Moscow Sees Resurgence of 'Mickey Finn'
M O S C O W, Russia, March 25 -- The flat, murky-colored brew that passed for beer in Soviet times is gone and in keeping with the spirit of glasnost, Moscow's many drinking establishments now offer a range of quality liquors, but sometimes a distinctly KGB flavor still lingers.
While the Russian capital has been a lot more accessible and inviting to foreign tourists since the fall of the Soviet Union, a recent warning by the U.S. Embassy in Moscow has drawn attention to the fact that the Cold War may be over, but Russia's notorious criminal underworld can still pull some old tricks in new drinks.
In a carefully worded message issued last week, the U.S. Embassy warned U.S. citizens in Moscow of an increase in the number of foreign nationals who have been drugged and robbed after their drinks were spiked with a drug called clonidine in local bars and restaurants.
The tactic, which was widely employed in Russia in the mid-1990s, appeared to have lost its popularity at the turn of the millennium, but a recent upsurge of clonidine poisonings has put the authorities on a state of alert.
The new warning urges U.S. citizens to "consider ordering bottled drinks rather than mixed drinks" and to "avoid leaving drinks unattended."
For unsuspecting travelers, the message is clear: After a brief hiatus, Moscow's Mickey Finn is in.
A Man Walks Into a Bar?
The modus operandi is simple and fairly typical: an unsuspecting foreign national walks into a Moscow bar. He is approached by a woman who takes a sudden but decidedly friendly interest in him. Warm and fuzzy from the unexpected attention, the victim relaxes and drops his guard until he begins to feel distinctly drowsy and a feeling of lightness overcomes him.
It's the lightness a man experiences when his wallet has been emptied.
Named after a fictitious character from the bad old days of 19th century Chicago, the Moscow Mickey Finn has adapted to Russia's changing times.
Since the 1990s, an international bar culture has established a firm foothold in Moscow. Establishments with names such as "John Bull's," "16 Tons," "Pancho Villa," "Doug and Marty's Boar House," "Tropicana," and "Dolls" compete with more traditional-sounding ones such as "Bochka" (The Barrel), or the very popular "Petrovich" (Peter's Son).
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