Why is it said that people in England and Australia drink so much?

[Whatthefluff]

If true, is this a cultural or social thing?

[Bee-Hatch]

Actually this is/was correct (can only answer for the UK). It's slowly changing, but there's a strong drinking culture ingrained in the people


Google the Gin epidemic. During the napoleonic wars, French soldiers captured were a problem for the British as they had to be cared for and guarded, major pain in the arse. British soldiers the French soon discovered were a lot easier to deal with, they were locked up in wine cellars of local chateaus and castles and only required a couple of guards. For the past few decades, it's been regular tabloid news to follow British youths across Europe to report on the way they behave when drunk away from home. And we still have a significant portion of policing dedicated to Friday and Saturday nights in city and town centres because of the problem of drinking.


It's also worth noting our beers and lagers tend to be stronger than the stuff Americans get, often twice the strength. Even the piss water Budweiser gets made stronger here because it'd never sell otherwise.

[OverThePlace]

I think it is more a social thing, as most people only drink when they catch up with their mates after work or at family gatherings

[BCA6010]

Australians actually do drink a lot. I've never seen any stats about the English that I remember, but if it was for Britain as a whole (including the Scots and northern Ireland) then I'd believe it.

It's been my observation that a significantly higher percentage of Europeans drink alcohol compared to Americans, but the Americans who do drink are much more likely to get absolutely trashed, and more often consume large amounts of cheap beer as opposed to local brews.

[Kaneki05]

The fact this is overlooking america is funny. Americans drink a lot and have the history of not been able to cope with it been banned as it would and did cause mafia's then people growing there own alcohol.

[andreasderjuengere]

Because they can :D

In both countries I see no regular mass shootings, no continuous military provocations abroad, no exaggerated nationalism, etc.

Drinking much is the way to go.

Cheers, and enjoy the weekend 😎

[TheShadowDweller_2]

All year cold weather may be the reason.

Since, beer and other alcoholic drinks dilate the blood vessels enough for the blood to flow more fluidly, the people there drink these drinks more frequently than people from other countries.

Hence the statement in your question, I guess.

[OfDeath]

Australia certainly doesn't have all year cold weather.

[TheShadowDweller_2]

@OfDeath I thought Austria. Sorry.🙂

[slatyb]

It's not said, it's a fact. It's not hard to calculate the per capita consumption of alcohol. Just total all the alcohol sales and divide by the adult population.

[ArtemisSilver]

It's both, but it was a survival advantage in pre sanitation London and elsewhere

[maximumpower]

Both cultural and social.
Countries are #24 and #34 respectively - not really that high on the list.

[Surely]

How do you determine what is too much alcohol?

[OfDeath]

Australia was heavily colonized by English proletarians who had a heavy drinking culture.

[Alex8736]

Try Ireland. A boiled potato and a 6 pack is their breakfast, lunch and dinner

[Guardian45]

I think its true. I think it's cultural. Just like the French, who drink table wine, NOT water.

[Anonymous]

I’ve heard that the girls are complete sluts who drink and screw.

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

I think it's true but hard to say.

[Anonymous]

That's how they are portrayed in the media.

[Anonymous]

Yes they drink pee a lot...😜