ABSTRACT
During a visit to the city of Krasnodar in September 1986, Mikhail Gorbachev complained about those allegedly resisting the restructuring. Noting the frequency with which Gorbachev complained about resistance to his policies, some Western observers suggested that he might be deliberately exaggerating its strength. According to this interpretation, the new leader was trying to portray himself as an embattled reformer surrounded by "hardliners," a good guy desperately in need of help both at home and abroad, in order to win the support he needed to implement his policies. Many ordinary citizens were infuriated that, as a result of Gorbachev's campaign against alcoholism, they had to spend hours standing in line to buy a bottle of wine or vodka. One report even spoke of the windows of liquor stores being smashed by angry customers when stocks ran out, and said that in some places police had been put on duty outside the stores to keep the peace.
