What are various countries' alcohol rates?

[StageLeft]

I was reading this, about England's New Year celebrations (warning, some blood), and I don't know if the reporting is better or what, but I have seen lots of this in the past. I get the impression England's streets turn into drunken chaos at night. That cannot be entirely accurate, but I'd wager that England has more drunks per capita than the US or Canada.

I have some ulterior motivations here, but thinking back to 1984, which is a highly monitoried society and the proles stay in check through a lot of alcohol, the similarities with England do exist.

I'm possibly turning into an old coot, but it seems to me that alcohol really is destructive for society. I know that prohibition failed, but I wish more people would realize how negative it is on their lives and lessen it, if not become teetotalers (it's ok, I didn't know what that meant until a few years ago, either 🙂).

 

[freegeeks]

0,5 promille for Belgium

 

[BarneyFife]

From my personal experiences in Europe, I've declared English people animals. They are loud, vulgar, vile, disgusting... I am not surprised by those pictures. I witnessed a group of English tourists at 6 am at the airport drunk and acting like complete douchebags. Some Islands have even started to ban English people from coming because of all the trouble they start. I'd rate the people in US trailer parks above them in both looks and manners.

 

[Colt45]

Europe has the highest drinking on earth, afaik. But it's not a political thing, it's always been that way...

http://clippednews.files.wordp.../alcohol3june12006.gif

But there is a difference between 10 people having 2 beer a day, and having 10 people, one of which drinks 20 beer per day, and the others abstaining. The per capita is the same, though.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wi...r_capita_world_map.PNG

 

[Dman877]

The Czech republic drinks more per capita than any other country in the world. I think the reason is that in Prague, beers cost the US equivalent of a buck in most bars.

 

[chess9]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I was reading this, about England's New Year celebrations (warning, some blood), and I don't know if the reporting is better or what, but I have seen lots of this in the past. I get the impression England's streets turn into drunken chaos at night. That cannot be entirely accurate, but I'd wager that England has more drunks per capita than the US or Canada.

I have some ulterior motivations here, but thinking back to 1984, which is a highly monitoried society and the proles stay in check through a lot of alcohol, the similarities with England do exist.

I'm possibly turning into an old coot, but it seems to me that alcohol really is destructive for society. I know that prohibition failed, but I wish more people would realize how negative it is on their lives and lessen it, if not become teetotalers (it's ok, I didn't know what that meant until a few years ago, either 🙂).

England does have very high alcohol and smoking rates. Those two offenses against their bodies are a serious financial burden for their National Health Service. And yes, some English could teach Hillbillies some new lows. The English have few murders, on the other hand. A murder in England is huge news. Whereas, in our major cities most murders get a few lines in the next day's paper, because murder is relatively common here.

As between a smoking drunk and a murderer, if those are the choices, I find choosing quite easy. Fortunately, those aren't the choices.

However, the English are a wonderful people. They produced Newton, Shakespeare, Chaucer, Milton, Hawking, and many great poets, musicians, and artists. I would die in England, if the English would let me. Oh, to be in England in the Spring! Or, in the words of Chaucer:

"Whan that Aprille,
with hise shoures soote,
The droghte of March
hath perced to the roote"

-Robert

 

[Farang]

Originally posted by: Colt45
Europe has the highest drinking on earth, afaik. But it's not a political thing, it's always been that way...

http://clippednews.files.wordp.../alcohol3june12006.gif

But there is a difference between 10 people having 2 beer a day, and having 10 people, one of which drinks 20 beer per day, and the others abstaining. The per capita is the same, though.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wi...r_capita_world_map.PNG

lulz I drink much more in a week than each of those countries do yearly

 

[Colt45]

Originally posted by: Farang

Originally posted by: Colt45
Europe has the highest drinking on earth, afaik. But it's not a political thing, it's always been that way...

http://clippednews.files.wordp.../alcohol3june12006.gif

But there is a difference between 10 people having 2 beer a day, and having 10 people, one of which drinks 20 beer per day, and the others abstaining. The per capita is the same, though.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wi...r_capita_world_map.PNG

lulz I drink much more in a week than each of those countries do yearly

litres of pure alcohol tard 😛

so 13L pure alc = 260L std. 5% beer (that's standard here at least, i think yankee beer is wussier) = 127 6packs = ~2 beer / day / citizen

 

[RabidMongoose]

Originally posted by: BarneyFife
From my personal experiences in Europe, I've declared English people animals. They are loud, vulgar, vile, disgusting... I am not surprised by those pictures. I witnessed a group of English tourists at 6 am at the airport drunk and acting like complete douchebags. Some Islands have even started to ban English people from coming because of all the trouble they start. I'd rate the people in US trailer parks above them in both looks and manners.

