Some time ago i asked about smoking jn america and what do you think about it. Now i want to ask sou guys what is drinking in America like? Do you drink, what do americans mostly drink when go out , do you think Europeans drinks more ? Is it normal in America to drink like glass of vine before lunch or with lunch/ dinner. What about younger generations?
Thank you for you answers đ
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There is no average answer to this as no one in America can answer for the other 330 or so million folks. I do not drink at all and haven’t for many years. Why? Just decided I did not care for alcohol so I just stopped. Many drink daily and many do not. No way I could guess what the average is across this big country.
[Western Europe drinks more than we do.](https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/alcohol-consumption-by-country)
And in general no, most people don’t have a glass of wine with lunch, unless they’re retired or something. We don’t have a huge wine culture compared to somewhere like France. Day drinking is usually frowned on.
Also, [liquor and beer](https://alcohol.org/guides/the-alcohol-industry-in-data/) make up the lion’s share of what we drink, with wine in a distant third. Compare to [Germany](https://www.statista.com/statistics/560280/alcoholic-beverages-consumption-by-type-germany/) where beer beats the rest by far.
America does not really have a developed drinking culture compared to other nations like Russia, Korea, etc. But here are some cultural attributes
-Americans say cheers or make some kind of speech for a toast.
-Americans often tap the bottom of a shot glass on the table before taking a shot
-In America drinking is less “casual” while a man might have a beer with some friends after work to chill out typically drinking centers around the alchchol. Its way less common then Europe just to have a beer for lunch for example.
-Americans typically drink less then Europeans, especially northern Europeans.
-Beer culture in America is very unorthodox, even a shitty small town might have a dozen different breweries. People love trying new and weird style of beers which is very different in comparison to countries like Germany. IPA and craft beer is very popular
-When it comes to liquor then Bourbon is the drink that represents America. Rye whiskey used to be the #1 drink up north before prohabition but now its rare.
-The North east and especially NYC has a big cocktail culture. Many of the world’s most famous cocktails have been invented in NYC
-Unlike Europe in most places your not allowed to have uncovered alchohol while walking on the street. American cops also have alot less tolerance for being drunk in public then say a British cop might.
-The US is alot less walkable and relies on cars alot more and thus the drinking culture is less intense and bar hopping is different
-Wine is a big thing in California
-Taverns and Pubs are a big thing in the North East of America. Many famous historical American events from the planning of the Boston Tea party to the founding of the US Marines have taken place in Taverns in cities like Boston, NYC or Philadelphia.
-Beer pong is probobly the most popular American drinking game to play. Having a pool table is also popular at many bars
-Americans have alot of different unique tyles of bars like dive bars or Speakeasys.
-Americans cannot legally drink untill they are 21. Most kids will not wait untill they are 21 and will start drinking when they are college.
-There isint really a deep cultural connection with alcohol and certain holidays like some cultures might have because America is a young country. It is traditional to have champagne for New Year and have a beer along with your BBQ for 4th of July.
I think it depends on what part of America you are in. I drink less often than the average American. I have maybe 1-2 drinks a month. Itâs not that Iâm opposed to it, itâs just that alcohol is expensive and I donât like to be too drunk or hungover, so thereâs no call for me to do it much. A drink is like an occasional treat for me.
I think beer is probably the favorite American alcohol, though wine and mixed drinks are not at all uncommon. I enjoy a beer occasionally, and I recently have gotten in to making fruit wine. I made 12 bottles last year and still have not drunk them all. đ I also love a margarita, and sometimes an amaretto sour. I think of that as a winter drink for some reason.
Might I recommend searching this sub for âdrinking cultureâ? This gets asked a lot so you should be able to find many discussions on the topic.
We have a massive beer culture which I found nothing like in France. Most cities will have several local breweries or brewpubs making craft beers. Most restaurants will have several beers on the menu – dozens.
In France thatâs not a thing. Basically every restaurant we went to had 2-3 beer choices – Heineken and Leffe – large, basic Brands.
what is drinking in America like? Drinking is very common, it has limitations that I consider dumb ( like 21+ for buy alcohol, strict drinking hours, canât drink in public (which is different that being intoxicated) compare to Europe or Latin America.
