Drinking in America

Tigsteroonie

You'll need to purchase "hard cider" if you want the alcoholic stuff I read somewhere that it's gaining in popularity.

(Gloomendoom just beat me to it!)

wdyw

withabix wrote: »

Not in supermarkets I suspect - only in liquor stores. Supermarkets only sell beer. Also, they used to make it with malt-derived alcohol and not vodka in the USA, as a tax dodge (and probably still do).

You may also find some strange flavours as well...grape....watermelon....apple....rasperry...pomegranite (how DO you spell that????)

Probably to hide the dodgy flavour from the malt liquor.

Of course they sell Smirnoff Ice in Supermarkets (along with spirits). Last year they were round about $10 for a sixpack in Wally World or Vons.

Neither of us can tell the difference between a USA Smirnoff Ice or a UK one (I rembember being skiing in the States around 2004/5 (no it was earlier than that as it would have been the year (or two) after they were released in the UK) when the !!!!!! hit the fan in the USA when it was disclosed the USA version didn't contain any vodka) but the strengths are different.

Talking of stengths ...if you head inland to UTAH you can drink them all night long and not get tipsy as the alcohol content in the original version, at least in that state, is down to 3.0% (IIRC).

Vikki_74

I tried a rather odd tasting drink called a 'wine cooler' once in Florida. I think they are some kind of wine + fruit juice (or at least fruit flavouring) concoction but pretty much just tasted like sugar as far as I can remember - I don't like Smirnoff Ice, WKD etc for the same reason so might be worth a try if that's the kind of thing you like!

ferf1223

oh, wine coolers...how I loved you when I was 16...and yeah, pretty much wine, fruit juice, sugar...sometimes slightly carbonated I think? I haven't had one since I was in my early 20s...so quite a very long time ago.

There will be no shortage of alcopops...as for supermarkets, it may depend on where you are as liquor laws vary dramatically, but since the alcohol content is relatively low, if supermarkets in the area sell beer, they'll sell alcopops.

neilbond007

As mentioned, you can get them in most supermarkets (Ralphs for example).
Also try 'http://www.mikeshard.com/whatsup-2.php'. These are pretty popular

C_Mababejive

You will find pretty much the same choice of drinks in CA as you get here.

The only difference is that it isnt such a staple of the the US diet as it is in this dump of a country.

There arent crummy pubs and bars on every corner,there arent eight til late mini grotty shops selling booze cheaply,there generally arent yobs and sluts wondering round pished,vomiting,shouting and abusing people.

Being asked for ID is just about compulsory even if your 70.

Booze is often sold in regulated liquor stores which is often very low key affairs,not emblazoned with 4 cans for a pound type adverts.

Alcohol containers must never be opened whilst in a vehicle.

Generally a more civilised society when it comes to alcohol.

starryshell

Give Mike's Hard Lemonade a try, it was my alcopop of choice there.

McAzrael

A little off topic, but in some states (and I think California is one of them) alcohol must be carried in the boot of your car.

browneyedbazzi

I'd also highly recommend mike's hard lemonade...they're nicer than smirnoff ice!

DavidHayton

You can buy most types of alcoholic drink in the US, but you may have to go looking. If you can be bothered: the culture is different, as others have said, and alcohol is less mainstream thank it is here.

It can be a shock for Americans coming the other way to see how liberal we are in Europe regarding alcohol.

David