Do Europeans binge drink?

Question

I hear that European attitude towards drinking is a lot more relaxed and therefore binge drinking is less of a problem compared to the US and UK. Is this true? If it is, why would it be so?

While I appreciate anecdotal evidence, statistics and links to support your answer would be better.

Answer 1

is the KKK racism????

Answer 2

Of course they do. Some more than others.In short: I think binge drinking is small in most Mediterranean countries, moderate in central & western Europe, and very prominent behind the ex-iron curtain & up in the Nordic Countries.

Statistics may be hard to provide. Probably comparing overall comsumption vs. deaths via alcohol intoxication could give you an idea.

Answer 3

As a UK person, I've always believed there was less binge drinking on the continent because they raise their children from an early age to see alcohol as a normal part of a civilised adult meal, rather than the means to get out of it on a weekend.  Children in France are often given watered down wine as part of a meal from being a young teenager - which discourages them from buying stronger stuff at the shop for illicit experimentation :-)