MOSCOW, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin accused a stroke-surviving journalist of being drunk during his end-of-year press conference after he slurred his question.

Vladimir Mamatov, a Russian journalist from the Kirov region, asked why the drink from his region, kvas, can't compete with American sodas for shelf space.


Mamatov, a two-time stroke survivor, slurred his question.

"Kvas?" responded Putin. "I feel you've already thrown back some kvas."

Mamatov said he wanted to bring a sample in but couldn't get it past security.

"My question is this. We make a lot of this kvas, we make it well and for long time," he said.

"Yes, I see this," laughed Putin.

Kvas is a lightly fermented drink made from bread. The low alcohol content makes it difficult to become intoxicated.

Outside I found the kvas guy... sipping kvas pic.twitter.com/Hd0YKr9DWl — Kirit Radia (@KiritRadia) December 18, 2014