historical origins of drinking gesture

[ameliede at EARTHLINK.NET]

At 03:22 PM 10/10/2008, you wrote:
>According to an article on drinking in Russia in ETHNOCULTURAL FACTORS IN
>SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT, Peter had those loyal to him branded on the chin,
>which entitled them to a free drink in bars.


I feel I have entered some alternate universe.  Is it really the case 
that people don't know that
the finger-neck routine is a simple icon representing the expression 
"zalit' za galstuk"--one of a jillion
synonyms for taking a drink, and if I remember correctly is a 
translation from some language like German?
Of course all these stories were invented by people too drunk to 
*say* zalit' za galstuk.
If I missed the opening of this discussion in which everyone agreed 
that that is of course the real
explanation, then I apologize.
Jules Levin

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