Souvy

That is quite true.

I have been in this fairly large city since 2004. I can probably count the number of times I have been to a bar on the fingers of two hands and I have no desire to revisit any of them.

My local gas station stocks more beer than most British hypermarkets.

Oink

When I lived in Oregon there was quite the appreciation for smaller craft style beer. While it was quite good stuff, they got a bit pompous and OTT like the CAMRA lot so I just drank lager. It had to be Heineken as they think Stella is posh so that wouldn't do.

CanadaJimmy

I do think the taxes on Alcohol here is ridiculous, BC has a fantastic cultural asset of craft wines and beers, yet they are continually slapped in the face with taxes and restrictions, the government seems to have no appreciation for what it has here. If "posher" beers and wines were more affordable, it would probably encourage a more social drinking culture and less of a "drink a pack of the cheapest beer in my basement" one.

I watched this video a while ago about Oregon and it does seem like they're quite into their beers - this place has 32 on tap.

Shard

There's always going to be alcohol and substance abuse. In Britain the issue is supermarkets selling alcohol at below cost as a loss leader and pubs offering extreme happy hours both of which encourage excess consumption (amongst the price sensitive).

Partially discharged

I love the description of this Hull landmark

http://wikimapia.org/1680349/Taverne-Le-Whip

Is this one of the fine establishments you have been in.?

magnumpi

How much is a pint in a regular pub in the UK now? About $4:50 - $5 gets a large beer in Ontario. (That was last Summer)

R I C H

Explain how continental European countries with cheap alcohol don't suffer the binge drinking mentality to the same degree. It's not cost, it's culture.

Oink

No extra tax and no tip required and you get a proper pint.

Souvy

No but I know where it is. It's next door to the SAQ Depot, which contains enough booze to keep the city going for a week.

Atlantic Xpat

Well, not CAMRA, no, there being not much in the way of real ale widely available here, although it can be found in places in ON for example. In this part of the world I am a member of the grandly entitled "Artisanal and Craft Beer Club of Newfoundland and Labrador". Essentially, two beer afficianados have an arrangement with the local liquor corp whereby they get us to sign up to buying a certain quantity of whatever craft beer of the month they plan to bring in, the liquor corp brings it in and we go pick it up at the local store, paying the liquor corp directly. It all works rather well. The founders of the club are a bit poncy about their beer but we do get to drink some stuff that otherwise we wouldn't.

Last weekend, we and some others went here http://www.yellowbellybrewery.com/ for supper. Food is OK and the beer is pretty good. My kids love it for the silly name. If that means we can go for a family supper and daddy can have a few pints then I'm all for it.

magnumpi

Not far off then?

At Boston Pizza they sell them BIG glasses for $8 I think they are almost 3 pint glasses. Still Canadians in Ontario leave after eating.

I think like a few others on here, nothing to do with the cost, it's culture. They even drink responsibly at soccer and hockey games, in the stands, it is annoying, coz I know that once I start, I just can't stop. So I don't start :@)

dbd33

It was not without some regret that, last Friday, we sold the house within crawling distance of here:

http://www.woolwicharrow.ca/

Atlantic Xpat

Oh that looks rather nice.

Novocastrian

Canadians certainly do drink at home. When I arrived back from France last week I found (to my delight) 5 half full bottles of various single malts in the basement "family" room and 2 bottles of vodka in the kitchen freezer. All thanks to my house-sitting son's Canadian friends.

dbd33

Always a couple of cask ales, lots of other interesting beers, quality cider, edible food and not heavily up itself. It's what you want to have round the corner.