Do you drink? Yes
what do americans mostly drink when go out? Mostly beer, hard seltzer are getting popular tho and cocktails ,
do you think Europeans drinks more ? No, by far Europeans drink way more than Americans
Is it normal in America to drink like glass of vine before lunch or with lunch/ dinner? I donât think so, Drinking during working hours (even when you are on break) itâs frowned upon.
What about younger generations? Young people drink less than adults but weed and vapes are way more popular than alcohol.
The biggest difference Iâve observed is that in Europe alcohol is treated as food, ie. wine with dinner. That relationship to alcohol seems healthier to me and less prone to abuse. But itâs hard to generalize a Country with 330 million people, that comprises essentially a bunch of mini-countries that have their own cultures.
There really isnât a uniform drinking culture.
Your style of drinking will likely be more defined by age, income and city.
* If youâre poorer a night out will likely consist of drinking cheap beer and cheap mixed concoctions on your friends back porch
* If youâre a young college kid, youâre probably getting wasted at a house party on cheap beer
* If youâre slightly older, youâll probably pre-game at homes with friends before bar hopping or hitting a club. May or may not be an after party.
* If youâre a young professional, you might go to a nice cocktail bar, go out to dinner and then bar hop or just chill at a brewery with friends
* If youâre older than 50 or live in a rural area, you might have a favorite neighborhood dive or honkytonk you visit several times per week drinking cheap beer
* If youâre a young adult you might participate in Sunday Funday where you often start the day off with brunch and continue to day drink at breweries and bars throughout the day hanging out with friends.
* Tailgating is where you and your friends pull up hours before a sports game (most commonly football) and drink and grill meats before the game. It celebrates fandom while saving you money in the stadium.
Most sizable cities will have a few areas filled with bars, at least a few clubs, some breweries and some modern cocktail bars.
Some cities are known for clubbing more than others. Some are known for the $$$$$ exclusive clubs with $$$$ bottle service (Miami, Vegas). Others are known for bar hopping (Buffalo, Milwaukee).
Last call can vary greatly from city to city ranging from midnight to 24 hours which can greatly impact the local drinking culture. Like in Buffalo, late night bars and clubs donât get busy until midnight since last call is 4 am. In cities like Austin, people go out much earlier since bars close earlier.
Southern Indiana native age 48. We drink large draft beers all season long at baseball games. At restaurants we order cocktails, especially if they sound interesting or unique.
During boardgames or D&D we take shots because it’s quick and easy. Some people dont like shots, so they will mix up a rum and coke or something. I like tequila or rum in summer, vodka or bourbon in winter.
Drinking culture in New Orleans is it’s own thing and very different from most of the US.
ARGUABLY, we invented the cocktail here. Alcohol consumption is ubiquitous and included in most social functions. You can carry your drinks in public provided they’re in unbreakable containers. There are no prescribed serving hours so we have bars open 24 hours a day. You can even get daiquiris at drive-through stands. Almost every neighborhood will have multiple bars or pubs within walking distance.
Mixed drinks and cocktails are very popular, but beer, especially craft beer, seems to be king right now.
Drinking times vary quite a bit. Day Drinking isn’t uncommon and having a drink at a business lunch, for example, or other social/professional setting is usually acceptable.
We don’t take kindly to people that can’t handle their liquor, though.
Breweries seem to have become a big thing as late night clubs seem to be a little less popular.
Breweries often serve food and have live music and allow families. So youâll get a larger swoop of people (young to old) as customers. While clubs tend to focus on the 21-30 something crowd.
I havenât been to a club in years and years and itâs not longer appealing. Breweries and wineries offer more than the drinking so very much are.
We drink far less than most of Europe. I work with a bunch of Finns and they will out drink even the strongest American drinker and it feels like they barely even feel it. One thing we often hear from new Finnish migrants and visitors is how odd it is that we go to lunch and dinner at a bar but not a single person will order alcohol. That said, Americans do drink. It’s just nowhere near as casual as most European countries.
