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Which Country Drinks the Most?
The Economist released a study on which countries drink the most, and guess which came in first? Luxembourg, the tiny, landlocked country nestled between France, Belgium and Germany. But why Luxembourg? "One explanation is that the duty on alcohol is relatively cheap in the tiny nation, encouraging booze tourism from its more heavily taxed neighbours." There's no explanation for Ireland being second, however. I guess they just drink a lot.
To see the rest of the list, visit The Economist. Related: Which country smokes the most?Filed under: Arts and Culture, Food and Drink
Reader Comments (Page 5 of 5)
Rickjameswells Jun 22nd 2007 5:20PM
Ha ha! No surprised at all! Conas Ta Tu?
RICK FREITAS Jun 22nd 2007 5:51PM
I WAS A WINE STEWARD EXTRAORDINAIRE FOR LIQUOR BARN STORES, AND SAFEWAY STORES INC., AND I AM FROM THE BAY AREA, ALAMEDA, CA 94501, AND I AM NOT SURPRISED THAT THE UNITED STATES IS RANKED #40. AMERICANS HAVE THIS NOTION THAT ALCOHOL IS BAD FOR YOU. THIS IS NOT TRUE. AS A GENERAL RULE, THE OLDER WINES ARE SLIGHTLY BETTER. AS A RULE, IT TAKES TIME FOR THE ELEMENTS IN WINE TO RESOLVE THEMSELVES INTO A HARMONIOUS WHOLE, IT TAKES TIME AND OXYGEN. WINE IS NOT A DISEMBODIED ESSENSE, IT IS THE PRODUCT OF SKILL, KNOWLEDGE AND IN MANY CASES, "LOVE." AMERICANS HOLD MANY MYTHS ABOUT WINES. AMERICANS ARE ALL INTERESTED IN FITNESS AND GENERAL HEALTH, YOU THINK THAT WINE IS BAD FOR YOUR LIVER AND YOUR HEART, THIS IS COMPLETE "NOT" TRUE! IT IS THE DRINKING OF WINE THAT MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO EAT THE RICH FOODS, WHICH ARE BAD FOR YOUR HEART AND LIVER, BECAUSE WINE CUTS GREASE; A SIP OF WINE LEAVES YOUR MOUTH CLEAN AND READY FOR THE NEXT BITE, OF WHATEVER IT IS YOU ARE EATING. WHEN DONE IN MODERATION, YOU ARE MUCH MORE HEALTHIER! PREGNANT AMERICAN WOMEN, SHOULD DRINK A GLASS OF WINE WITH THEIR DINNER, AS IT WILL HELP THEIR DIGESTION!
ON ANOTHER TACT, I FEVERENTLY BELIEVE THAT IF YOU ARE IN THE U.S. MILITARY, AND YOU CAN PUT YOUR LIFE ON THE LINE, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SAMPLE SOME WINES AND BEER, SANS HARD LIQUOR! WHEN I WAS A CHILD, MY PABULUM WAS WINE & WATER. AS I GOT OLDER, MORE WINE WAS ADDED TO LESS WATER, THAT GOES BACK TO MY HERITAGE, BEING 50% ITALIAN, AND 50% PORTUGUESE! AMERICANS NEED TO ADJUST THEIR PRIORITIES!
AS THE CHINESE SAY I WISH YOU THE SIXTH HAPPINESS':
1. GOOD HEALTH, 2. LONGEVITY, 3. VIRTUE, 4. WEALTH, 5. AND A PEACEFUL DEATH IN OLD AGE....6. THE SIXTH HAPPINESS IS FOR "YOU" TO DECIDE WHAT THE SIXTH HAPPINESS IS!
BEST WISHES,
S/RICK
John Jun 22nd 2007 5:30PM
I checked the list to see where Italy ranked, and it was #46. That is nuts, as I was over there, the water is undrinkable, so even infants drink Vino. I saw a 4 year old drinking 12 year old Bourbon, with no effects! It is more out of need, lack decent water, then trying to see how much one can drink there. I do think, that chart is OFF a bit!
Kasey Jun 22nd 2007 5:56PM
Ha ha ha! All of these comments made me chuckle!!! LOL! ROFL! Here's the "deal"...Germany most certainly should have been on this list...Also Korea. I was in the Army, stationed in BOTH countries...and THEY DRINK LIKE FISHES!!!! (Yes, REALLY!)
richardscaraudio Jun 22nd 2007 6:08PM
It is based on consumption per capita. Keep in mind that they are basing it on all sales. So for all you Americans who take your drinking habits overseas. We also, are contributing to that countries consumption rate. yee haw! and hooray beer!
terry Jun 22nd 2007 6:48PM
Perhaps the US did not make the list because we have less leisure time than the rest of the world. We are not a country of alcholics but a country of workaholics.
