In this article, researchers turn to the repeatedly attracted attention of critics motive of drunkenness, which is reflected in the poem by N. Nekrasov “To Whom in Russia to live well" (1863-1877). Unlike its predecessors the authors of the article on the example of “drunk philosophy” of Yakim Nagoy seek to understand the depth of the phenomenon of Russian drunkenness in its relationship with the Russian epic heroes, through the parallel intended by the writer and reflected on the pages of the poem. In this regard, researchers correlate the chapters “Rural yarmonka” and “Drunken night” with the unfulfilled idea of the poet to consider “hops”, “drunk” (according to the memoirs of G. Uspensky, etc.) as a lucky man in Russia.