Medal for hard drinking

The Medal “For Drunkenness” [Медаль «За пьянство»] was an allegedly existing cast-iron medal in the Russian Empire, introduced with the aim of combating drunkenness.

According to one version, it was introduced by Peter I in 1714; according to another, it was used at the Demidov factories in Kamensk-Uralsky.

The medal was allegedly hung on a person at a police station as punishment for excessive alcohol consumption. It was riveted around the neck with metal rivets so that it could not be removed. It is considered the heaviest “award” in history by mass.

According to a 2021 study by the publication Provereno [«Проверено»], the story is most likely a hoax, a historical anecdote, and most of the photographs available online are modern souvenirs made to look old. The only known example is in the exhibition of the State Historical Museum.