Sue Jun 22nd 2007 6:48PM
I live in Alaska and in the wintertime alone, the state is dark most of the day and all people do is drink to help pass the time until we start to see more light. In the small villages alone, drinking causes depression, fighting and death due to boredom and depression. I would like to see a poll done of the top 10 drinking states.
Kay Jun 22nd 2007 7:01PM
What a bunch of under educated, under exposed people you all are. Many people drink socially here, and know HOW to drink responsibly. We have totally failed to teach this skill over the past 30 years, sad to say. There is way more to life than alcohol. And let us not forget we have a LOT of DRUG users in the USA.
Dawnmarie Jun 23rd 2007 11:42PM
OH. MY. GOD..... I'M HUGARIAN AND IRISH... I SHOULD BE HAVING MORE FUN THAN I AM LOLOL
KD Jun 22nd 2007 8:10PM
LIGHTEN UP! Some of you think WI isn't a country? LMMFAO! This is funny! I AM a bit surprised tho. Wait until College Football season!!
Kathy Kauranen Jun 23rd 2007 2:48PM
Remember this study was not on just drinking but drinking pure alcohol is what I read. I live in Michigan in the county of Muskegon in the city of Montague and own a business in Whitehall. One of Muskegon Counties mottos on radio advertisements for festivals is that Muskegon County is the "Beer Tent Capital of the World". I do not know if this is true but we do consume a lot of beer in Muskegon County. To the man who lives part time in Michigan from Traverse City, I couldn't agree with you more about Michigan. Come to Michigan on vacation and leave on probation. See you back in 6 weeks for your pretrial and your dollars. We have had .08 percent on a breathalyzer like many other states strongly inforced, especially in the little town of Montague where our police chief is a young Baptist man and has a phobia about alcohol. Be very careful coming through this town but I do however love the town, the people are very great. Now, who shoved .08 percent down our throats? We do not have taxis, we do not have mass transit, we only have friends around to get us around if we are drinking. Answer to .08, the the then idiot presient who has limo service shoved it down our throats. Does anybody know what US city consumes the most wine? I will tell you, Washing DC. Thanks, Bill, for all the trouble you have caused so many families.
Steve Kauranen
Kathy Kauranen Jun 23rd 2007 2:51PM
Oh something I forgot to add to my article, my wife and I are both 50% Finnish. My wife bought me a book on Finland called "Findland, Cultural Lone Wolf" by Richard D. Lewis who owns a Campus in Britan to teach world leaders kids to speak English. He states that the Finns are the brightest, most educated, most high tech country in the world. He says they knock down more patents than any country in the world. I do not know if this is per capita or not. He also stated that per capita, the Finns are the largest consumers of alcohol and caffiene in the world. They like their beer, vodka and other drinks. He also stated to business owners that on a nice sunny afternoon they are going to want to take off from work early and go skiing or whatever else. He said don't get upset with them, let them go, because the average Finn puts out more work by noon than his counterpart, the Swed, puts out all day. Go figure. One of Finlands most famous world wide persons is poet, singer, songwriter, Ville Valo, from the smash hit Band HIM. In an interview I saw on the web, he hadn't had a vacation in 10 years because he said he has something to prove. I think he has done it. But he grabbed outside of the camera angle, a beer, held it up and said "This is my vacation". Now he stated in antoher interview, that he used to get up in the morning and start drinking right away and he finally realized that this uncontrolled and irresponsible drinking all day long was going to get him no where. He stated something to the effect that this is getting me nowhere and all I'm going to do is wind up like a Jim Morrison from the rock group The Doors whom at one time was the number one tourist attraction in France. That's crazy I would rather be me thank you. Now if mr. Lewis is right that makes the Finns the blue ribbon champions of the world in drinking alcohol but also one of the most brightest in the world that you do not drink and drive in Finland unlike the Tennessee guy who is so advanced in drinking alcohol that he can still drink and get drunk and still drive on to his next desintation. If they can't get alcohol, they will make alcohol. You are the typical dummy that has just made it hard for all of us to just enjoy drinking alcohol. So knock it off and get a ride and death to .08. There are plenty of seasoned drinkers that can drive at .08. Go back to the old ways of proving it. With the modern day cruisers with cameras and recorders, it's easy to prove when a man is so drunk, he can't keep his vehicle between the painted lines. I am a drinker and enjoy it but it's now hammer time, take him out.
Steve Kauranen
kelly ann jones Sep 17th 2007 10:57AM
From my year spent over in the UK and Ireland i remember the scots being the biggest drinkers i'd seen! I lived and worked in a bar in ireland and noticed the irish tend to exaggerate about how much they drink, it is after all what they like to be known for!