http://uk.news.yahoo.com/31122006/32...ons-drunk.html

and they have only just figured this out??

"I don't know whether we'll ever get to be in a European drinking culture, where you go out and have a single glass of wine," Labour Party chair Hazel Blears said.

She's obviously never been to France.

"We actually enjoy getting drunk,"

I know if I ever found myself at a party with Ms Blears (God forbid) I would be getting drunk as fast as is humanly possible.

What about a happy medium? I'll usually have several glasses, but I never get drunk

I guess it's possible I've built up tolerance, I guess...

HAPPY NEW YEAR one and all!

Proponents of the changes to the licensing laws had argued it would usher in more civilised drinking habits like those of France or Spain.

A day in the life of a Spanish drinker:

0800- Cafe con leche
0815- A "Revuelto" at the bar...Moscatel (sweet wine) with anis.
1100- Pre lunch snack with a few glasses of wine or beer, and some tapas.
1330- Back to the bar for another few wines or beer
1400- Lunch- with a bottle of wine of course
1500- Back to the cafe for a Carajillo (expresso coffee w/brandy), followed by a glass of brandy, Ponche Caballero, Anis....
1530- A card game at the bar, with another few 'copas'
1930- back to the cafe to have a Vermout, or a couple beers or wines, or Cuba Libres.
2130- Dinner with wine.
2230- Time to go out and start drinking at the Clubs
0400- Bedtime

A working day for a couple of Guardia Civil I know in Alicante ?

I think the key problem is the drinking lots of alcohol in a short space in time. In Europe, people probably drink as much, if not more, but it's usually with food and over a longer period of time.

From what I have seen/read, Brits go out to get as drunk as possible, whereas other europeans go out just to have a good time, getting drunk is optional.

And whats wrong with that???

That's very accurate.. but where does it say that we get drunk?..

You've hit the nail on the head there..

That's correct..

Nothing if people didn't turn so aggressive when they drink.. I never understood this .. I understand that there is only a few hours in which to get drunk so if you want to get drunk you need to drink quickly.. but what's the aggression all about? It's like drinking and fighting goes all together .. I found this quite traumatic and ended up being scared of drunk people..

In other countries we drink more than in Britain but we drink to socialise, we don't have this big aim of getting drunk ..

You forget something. Britain is an island and we are an island race. We have had to fight off all you lot for centuries. If we never got violent after a few snifters then Drake would'nt have been able to put all your Armada at the bottom of the English Channel after he got pissed up and roaring drunk. He was so good at he even warmed up by ruining a game of bowls a few old dears were haing down in Plymouth. Contrary to popular belief he was with the "Plymouth Ho" and not at "Plymouth Hoe".

Drink is good....we built an empire on it.

Ahem!!!

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/dutch_courage

Fair enough.. I didn't realise that drinking was so useful..

I understand that the Irish might like it even more. Just saying...