Nikita Khrushchev recalled in Khrushchev Remembers that Zhdanov was an alcoholic and that during his last days Stalin would shout at him to stop drinking and insist that he drink only fruit juice.
Nikita Khrusjtjov skrev i sine erindringer, at Zjdanov ikke kunne styre sit drikkeri, og at i hans sidste tid råbte Stalin til ham om at holde op med at drikke, og insisterede på, at han kun drak frugt juice.