This was published 7 years ago

Countries that enjoy drinking alcohol even more than Australia

By Ben Groundwater

Updated March 22, 2017 — 12.44pm

You can see how other countries might find it strange: that we as Australians count an enjoyment of drinking as one of our national characteristics. It's part of the myth, a stereotype that's known around the world. We play sport, we share "mateship" – whatever that is – we show reverence for nothing and no one, and we drink.

We consider ourselves a fine nation of boozers. We're not alcoholics, of course. That would be a problem. We just enjoy rounding out a day with a few frosty brews. Or a glass of wine. Or a rum and coke. Or all of those one after the other.

So it's a strange thing to travel to certain nations for the first time and discover that they, too, share this characteristic. I'm talking about countries that in many ways might seem so different to Australia, and yet you discover they share our enjoyment of going out to a pub or a bar and chugging down a few drinks. In fact some of them like it even more than we do.

This is not a pure consumption-by-volume thing. It's the countries that seem to extract such joy out of the process of getting boozy, in the same way many Australians do. Countries such as these…

Japan

If you picture the Japanese as being a shy, polite, sincere and above all well behaved people, then you have it half right. Because that does seem to be the case until about 6pm. After that, the country's izakayas – the bars that serve beer, sake and small plates of food – begin to fill up, and things get crazy for the rest of the evening. Don't ever get yourself into a situation where you're going drink for drink with a group of Japanese businessmen. The next day will be horrific.

Germany

Berlin Strand Bar on the banks of the Spree.Credit: iStock

The Germans have got drinking all worked out. It's not about bingeing – it's about enjoying. Though that still seems to involve the consumption of a heroic amount of beer. Check out the beer gardens across the country on a sunny day, or the parks, or the backyards, or even the streets, and you'll see people drinking and enjoying themselves. Without going too silly. Australia could learn a thing or two.

Thailand

Diners on Khaosan Road, Bangkok.Credit: iStock

Though it may not feel particularly cultural at the time, one of the most authentically local experiences you can have in any Thai town is going to hang out at a big open-air restaurant for the night, ordering large bottles of beer for your group to share – poured over ice – and eating and chatting the night away. Up in the north of the country you might even be forced to drink a little rice whisky: fairly horrible rocket fuel that's sure to have everyone's cheeks glowing.

Bolivia

Though plenty of South Americans seem to enjoy a drink – Brazilians with their caipirinhas, Peruvians with pisco sours, Argentinians with red wine – no one seems able to binge quite like the Bolivians. Spend time in a local bar in La Paz, or Sucre, or Cochabamba, and prepare for quite the sight. Much alcohol will be consumed, and things are going to get rowdy. It's not the best idea to try to keep up.

UK

There's no need to spend time pondering where Australia's drinking culture came from. It's from Great Britain. We've inherited bad parts of the culture – the bingeing, the associated violence – and we've inherited good parts of the culture – the beer, the whisky, the gin, and the great places in which to drink it. Most Australians would feel instantly comfortable in a British pub. Go to the bar, order a beer, drink it while chatting to friends. And then, later on, realise you've drunk for too much, and fall over.

Czech Republic

A traditional Czech beer hall is a thing of beauty. Huge crowds of people gather in these big old buildings to socialise with friends, consume large hunks of meat and bread, and pay their respects to a national obsession: beer. The Czechs drink more beer per capita than anyone else – sorry Germany; sorry Belgium – and you only have to spend an evening in a local beer hall to accept this as fact.

See also: The world's biggest beer drinkers

Russia

Never before seen in Australia: A policeman celebrates White Night in St Petersburg.Credit: Alamy

Many of the stereotypes about Russian drinking habits are true. Yes, they love vodka. And yes, they drink a colossal amount of it. It's not unusual to see two men out to dinner together ordering an entire bottle to share between them – and no one goes home until it's finished. Beer is also becoming increasingly popular. Russians usually pair their drinking with eating, but that doesn't mean any rookie vodka fan will have the slightest chance of keeping up with them.

See also: Europe's most baffling country

South Korea

There's a problem with drinking with Koreans. Mostly, it's that they're extremely hospitable, and will always be attempting to refill your glass. The issue here is that it's very impolite to then refuse that drink. This results in an inevitably long and increasingly drunken evening, a beer- and soju-fuelled extravaganza that will probably include much confused laughter, much jostling to refill your drink, and some karaoke. And the next day will be one of the worst of your life.

Ireland

Even if you're not much of a boozer, you can't help but be swept up in the pure joy that Irish people seem to derive from the consumption of alcohol. Much of this is not because of the booze itself – it's the people you share it with, the conversation, the jokes, the stories, the music, the dancing. In other words, the craic. That all of this is accompanied by pints of thick black Guinness just makes it all the more attractive.

Which countries do you think could drink Australia under the table? Leave a comment below. And test your knowledge of the world's beers with the interactive quiz.

Email: b.groundwater@fairfaxmedia.com.au

Instagram: instagram.com/bengroundwater

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The Sydney Morning Herald