs of chewing gum a crime against common sense. Even chewed gum was treasured, as well as “cartoons” made of it, a pack with foreign letters, not to mention the untouched product. Soviet people were doing their best but during the Olympics they scrambled to sweep away all available — and affordable — chewing gum by RotFront from the shelves in stores. Delightful mint, refreshing orange, juicy strawberries — who could resist it? And coffee? Now can anyone imagine chewing gum with the taste of coffee? This taste appeared the last and had great success. The first kilos of the products left the plant a year before the start of the Games but it was unreal to find them easily, or to buy. But closer to the Olympics, the production reached its designed capacity of 1.5 tons per year. Propaganda won.

FANTAsmagoria

Pepsi Cola was known in the USSR. Even drank. 45 kopeck per bottle, which you could then return and get 10 kopecks back, spending them on a cup of tomato juice. A classic Soviet format “is it ok that I bought your fur coat on the money from returned bottles?” in action. Before the Olympics, orange Fanta appeared and shook the market. A beautiful paper cup of 200 ml, 20 kopecks, and you in the orange kingdom.

It was fine that half a liter of Buratino carbonated water cost the same money, you live only once. Branded and ordinary kiosks, selling Fanta in cups, emerged in different parts of Moscow, however, it did not help avoid queues. A beer and non-alcohol beverages plant, specially built for the Games in Moscow, worked nonstop, similarly, Soviet citizens drank Fanta nonstop. Joined in.

Blow in a straw

Two Olympic weeks passed but you still did not taste juice through a straw? You live in vain. It was considered a great skill to punch a hole in 200 g Tetra Pack from the first stroke, and 30 kopecks — a negligible price for the chance to rule the world with a straw in your mouth. Apple, cherry, peach — colorful packages beckoned everyone without exception, their contents could be savored for hours, finding enjoyment not so much in contents as in the format. You could even purchase 400 g packs, or even more rare 500 g ones. After the Olympics, children (and adults) boasted with their collections of straws in front of each other. They helped determine how long you had been a happy man.

Beer out of cans — waste of money

Sinebryukhoff and KOFF, similarly to sticks of a well-known chocolate manufacturer, were made at one plant but under completely different technologies. This Soviet citizens were told. The first one was more expensive, the second — more affordable. It is unlikely that Moscow had at least one beer fan, who failed to hold a metal can with foreign letters over it in his trembling hands. For two weeks, Zhigulevskoye fell out of favor, because Finnish brothers’ product was much tastier. The magic of a one-liter can captured anyone who had money. However, a month later Zhigulevskoye got 99% of the market back. Beer cans could be bought later but Soviet citizens moved on from the celebration. They fell back on track of regular savings.

So, this is how you look, sliced sausage

The Moscow Olympics gave birth to the sweet word — “cold slices”. Nowadays uneducated Russians strive to force shopkeepers to hack chunks from untouched loaves of French bread or sausage. Cranks, the right word for them, because everything tasty is already sliced and tightly packed in film.

Nightmare of a table glass

Disposable plastic tableware — the only product in modern supermarkets, which costs cheaper than it, is probably plastic bags. Soviet people, used to drinking carbonated water from street vending machines, using sacred table glasses, were looking at their plastic substitutes in shock, as well as plastic plates. Plastic forks were treated with extreme resentment — in cafes and catering outlets at sports facilities, where meals were served with such tableware, Soviet people took their time, getting accustomed to it. Without thinking twice, they stashed plastic plates and glasses in their bags and carried home to wash, Then repeating the procedure again and again, gathering a tableware set for 12 persons. It was easier than buying disposable tableware in stores for 15 kopecks. Yes indeed — why pay for free items?

Moan of menthol cigarettes

Yes, they came to the USSR, straight to street kiosks. Menthol cigarettes cost between one and two dollars. The insanely expensive Kent for three rubles, the incredible for the Soviet ear and eye Dunhill, Newport and St. Moritz, available at more affordable still frightening prices. Marlboro was produced in Moldova, you could buy those cigarettes at every corner, it cost almost as much as the native Kosmos. In the sense that it exceeded its price by just 40 kopecks. Russia didn't suffered from such a nicotine blow since Peter First brought tobacco to the country.

Imports not allowed

Hamburgers and French fries almost “conquered” Moscow but were stopped at the last moment by courageous members of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. McDonald's offered not only to launch three of its restaurants in the shortest time possible but also pay a large sum, as a sponsor. It did not work. Instead of American bakery, Soviet citizens were given several dozen domestic bakeries, assembled in haste. They could buy cheap patties with potatoes and liver there. And no unnecessary calories.