Why is drinking so popular in Europe? (Germans, work, UK)
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I could have opened a topic 'why is drinking so popular in the US'. We get these reality shows about the police in American university towns and it is all about people getting arrested for under-age drinking, public intoxication, loud parties getting out of hand, etc. And these drinking and partying holidays to Mexico, what is that all about? I am not under the impression it is any better in the US compared to Europe.
Are you speaking of "Campus PD"?
Most American college students move from home, and some can't handle the freedom of not being under their parents' noses all the time, so binge drinking is a major pastime at American universities, especially those located in cities with not much to do.
Interestingly, the legal drinking age coincides with when (in my experience) students start drinking less. By their mid-20s most American college graduates drink about 10% of what they did when they were 18 or 19. Well, not literally ten percent, but binge drinking becomes a rare occurrence rather than a twice- or thrice-weekly affair.
Drinking beer in frozen climates isn't practical. I've had HOT BEER.....beer nearly boiling with added fruits and syrup for flavor. So it's almost like tea with a buzz.
Well vodka remains liquid in very cold temperatures and also has a warming effect.
Beer? Who cares about beer consumption? As far as distilled spirits go, I'd say some of the top consumers are Russia, Scotland, Finland, Iceland. Possibly Norway & Sweden, not sure. Has something to do with living in the north, they say.
Once again, Europe is NOT a country, and not a unique culture. The drinking patterns are not the same in the varous cultures. Some countries have similar drinking patterns ad the US does (more oriented towards beer-drinking) while other differs (red wine with meals in southern Europe, strong alchools in north-eastern countries, etc.
Yes, and so far the discussion has been defining the drinking habits in various European countries, not Europe as a whole.
Realize also that while the United States -is- a country, it is geographically and demographically immense and diverse in its drinking habits and other cultural factors. The U.S. is not a monolith either.
Yes, and so far the discussion has been defining the drinking habits in various European countries, not Europe as a whole.
Realize also that while the United States -is- a country, it is geographically and demographically immense and diverse in its drinking habits and other cultural factors. The U.S. is not a monolith either.
Most American college students move from home, and some can't handle the freedom of not being under their parents' noses all the time, so binge drinking is a major pastime at American universities, especially those located in cities with not much to do.
Interestingly, the legal drinking age coincides with when (in my experience) students start drinking less. By their mid-20s most American college graduates drink about 10% of what they did when they were 18 or 19. Well, not literally ten percent, but binge drinking becomes a rare occurrence rather than a twice- or thrice-weekly affair.
I think it's more about the age and less about the drinking laws...
I think it's more about the age and less about the drinking laws...
I started drinking when I was 14.
Obviously, the drinking age laws don't reflect behavior, nor even social attitudes. Most people around here think that a 20-year-old getting cited for "underage consumption" is ridiculous. Local parents even take a soft stance towards high school "pit parties" and house parties...they are obviously discouraged, but some think their child is going to drink no matter what, better under my roof than in a back alley somewhere.
The summer after 9th grade (15) is when most kids attend their first unsupervised party, although it can range from 12 or 13 all the way up until 18 or older. I am in the latter group, because alcohol has a bad association in my mind due to past experiences. I do not believe alcohol is evil per se, but I hate the personality changes, the mischief, the slurred speech, and most of all, the breath of somebody who's been drinking. This has obviously complicated my social life, especially having went to a college in a city with unbearably cold winters and not much to do as an alternative to drinking. I spent most of my college Friday and Saturday nights sitting in the comfy seat at the local B&N, reading and drinking a Vanilla Bean Frappuccino.
But beer drinking is common and ordinary. Comparing which countries drink how much doesn't really tell us much about the country and the culture. What's exceptional is a high level of drinking distilled spirits. And wine, maybe. Comparing all three would tell us more about culture.
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