British Beers

Alcohol percentage plays a significant role in the amount one can drink in a night. American beers have a much lower alcohol percentage than that of British beers. This I experienced first hand along with all my companions. Upon ordering one beer we all felt as if we had consumed two. The effects of British beer on us was significantly stronger than what we were normally used too. However, the fact that the British drink so frequently, they tend to have naturally higher tolerances than us, Americans, to begin with. As a result to their high tolerances, they must increase the alcohol content of their beverages in order for the same feeling to be experienced. It is apparent, even in alcohol content alone, how different Americans view alcohol as opposed to the English. Americans find alcohol as a health risk and do not promote heavy consumption of it, neither do the British; however, the fact that American beer has lower alcohol content says something about our drinking habits. We, Americans, tend to drink less frequently keeping our tolerances at a lower lever. We also begin drinking at an older age as opposed to the British who can begin drinking at the age of 14 years where their tolerance grows higher as time goes on. These differences highlight the contrast in values of Americans verses the English where Americans hold drinking to a much stricter standard than that of the British.

Drinking and Driving

Transportation in the city of London is also a major factor in the amount of alcohol one decides to drink in a night. If a person knowingly drinks knowing they must drive home they will usually drink a small amount. However, if there is someone else available to drive them home they do not think as much about when to stop drinking; set limits are not as clearly defined or as hard fastened. London’s transportation system happens to be one of the best in the world; with the Underground, their bus system, as well as their taxi system. With all these alternative modes of transportation, one never has to worry about how they will have to get home, as long as they have money on them. This very much applied to me and my fellow companions during our stay in London. We would go to a pub or even a club and drink, not setting clear limits knowing that we would get home by some alternative means of transportation than ourselves. We heavily relied on the public transport system to carry us home and in doing so, drank more than we necessarily should have. This aspect of British culture; their advanced modes of transportation, provide a gateway to alcohol abuse in a way that Americans don’t have available to them. As a result, drinking is much more accessible and open as an option, even a frequent option. Perhaps Britain’s transportation system affects their use of alcohol and is a factor in the difference between the ways in which Americans drink their liquor as opposed to how the British drink their liquor. Mothers Against Drunk Driving sponsor commercials in the UK that promote the use of taxis in order to prevent drunk driving. I have provided some examples of them below that I found on Youtube, feel free to check them out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSocwDtJLKA&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1JOrEsxFPc

The Pub Atmosphere

I spent many an hour at local London pubs during my stay in England. It was at these pubs where I clearly saw the differences between the English and the American view toward drinking. I attended these pubs with a group of people, close friends, and would sit and order a pint. The communal environment of the pub added to its comforting atmosphere and promoted socialization. The pub was often filled during lunch and packed during dinner. Many pubs in Britain serve food and most say that pubs are the best places to eat at when visiting. Most who visit these pubs are locals near by, mainly because pubs can be found all over the city and people tend to walk to the nearest one. For example, during my stay, our group of students walked a block down the street and found a pub on our first night there and we went to this pub continuously from the day we arrived till the day we left. That pub served as a social haven for us to converse as it does for the local pub attendants. It is a place where gossip is spread and men can converse outside the work place and the home. I met many men who would arrive promptly after their work day and have a meal as well as a pint and converse with the other men present. To the English the pub is not just a place for drinking and getting drunk, as many Americans find a Bar to be, but rather it is a place for leisurely socializing and mingling; a place to avoid societal restrictions where one can just let loose.

When to Drink?

Mostly as Americans we save drinking for weekends not weeknights. However, I found this to be different in English culture. In English culture beer has played a significant role where in earlier centuries, beer was their primary drink. The water in Britain was very unsanitary leaving beer, which was heated to high temperatures which sanitized it, as the only possible beverage. As a result, children as well as adults drank beer and might attribute to the fact that Britain has such a young drinking age. Additionally, it might be why drinking is thought of as a common practice since they have always drank beer. Walking the streets of London, no matter what time of day, you could find someone having a pint. Drinking at lunch and dinner is not at all unusual for Londoners. Drinking at breakfast might also been seen on some occasions, but is less likely. The English find drinking to be a leisurely pastime. The fact that drinking is thought of as a normal and natural event by Englanders permits them to partake in drinking and not feel as if they are participating in some sort of unruly action as we Americans frequently do. Sure, the occasional glass of wine is thought of a sophisticated, but drinking beer and hard liquor comes with a negative stereotype. The reason behind our differing views lies in our culture and after visiting England I have a better understanding of how culture can shape the actions and perceptions of its own society and their perceptions toward other societies different from their own.

Differing Drinking Ages:

Alcohol percentage plays a significant role in the amount one can drink in a night. American beers have a much lower alcohol percentage than that of British beers. “Beer strength varies by local custom. British ale tends to average 4.4% abv.”[1] “The strongest beer sold in Britain was Dogfish Head's World Wide Stout, a 21% abv stout which was available from UK Safeways in 2003.”[2] I experienced first hand the effects of a higher alcohol content in England when I went out with my friends to the local pubs. Upon ordering one beer we all felt as if we had consumed two. The effects of British beer on us was significantly stronger than what we were normally used too. However, the fact that the British drink so frequently, they tend to have naturally higher tolerances than us, Americans, to begin with. As a result to their high tolerances, they must increase the alcohol content of their beverages in order for the same feeling to be experienced. It is apparent, even in alcohol content alone, how different Americans view alcohol as opposed to the English. Americans find alcohol as a health risk and do not promote heavy consumption of it, neither do the British; however, the fact that American beer has lower alcohol content says something about our drinking habits. We, Americans, tend to drink less frequently keeping our tolerances at a lower lever. We also begin drinking at an older age as opposed to the British who can begin drinking at the age of 14 years where their tolerance grows higher as time goes on. However, “not everyone can drink beer legally in the UK - there's a minimum age limit as to when you can start buying alcohol. But this limit isn't clear cut. If you're in a restaurant you can have a glass with a meal at the age of 14. At 16 you can drink shady in pubs,” which is lemonade mixed with beer. “At 18 you can start buying alcohol legally in pubs” [3] The differences between drinking ages and alcohol content highlight the contrast in values of Americans verses the English where Americans hold drinking to a much stricter standard than that of the British.
[1] WikiAnswers
[2] WikiAnswers
[3] Beer Laws

Bibliography:
1 & 2) WikiAnswers. What Is the Alcohol Content of Beer? 2008. 24 Apr. 2008 .
3) BBC. Beer Laws. 3 Mar. 2000. 26 Apr. 2008 .