Russian Football Fans Told to Combat Swine Flu With Whisky

August 3rd, 2009 | by: Daryl | Comments(4)

Russian fans are being told to drink whisky when they visit Wales for a World Cup qualifier on September 9th, to prevent them picking up the H1N1 virus (codename: swine flu).

The Russian supporters association is going against the advice of the Russian health ministry (which is telling fans not to travel to Wales because of the virus).

“We urge our fans to drink a lot of Welsh whisky as a form of disinfection,” said Alexander Shprygin, president of the supporters association. “That should cure all symptoms of the disease.”

For the record, Alexander Shprygin is not a doctor.

But Shprygin is doing two things: First, he’s helping combat the vodka-only-diet Russian stereotype by adding a little whisky into the mix.

Second, he’s giving a much needed boost to the Welsh whisky industry, which I didn’t know existed until this morning. Scotch whisky: yes. Irish whisky: yes. Welsh whisky: wha?

But apparently Welsh whisky exists, and isn’s somthing Shyrygin invented. When Penderyn Distillery opened in 2004, it was the first Welsh whisky producer in over 100 years. Maybe someone should check Shyrygin’s passport and make sure he’s not a Penderyn Distillery double agent?