Cossacks vodka, simply referred to as Vodka, is a consumable item featured in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky, and S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat.
Background
Distilled by the GSC company, the Cossacks-brand vodka is a clear distilled liquor composed of water and ethyl alcohol. Vodka is made from a fermented substance of either grain, rye, wheat, potatoes, or sugar beet molasses. Vodka's alcoholic concentration usually ranges between 35 to 70 per cent by volume.
It is an extremely popular drink in the Zone, arguably even more than energy drinks, as it removes radiation and "smooths the rough edges" of a stalker's life.
Description
In all games, drinking vodka reduces the player's radiation level, which makes it function as a cheap and more plentiful alternative to anti-radiation drugs. In addition, drinking vodka will cause the player to become drunk. Drunkenness affects the player's ability to center one's view as it sways in different directions and vision as it causes the player to have blurred vision and flashing colors. Also, the effects of drunkenness worsens as the player continues to down vodka. This effectively degrades the player's ability in combat as this makes it incredibly hard to take an accurate shot.
All the effects are removed when the player starts to become sober, which usually occurs in a few minutes but the duration is ultimately affected on how much vodka the player has drunk recently.
Appearances
Shadow of Chernobyl
Vodka made by the GSC company. Goes down easily and significantly reduces the effects of radiation, but for obvious reasons should be enjoyed in moderation.
In-game description
In Shadow of Chernobyl, vodka isn't particularly hard to find. Most experienced stalkers and above will carry a bottle and most traders will sell these. It purges 30% of radiation from the rad counter and slightly heals the player, but makes the player drunk.
Locations
Vodka is sold by most traders.
It can be found in the following locations:
- One bottle can be found in the furnace in the house to the left of Sidorovich's bunker.
- One bottle can be found in a locker outside Borov's office.
- One bottle can be found on a high shelf on the top floor of the Agroprom Research Institute.
- 25 bottles can be found in the Bandit base armoury of the Dark Valley.
- Three bottles can be found on the tables in the 100 Rads bar.
It can be found in the following stashes:
- Under the bush by the wall x1
- Secret stash under the cross x1
- Backpack of Weakling x1
- Drunkard's backpack x10
Clear Sky
Made by GSC. Goes down easy and considerably lowers radiation effects. Should be enjoyed in moderation.
In-game descriptions
Vodka reappears in Clear Sky, identical to its previous iteration.
Acquisition
It's sold by barmen only and can normally be found on stalkers of all levels. A few bottles can be found at the bar in the Agroprom Research Institute.
Call of Pripyat
Made by GSC. Goes down easy and considerably lowers the effects of radiation. Should be enjoyed in moderation.
In-game description
In Call of Pripyat, vodka no longer regenerates the player's health and instead increases the player's hunger rather than decreasing it. Since vodka reduces nourishment, one can effectively drink themselves to death
Vodka is also needed by Cardan to perform most upgrades, before completing Unidentified weapon.
Acquisition
Vodka is sold by Beard and Hawaiian and can be often found in the inventories of stalkers. A few bottles are found at the Skadovsk bar. More are found in a blue box beside Kirillov in the Laundromat.
Four bottles are rewarded to the player for completing The Hit on Spartacus' side.
Trivia
- "GSC company" is a reference to GSC Game World, the developers of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series.
- The "Cossacks" brand is a reference to the Cossacks real time strategy video game series, which was also made by GSC Game World.
- The presence of vodka as an anti-radiation drug is a reference to a popular theory during the cleanup of the Chernobyl distaster, where it was widely believed by the plant workers and clean-up crew that alcoholic drinks, mainly vodka and red wine, can cure radiation poisoning from the body[1].
References
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