Drinking in America

ferf1223

DavidHayton wrote: »

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

As an American who moved here 10 years ago, I can say that that is absolutely the case...and it's not necessarily that the attitude is more liberal - my friends and I regularly enjoyed our fair share drinks in the US...just that here much of the focus seems to be on getting as drunk as you can, as quickly as possible, as often as possible.

starryshell

DavidHayton wrote: »

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

But there's a big difference to how alcohol is on the continent and in the UK.

Although as an American, I did love getting samples of alcoholic beverages in the grocery stores in France when I lived in Switzerland and would shop in France.

As ferf1223 mentioned, it does seem in the UK the goal is to get as drunk as you can, as often as you can. My neighbours are late 20s to late 30s professionals, and the number of bottles they each put in the recycling bin every couple of days sound like a bar at closing time, and the times I've bumped into them stumbling in after a night of heavy drinking put my younger partying days to shame.

:beer:?

SnowBelle_2

A lot of my work collegues are from Spain & Italy,they are all in their late 20's early 30's and they all say they would never go out with an English person as they are always drunk!
Sometimes when they tell me what they have witnessed out on a Saturday Night I cringe to be English!

Back to the thread....we very rarely drink much in the States when we are there as we jsut don't seem to be bothered with it.
Also OH had to wait for 20 minutes in Target Florida last week for his ID to be checked for 6 bottles of BUD,
It felt like the wait of shame,with all the other people waiting behind him! he is 42!

Doshwaster

DavidHayton wrote: »

It can be a shock for Americans coming the other way to see how liberal

That is true in some ways. Going out for a pint at lunchtime is almost unknown of in the US - it's almost enough to get you an invitation to AA. However, drinking driving is still much more socially accepted than it is here. I've lost count of the number of times I have been out with colleagues in the US and they have offered to give me a lift back to my hotel, even though we've both had a skin-full.

In terms of ID, you also need to be careful about what form is accepted. Most places will be fine with a UK photo driving licence (I don't like carrying my passport around) but some won't accept foreign licences and some won't even accept out-of-State licences. I've actually seen cases when someone clearly in their 40s has been refused a beer as they had a driving licence from another State.

ferf1223

Doshwaster wrote: »

That is true in some ways. Going out for a pint at lunchtime is almost unknown of in the US - it's almost enough to get you an invitation to AA. However, drinking driving is still much more socially accepted than it is here. I've lost count of the number of times I have been out with colleagues in the US and they have offered to give me a lift back to my hotel, even though we've both had a skin-full.

The funny thing is I think that in a lot of cases, not wanting to drink and drive is why there's less of a drinking culture in the US...because outside of major cities, there isn't much in the way of public transport...so in a lot of cases we just don't go out drinking after work because it would mean driving home...we're more likely to go home, have dinner (another big difference - actually eating before a night of drinking), then head out with friends if we are going out...with one being designated driver in most cases...whereas here it's down the pub straight from work and everyone makes their own way home via bus/tube/taxi, etc.

I do know people who drink and drive in the US - but I do sometimes think that the general lack of options in terms of public transportation drives the difference between here and there in this respect...not to say it's ok to drink and drive (it's certainly not)...and not drinking in the first place when you know you have to drive home is obviously the logical conclusion to make.

starryshell

Doshwaster wrote: »

That is true in some ways. Going out for a pint at lunchtime is almost unknown of in the US - it's almost enough to get you an invitation to AA. ...

And will get you fired from most companies, as it is against most company policies.

LillythePink

Thanks all - very helpful.

Although not a raging paid up member of AA, it's nice to be able to have a drink every now and then.

Doshwaster

LillythePink wrote: »

Thanks all - very helpful.

Although not a raging paid up member of AA, it's nice to be able to have a drink every now and then.

The other important difference between in drinking between the US and UK is tipping. A tip of at least a dollar per drink is expected and in the more expensive cities, and more upscale bars, it is more than this.

Gloomendoom

starryshell wrote: »

And will get you fired from most companies, as it is against most company policies.

Ha ha! I worked in Munich for a spell. The company provided beer in the office fridge.

I once drank a bottle at lunchtime, much to my German colleagues' delight. They were slapping me on the back so hard I nearly choked.

starryshell

Gloomendoom wrote: »

Ha ha! I worked in Munich for a spell. The company provided beer in the office fridge.

I once drank a bottle at lunchtime, much to my German colleagues' delight. They were slapping me on the back so hard I nearly choked.

I understand! I lived in Switzerland for a while, the staff cafeteria had beer - and this was a chemical factory, so you had guys who were working on the floor and with dangerous materials (along with office types like me) having a beer or two over lunch. Our department would often have champagne to celebrate births, weddings, new hires, people leaving, etc. and it was such a strange feeling to float back to my desk lightheaded to continue working (I'm American, so this was particularly strange but wonderfully nice to me!). Going out to lunch always involved a bottle of wine at the table.