Nearly all of the countries with the highest levels of alcohol consumption are located in Eastern Europe. They include Russia and other former Soviet Union nations such as Belarus, Lithuania, Moldova, and Ukraine. The only top-consuming nation not located in Eastern Europe is Andorra, a principality located between France and Spain in the Pyrenees.
France, Ireland, and Germany are up there, sandwiched between eastern European nations. I found lots of lists, but they are slideshows, so I did not paste any links.
Outside of Bavaria, where standard beer sizes are about half a liter or a liter (“Ein Mass”), standard beer glasses in Germany are 200ml, or a little less than a cup. In France, the standard “pour” of wine is 4-5 ounces vs. the U.S. 5-6 ounces. So “4 drinks” in Germany is 800ml of beer, whereas it’s about 1300ml in the U.S. In France, “4 drinks” can be as little as 16 ounces, or about the equivalent of about 3 glasses in the U.S.
Now our country (Hoo-rah!) makes up for that a big by being fatter, by and large, than Germans or Frenchmen, but how you count your drinks is going to matter a lot here. For reference, the standard Russian beer is about 350ml (similar to U.S), and their shot glass is quite a bit bigger than the ones they use in Germany and France.
It could be that the Russians actually have performed a miracle vis-a-vis drunkenness in the past decade or so, and that would be wonderful, but I’m guessing it’s far more likely that someone who didn’t understand local customs simply asked people how many drinks they’d had, and didn’t scale for the “pour”. It would be fun, along those lines, to break out the numbers for Bavaria vs. the rest of Germany.
It could be that the Russians actually have performed a miracle vis-a-vis drunkenness in the past decade or so, and that would be wonderful, but I’m guessing it’s far more likely that someone who didn’t understand local customs simply asked people how many drinks they’d had, and didn’t scale for the “pour”. It would be fun, along those lines, to break out the numbers for Bavaria vs. the rest of Germany.
Very reasonable and interesting thoughts. You have studied this out, I can tell.
Discussion
NewGood point, Bert
According to Wallst.com,
Take a look at this map: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/maps-and-graphics/Countries-according-to-alcohol-consumption/
France, Ireland, and Germany are up there, sandwiched between eastern European nations. I found lots of lists, but they are slideshows, so I did not paste any links.
"The Midrash Detective"
NewNow I'm remembering
Outside of Bavaria, where standard beer sizes are about half a liter or a liter (“Ein Mass”), standard beer glasses in Germany are 200ml, or a little less than a cup. In France, the standard “pour” of wine is 4-5 ounces vs. the U.S. 5-6 ounces. So “4 drinks” in Germany is 800ml of beer, whereas it’s about 1300ml in the U.S. In France, “4 drinks” can be as little as 16 ounces, or about the equivalent of about 3 glasses in the U.S.
Now our country (Hoo-rah!) makes up for that a big by being fatter, by and large, than Germans or Frenchmen, but how you count your drinks is going to matter a lot here. For reference, the standard Russian beer is about 350ml (similar to U.S), and their shot glass is quite a bit bigger than the ones they use in Germany and France.
It could be that the Russians actually have performed a miracle vis-a-vis drunkenness in the past decade or so, and that would be wonderful, but I’m guessing it’s far more likely that someone who didn’t understand local customs simply asked people how many drinks they’d had, and didn’t scale for the “pour”. It would be fun, along those lines, to break out the numbers for Bavaria vs. the rest of Germany.
Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.
NewReply
Very reasonable and interesting thoughts. You have studied this out, I can tell.
"The Midrash Detective"