There's a reason why the English are considered the worst tourists in the entire world. It's not surprising given their history.

 

[Paddington]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I was reading this, about England's New Year celebrations (warning, some blood), and I don't know if the reporting is better or what, but I have seen lots of this in the past. I get the impression England's streets turn into drunken chaos at night. That cannot be entirely accurate, but I'd wager that England has more drunks per capita than the US or Canada.

I have some ulterior motivations here, but thinking back to 1984, which is a highly monitoried society and the proles stay in check through a lot of alcohol, the similarities with England do exist.

I'm possibly turning into an old coot, but it seems to me that alcohol really is destructive for society. I know that prohibition failed, but I wish more people would realize how negative it is on their lives and lessen it, if not become teetotalers (it's ok, I didn't know what that meant until a few years ago, either 🙂).

I lived in England for 7 years before coming to the U.S.

In England, we lived in a number of different cities. These included apartments in mid-rise buildings, houses at the end of cul-de-sac's, etc. Almost everywhere, at least once or twice a month I remember as a kid some drunk asshole would come and bang on our door in the middle of the night. My Dad would go out and tell them to get lost.

I remember going to grocery stores and even the public library with my Mom in the middle of the day, and there would be drunk guys stumbling around. Public intoxication there is a huge problem.

And it's not much better today. I was back in 2005. I was taking the bus from London to suburban Bromley. At one stop, this 20 year old guy got on with a beer in one hand and a bottle of liquor in another. He was totally wasted. He was going up to women on the bus and groping them. The bus driver had no problem with any of this. Oh yeah, all this was at roughly 4 p.m. This kind of behavior even today is totally the norm in England.

Now drunk driving there is less of a problem. The legal limits are lower. The cities are much smaller than here and the weather milder than continental U.S., and folks can more easily walk or get a bus ride home after drinking.

But public intoxication is huge problem in England, probably because - Bourbon street style - it's legal there.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: chess9

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I was reading this, about England's New Year celebrations (warning, some blood), and I don't know if the reporting is better or what, but I have seen lots of this in the past. I get the impression England's streets turn into drunken chaos at night. That cannot be entirely accurate, but I'd wager that England has more drunks per capita than the US or Canada.

I have some ulterior motivations here, but thinking back to 1984, which is a highly monitoried society and the proles stay in check through a lot of alcohol, the similarities with England do exist.

I'm possibly turning into an old coot, but it seems to me that alcohol really is destructive for society. I know that prohibition failed, but I wish more people would realize how negative it is on their lives and lessen it, if not become teetotalers (it's ok, I didn't know what that meant until a few years ago, either 🙂).

England does have very high alcohol and smoking rates. Those two offenses against their bodies are a serious financial burden for their National Health Service. And yes, some English could teach Hillbillies some new lows. The English have few murders, on the other hand. A murder in England is huge news. Whereas, in our major cities most murders get a few lines in the next day's paper, because murder is relatively common here.

As between a smoking drunk and a murderer, if those are the choices, I find choosing quite easy. Fortunately, those aren't the choices.

However, the English are a wonderful people. They produced Newton, Shakespeare, Chaucer, Milton, Hawking, and many great poets, musicians, and artists. I would die in England, if the English would let me. Oh, to be in England in the Spring! Or, in the words of Chaucer:

"Whan that Aprille,
with hise shoures soote,
The droghte of March
hath perced to the roote"

-Robert

wth 🙂

 

[Fear No Evil]

Lets ban everything. Tobacco, alcohol, guns, unhealthy food, skydiving, power tools, motorcycles, etc. Its too dangerous and people are too stupid not to use these things. Since I am smarter than them and I don't like these things, I say we make it illegal. :roll:

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Fear No Evil
Lets ban everything. Tobacco, alcohol, guns, unhealthy food, skydiving, power tools, motorcycles, etc. Its too dangerous and people are too stupid not to use these things. Since I am smarter than them and I don't like these things, I say we make it illegal. :roll:

