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France
For countries from which statistics are available, France has consistently had the highest annual per capita alcohol consumption. This is largely due to the amount of wine consumption in the country. However, recent trends have shown a decrease in drinking since WWII, and a general convergence among the EU nations. There exist major differences between the consumption of wine between men and women in France and this is linked to the idea of masculinity within the French culture. Women tend to drink both lower quantity and lower quality wines, including wine mixed with water as a “lighter” drink. Wine drinking is comparatively heavier in the wine producing regions of France. The recent decrease in wine consumption in France has been tentatively linked to the less ritualized manner in which youth entertain themselves today. Elaborate balls have been replaced by the attempt to get drunk, which does not involve the drinking of expensive wines. All of these attributes, and many more, describe the French market for wine and why that market is changing. |
Italy
In Italy, the yearly per capita rate of alcohol consumption has long been declining, but family expenditures on alcohol still reach into 2% of the family budget. Wine pervades most spheres of life, consisting as a large part of the Italian culture. If someone is said to drink, then they are assumed to be a heavy drinker in Italy. Wine is considered nourishment to the Italians, and was often a supplement to the diet of the lower classes that needed additional calories, which were provided by the wine. Wine is considered to be a regular part of every day life, so no special circumstances are needed to bring this drink out. Italy is divided into quarters, and the northeast is considered the wettest of these regions. Beyond a region distinction, there exists a gender distinction in Italy. It is said that women get drunk less often then men in regular culture, and in peasant culture this is even more pronounced, as women in this social class only drink on special occasions. There is also very little distinction based on the type of occupation someone holds. Among youth, males drink more often than females, and wine is most often drunk at home with the family. |
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Spain
Again, in Spain, alcohol is woven into the everyday culture. Alcohol is the social lubricant for this culture, especially around festive times and certain ritualistic occasions. Also, alcohol is integrated into the culture of eating in Spain, and many consider meals to be incomplete without wine. As one of its vital economic activities, the large amount of wine production in Spain correlates to large consumption levels of wine within the country. In recent years, other alcoholic beverages have gained ground on wine as the alcohol of choice. This comes from a similar trend as that seen in France, where the youth now attempt to drink for the purpose of getting drunk, and thus do not drink expensive wines when doing this. The classical idea of drinking in Spain involves what is called “proper drinking” where a person knows when and how to drink. Something of special note in Spain is that the drinking culture revolves around their time schedule that includes various classifications for different times of the day, i.e. siesta. Drinking revolves around the bar scene in Spain, and they are an essential aspect of the social scene. The youth in Spain are heavy drinkers, and drink even more than their parents and grandparents, especially among males. Again, the drinking patterns in Spain are moving away from the traditional Spanish norms and moving to more modern drinking habits in both how and what they drink. |
Germany
Germany has been known as a drunken country for a long time, and this comes from its long tradition of appreciating alcohol in general. A noted difference between the German and French culture may be seen in the fact that women in Germany will often times join their husbands and friends in drinking sessions, often more than once per night. There once existed a correlation between income level and alcohol consumption, but that correlation disappeared a long time ago, and the average level of alcohol consumption in Germany has leveled out in recent years. Wine is the second most popular alcoholic drink in the country although it is second by a large amount and is usually consumed on special occasions. Wine though is the most popular alcoholic drink among women, while beer is more popular among men. Income level, although not linked to amount of alcohol consumption, is linked to the quality of alcohol consumer, and thus higher income families will drink higher valued drinks. Teenage boys are encouraged to drink both in the company of other teens, as well as in the company of grown men. In contrast, teenage girls are not encouraged to drink in excess, but rather in moderation, if at all. |
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The United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is a country that has Protestant origins, and the Protestant religion has been characterized by ambivalence about drinking. The UK has less polarization on this issue than most other countries that have had temperance movements, and is thus less judgmental about the consumption of alcohol. Alcohol consumption has been an important aspect of social life in the UK. Alcohol use is learned at a very young age in the UK, and this is because it is widely available and extensively advertised. Boys are more encouraged than girls to drink in the home, and teenage drinking is often cited as being a problem because of the risky behaviors they engage in while drunk.
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