I personally do not drink whatsoever. The house I grew up in was next to a home with drug addicts and alcoholics. I watched it destroy countless lives and saw more than a dozen people wheeled out in body bags at 2AM. It completely scared me off ever even trying any of it.
Drinking is becoming less popular with the younger generations.
Who taps their shot glass on the table before taking a drink? Iâve never seen it done.
And I donât think Iâve ever heard anyone say cheers
Beer. Maybe some whiskey. Those were the only forms of alcohol I ever heard of growing up! and it seemed like that’s all people drank. Came across a recipe once for Xmas cookies using a teaspoon of rum, and there was no way my mother was going to make those, we would all fry in hell.
After I grew up of course I knew about other drinks, but still didn’t bother much myself. Growing up in a teetotal environment, then being A Poor for several years, alcohol was at the very bottom of my list of things to buy.
In the military? beer. In college? beer. Night out after work with the gang? beer. Going to watch the sportsball game? beer. Picnic with friends? beer. Barbeque with the in-laws? beer. Get-together with the neighbors? beer.
With sincere apologies to those who enjoy it, I gotta say OMG BORING!!!
>Do you drink,
Water and coffee
>what do americans mostly drink when go out ,
In my group. Water. Seems like people are choosing health and drinking less.
> do you think Europeans drinks more ?
Don”t care
>Is it normal in America to drink like glass of vine before lunch or with lunch/ dinner.
Dinner yes, Lunch normal for alcoholics
It’s very much regional, with wisconsin and northern Michigan in particular consuming way more than average for americans. (And roughly 50 percent of Korbel brandy)
For instance, look up the top 50 drunkest counties in the US, and you will see the area dominate.
If you look up excessive drinking by county, you will see the map with wisconsin being solidly shaded the darkest color except for one spot. That spot is a lake.
Utah, however, is very much less alcoholic than average on account of the large Mormon population.
Amongst my personal friends group (college educated 40 something’s in the Midwest), most of our drinking is done at home. Usually beer ( both cheap and craft varieties). Going to a bar is at most a once a month activity. Once you have kids, it is harder to find time for just ” going out for drinks.”
Wildly varies by area and state
A lot of people will drink bloody marry, and sometimes a can of beer, with late breakfast/lunch – brunch. Usually on weekends in a restaurant.
Something that has always shocked me about Europe is that alcohol consumption during the workday is acceptable at least in some places. I can’t think of a single industry where it would be acceptable here to go out, have a beer or a glass of wine, and return to work afterward.
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Personally, I don’t drink much at all, maybe 1-2 drinks a month. It’s just expensive. When I do drink, I like mixed drinks that are sweet and/or frozen.
Biggest thing for Europeans to understand is culture is not uniform in the US. So any of these âwhat is X culture like in America?â only have one answer: it varies by region and even by state.
Iâm under 21 so I canât give you a very good answer, but from what I understand drinking is a social thing. At colleges itâs common for underage kids to drink to get trashed.
The plan this weekend was to head out to the tip of Long Island and bike the entire weekend; 20 miles on Friday, 30 or so on Saturday, then another15 today before heading back to NYC. We also planned to visit the many great brewpubs and breweries in the area, smoke lots of weed and buy cigars on the Indian reservation.
Unfortunately, it pissed rain the entire weekend so we did all the above except ride, in proportionately unhealthy amounts.
I understand that it changes a lot between states, I happen to live and grew up in the drunkest state, Wisconsin. In Wisconsin beer in particular is a cultural phenomenon, beer is served at almost any cultural event, even little league sports games will sometimes have beer for sale. Most cities or villages will have at least one local brewery, craft beer is a huge deal here. I don’t want to make it sound like it’s just beer, I’d say beer is the biggest cultural driver for alcohol use in Wisconsin, but wine and liquor are also very commonly consumed, the signature cocktail for Wisconsin is a Brandy Old Fashion, extremely commonly served with a Friday night fish fry.
It depends on what state youâre in, cause my stateâs drinking culture is virtually non existent
Europeans definitely drink more.