Great thread contribution :thumbsup:

 

[Farang]

Originally posted by: Colt45

Originally posted by: Farang

Originally posted by: Colt45
Europe has the highest drinking on earth, afaik. But it's not a political thing, it's always been that way...

http://clippednews.files.wordp.../alcohol3june12006.gif

But there is a difference between 10 people having 2 beer a day, and having 10 people, one of which drinks 20 beer per day, and the others abstaining. The per capita is the same, though.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wi...r_capita_world_map.PNG

lulz I drink much more in a week than each of those countries do yearly

litres of pure alcohol tard 😛

so 13L pure alc = 260L std. 5% beer (that's standard here at least, i think yankee beer is wussier) = 127 6packs = ~2 beer / day / citizen

oh that should have been obvious. I still outdrink them by a lot but that is pretty impressive considering all the children and non-drinkers dragging their average down.

 

[Genx87]

First couple of pics makes me believe 28 Days later was filmed live during a celebration in London.

 

[Robor]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: Fear No Evil
Lets ban everything. Tobacco, alcohol, guns, unhealthy food, skydiving, power tools, motorcycles, etc. Its too dangerous and people are too stupid not to use these things. Since I am smarter than them and I don't like these things, I say we make it illegal. :roll:

Great thread contribution :thumbsup:

Probably best to ignore this troll. I'm sure he'll be banned (again) soon.

 

[Robor]

Originally posted by: Genx87
First couple of pics makes me believe 28 Days later was filmed live during a celebration in London.

That movie rocked. So disappointed about 28 Weeks Later though. 🙁

 

[Fear No Evil]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: Fear No Evil
Lets ban everything. Tobacco, alcohol, guns, unhealthy food, skydiving, power tools, motorcycles, etc. Its too dangerous and people are too stupid not to use these things. Since I am smarter than them and I don't like these things, I say we make it illegal. :roll:

Great thread contribution :thumbsup:

You believe alochol is destructive, you believe people are not smart enough to know not to use it. You are much smarter than them because you realize its destructive. It should probably be banned. (You mentioned prohibition).

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Robor

Originally posted by: Genx87
First couple of pics makes me believe 28 Days later was filmed live during a celebration in London.

That movie rocked. So disappointed about 28 Weeks Later though. 🙁

Second was not as good, but not terrible. It could have been worse. I love post-apoc movies 🙂

Little known fact, most of the zombies in 28 days later were not wearing makeup; that's how people over there look.

 

[davestar]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: Fear No Evil
Lets ban everything. Tobacco, alcohol, guns, unhealthy food, skydiving, power tools, motorcycles, etc. Its too dangerous and people are too stupid not to use these things. Since I am smarter than them and I don't like these things, I say we make it illegal. :roll:

Great thread contribution :thumbsup:

Yup, it probably is the smartest contribution so far.

A handful of pictures does not give an accurate (or useful) account of alcohol consumption in England. If people can pull their heads out of their teetotalling box for a minute and remember that it is crime that affects quality of life, not behaviors (e.g. drinking) that have distorted/imaginary/over-blown connections to crime.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: davestar

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: Fear No Evil
Lets ban everything. Tobacco, alcohol, guns, unhealthy food, skydiving, power tools, motorcycles, etc. Its too dangerous and people are too stupid not to use these things. Since I am smarter than them and I don't like these things, I say we make it illegal. :roll:

Great thread contribution :thumbsup:

Yup, it probably is the smartest contribution so far.

A handful of pictures does not give an accurate (or useful) account of alcohol consumption in England. If people can pull their heads out of their teetotalling box for a minute and remember that it is crime that affects quality of life, not behaviors (e.g. drinking) that have distorted/imaginary/over-blown connections to crime.

Nobody said it did.

 

[davestar]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: davestar

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: Fear No Evil
Lets ban everything. Tobacco, alcohol, guns, unhealthy food, skydiving, power tools, motorcycles, etc. Its too dangerous and people are too stupid not to use these things. Since I am smarter than them and I don't like these things, I say we make it illegal. :roll:

Great thread contribution :thumbsup:

Yup, it probably is the smartest contribution so far.

A handful of pictures does not give an accurate (or useful) account of alcohol consumption in England. If people can pull their heads out of their teetotalling box for a minute and remember that it is crime that affects quality of life, not behaviors (e.g. drinking) that have distorted/imaginary/over-blown connections to crime.

