Why is it the English cannot handle drink whereas those on the continent can?

Question

I heard that a lot of places licenced on the continent have to serve food with the alcohol they sell. Is that true and do you think that is the reason they don't have a problem with violence and disorder?

Answer 1

well said small clanger.  It is true, I have lived many years on the continent and when I see drunks in the summer they are usually Brits!  Shameful to say as I am British.  Drinking too much, being aggressive and making a fool of yourself is scorned here but it seems to be something to be proud of back home :(

Answer 2

Such a generalisation.  Nowhere near true.

Answer 3

SAYS WHO,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Answer 4

we substitute eating for drinking

Answer 5

People on the continent drink to be sociable and think it bad form to actually get drunk.  People in Britain drink to get drunk and think it bad form to stop them getting drunk!

Answer 6

Because the Europeans tend to drink with meals and are not out to get pissed.  Not being able to have a good time without being completely sozzled is more common place in the beer/larger drinking countries rather than wine drinkers.  ie, the German, Dutch and some Americans are just as bad as the British when it comes to making fools of themselves.

Answer 7

No it's the its big and clever attitude to drinking (drinking purely to get drunk) that's the problem over here.

A French young person would be so embarrassed to be seen drunk and incapable out in public.  Over here it's a badge of honour amongst teenagers.

In France young people go out and socialise - we saw a group of 17/18 year olds in a restaurant in France, a large group of them were ordering pizzas etc, they stayed in the restaurant talking and eating and nursed the same drink all night.  It was a bizarre thing to see when you come from the UK.

Answer 8

I can handle my drink pretty well thank you, please do not generalise based on media propaganda and racial stereotypes.

Answer 9

Perhaps the education about drink ought to start in schools with parents taking responsibility of how they introduce alcohol into the home.

When I was about 10 I was allowed a glass of wine with my Sunday lunch but that is where it stopped. I never grew up to become a binge drinker however, many of my school friends did as soon as they had their first taste of alcohol on leaving school.

We must make drinking in the UK a social event instead of a challenge to see who can drink the most at the week-ends and make an absolute disgrace of themselves both at home or away.

Continentals have it right well most have though I have seen drunken yoobish behaviour amongst Belgium and Spanish  youngsters and they get really aggressive too after a few drinks believe me.

Until we educate society in this country about drink we will always have the label of Drunken Brits. After all most of the young men in days of yore went to fight wars on a stomach full of cider and beer. So it could be a cultural  thing we us.

But hey I think that we should not tar all our youngster with the same brush as the majority are fine upstanding Citizens. It's just the mindless drunks both young and old that give us all a bad name.

Answer 10

Because we had silly times when you can and can't drink that dates back to ww1, so people used to drink as much as possible before time instead of drinking slowly.

Answer 11

I have lived in Spain for 4 years and i can assure you the young Spanish can behave just as badly as the Brits things are changing here. But as a generalization i agree the Brits are more embarrassing .Like some of the others have said going out is more  like a family affair with children and grandparents all enjoying a night out together.

Answer 12

Children on the continent generally are raised not to abuse alcohol. They're often allowed small amounts with a meal and so on, and don't feel the need to binge drink at the first opportunity.

Answer 13

They don't drink as quickly as the British & are tight fisted and don't like buying drinks. Of all the nationalities I have ever encountered the British are the most generous when it comes to socialising over a pint. I've met "Europeans" (don't want to single out ) who have asked me for some of my drink in clubs and bars! They don't even buy their own, they want yours ! ffs. WTF?

The Brits go abroad and guzzle it like there is no tomorrow. They let loose that's all. BUT not all Brits go on holiday boozing. Some of us prefer to actually go abroad and relax and detox even.

The reason people Binge Drink in the UK , is because our current Government allows it and actively encourages Alcohol consumption in order to kill us off slowly, whilst they bank £MILLIONS in revenue from it.

edit. And Velvet SS is quite right. Teenagers and young people all over Europe have their own social issues. Booze & Drugs are rife right across the continent. They are still TIGHT though! lol

Answer 14

We can handle it about the same, it's just that the Brits have five times more than the Europeans.

Answer 15

Small Clanger has it spot on. Brits have turned aggressive public drunkenness into an art form. I'm amazed Maurice Saatchi doesn't pay squillions for a ringside seat in the centre of Croydon on a Saturday night.

Answer 16

Continental people drink as much, if not more, and can be violent too. However, brits tend to show off more and be more defiant, without necessarily realising it.

Answer 17

noooo the english can handle drink well...its when its mixed with kebabs, mates and football or boxing that it can turn sour!

Answer 18

their culture is different, as in, they dont see alcohol as a means to an end, they see it as we see a cup of tea or coffee, something to be enjoyed, refreshing. Think we should forget about pubs, change then to cafes or wine bars, its the whole thing in the UK, needs complete change.bring it to families, like my brother said, who is a great man u supporter, they dont have the hooligans much now, its all family orientated. (Obviously rangers are bit backward in this thinking, hopefully they will soon catch up! No offense intended!)

Answer 19

British people (not just English) tend to drink a great deal in a short time. On the continent, they're less likely to see getting bladdered as the reason for drinking; they spend longer over their drinks and stop if they think they're getting drunk.