Final answer:
Mikhail Gorbachev attempted to solve the Soviet Union's alcohol problem by reducing vodka production, increasing the price of spirits, and restricting sales. These actions were part of wider reforms, including perestroika and glasnost, although they encountered public opposition and reduced government revenue.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mikhail Gorbachev recognized the extensive problems that alcohol consumption was causing in the Soviet Union, such as poverty, street crime, and workplace issues. To tackle this, Gorbachev implemented a series of reforms in the 1980s targeting the availability and consumption of alcohol. These measures included the reduction of vodka production, increasing the price of spirits, and imposing restrictions on sales.
Nonetheless, these moves met with public resistance and contributed to the financial strain on the government due to decreased revenue from alcohol sales. The campaign was one aspect of Gorbachev's broader range of reforms including perestroika (economic restructuring) and glasnost (increased political openness) which were intended to modernize the Soviet system but ultimately contributed to its dissolution.