Nobody said it did.

Right. So you post a link to an article that shows pictures out of control drunks. You say that this small sample of pictures supports your perception of "England's streets". Then you draw a conclusion that England has more drunks than the US or Canada.

You're parsing words to claim that "Nobody said it did". This article prompted you to post about the degrading effects of alcohol on society though this article is simply tabloid sensationalism. Obviously this you took this article to heart.

Compare this list of countries ordered by Quality Of Life to the list of counties ordered by alcohol consumption - you'll notice that there is no correlation between the two.

 

[chess9]

Originally posted by: Fear No Evil

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: Fear No Evil
Lets ban everything. Tobacco, alcohol, guns, unhealthy food, skydiving, power tools, motorcycles, etc. Its too dangerous and people are too stupid not to use these things. Since I am smarter than them and I don't like these things, I say we make it illegal. :roll:

Great thread contribution :thumbsup:

You believe alochol is destructive, you believe people are not smart enough to know not to use it. You are much smarter than them because you realize its destructive. It should probably be banned. (You mentioned prohibition).

It doesn't matter. Intelligence has not proven to be a good survival mechanism, at least not as practiced by humans. Chomsky suggests homo sapiens have about a 100,000 year window to survive, and we are probably past that window already, or very close. 🙂

Why should we worry about guns and alcohol when many nations are armed with nuclear weapons and have leaders as bad, or worse, than GWB?

And if not nuclear weapons, then we have the religous nuts of all stripes trying very hard to send everyone to Valhalla.

The cockroaches and crocs are the only ones deserving this little blue orb.

-Robert

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: davestar

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: davestar

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: Fear No Evil
Lets ban everything. Tobacco, alcohol, guns, unhealthy food, skydiving, power tools, motorcycles, etc. Its too dangerous and people are too stupid not to use these things. Since I am smarter than them and I don't like these things, I say we make it illegal. :roll:

Great thread contribution :thumbsup:

Yup, it probably is the smartest contribution so far.

A handful of pictures does not give an accurate (or useful) account of alcohol consumption in England. If people can pull their heads out of their teetotalling box for a minute and remember that it is crime that affects quality of life, not behaviors (e.g. drinking) that have distorted/imaginary/over-blown connections to crime.

Nobody said it did.

Right. So you post a link to an article that shows pictures out of control drunks. You say that this small sample of pictures supports your perception of "England's streets". Then you draw a conclusion that England has more drunks than the US or Canada.

You're parsing words to claim that "Nobody said it did". This article prompted you to post about the degrading effects of alcohol on society though this article is simply tabloid sensationalism. Obviously this you took this article to heart.

Compare this list of countries ordered by Quality Of Life to the list of counties ordered by alcohol consumption - you'll notice that there is no correlation between the two.

Really...

have seen lots of this in the past. I get the impression England's streets turn into drunken chaos at night. That cannot be entirely accurate

My thread title and summary are both questions. The conviction you seem to think I have is not stated anywhere.

I did wager England has more drunkenness but I never quantified that because I have no numbers.

Thanks for the links!

EDIT: Per capita UK boozes 39% more than the US and 43% more than Canada. So, it would seem I'd have won the wager, although a pedant would point out this is alcohol consumption not "abuse" in some drunken stupor kind of way.

 

[davestar]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
EDIT: Per capita UK boozes 39% more than the US and 43% more than Canada. So, it would seem I'd have won the wager, although a pedant would point out this is alcohol consumption not "abuse" in some drunken stupor kind of way.

Why would someone who points out that "this is alcohol consumption, not abuse" have to be a "pedant"? I'd say that's the crux of the issue.

I hope we're both in agreement that the "problem" with alcohol is the potential effects of excessive alcohol consumption - whether that is bar brawls, vandalism, drunk driving, or alcoholism. You seem to veer close to saying that alcohol is an evil in and of itself.

I've never argued that England consumes less alcohol per capita than the US or Canada, so I think that wager you won must've been against yourself. I've simply contended that a country's alcohol consumption has nothing to do with quality of life. A town of moderate drinkers is more peaceful than a town of 90% teetotallers and 10% raging drunks, though the first town obviously drinks more on average than the second.

In any case, I'd bet that the level of drunken criminal activity in the US exceeds that of many countries that drink more than the US on average. No links yet, though...