Like so many Russian leaders Peter the Great had a lust for vodka as well as enjoying wine by the barrel load! Famous for torturing his son to death for his failings as a military leader Peter was the first Russian leader to impose a tax on beards. His behaviour may have been wild, and eccentric to say the least but it cannot be doubted that during his reign Russia changed forever. He westernised the country ending Russian orthodoxy patriarchy and also reset the Russian New Year from the 1st of September to the 1st of January thus bringing it into line with the rest of Europe. His exploits as Tsar fill the pages of history books and his drinking exploits are the thing of legend!