Wow, I see the sugar industry was as influential there as it was in America.

Vodka and cigarettes are not necessities. Different times, obviously. If the vodka was being made either from potatoes or grain, even if of lower quality, those would be better put towards adding extra available calories for people.

p.s

This made me remember being told there was a time, my country being at war then, where cigarette packs were distributed to soldiers with a banner stamped on it that stated "Have a cigar and relax".

If you still gained a salary from work and could buy the rest of what you need this really isn't that bad

Four and a half kilos of carbohydrates and sugars, goddamn.

Is that not a lot of sugar for how few ingredients to use it with?

If you could even get all that, and if you could you had to queue for days

I wonder how they used it. Fancy baked goods the first days, then a rush to bake long lasting good before the perishables spoil? Did widowers ask family to bake with their rations?