[pronlover723]

Where are you from and where do you live?

My impression is the USA has the worst drinking culture. Many other places in the world have much better ones. UK pubs, Japanese izakayas.

I had a pretty negative view of drinking growing up in the USA with MADD's messaging etc. Even though my parents drank socially it just seemed not worth.

Then I moved abroad and my outlook changed

Here's an interesting talk on some of the possible benefits to society of drinking

https://longnow.org/ideas/drinking-10000-years-intoxication-...

note: I am not suggesting you should go drink. Rather, I'm only passing on my experience. I didn't drink until I moved abroad in my mid 30s. I still generally don't drink in the USA but I've had some great times drinking abroad.

I experienced those "benefits" outside the USA but rarely inside.

[pigtailgirl]

-- over here in Korea we have everyone beat for unhealthy alcohol consumption --

https://www.themonsoonproject.org/a-sobering-look-at-south-k...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoesik

https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/features/2016/2/7/the-country-...

[ls15]

From the first link:

> For business workers, drinking is non-negotiable. Drinks after work strengthen relationships with colleagues, and an invitation to drink with an office superior is a great compliment that should not be turned down. The drinking etiquette, which requires that a person’s cup never be left empty, increases the pressure to drink. Constant topping up makes binge drinking the norm, while refusing drinks is seen as rejecting generosity or denying someone who is trying to help you have a good time.

I've seen that form of institutionalized alcoholism in other countries as well and in many areas up to high-ranking public officials. I wonder what the long-term costs of this culture are.

[divan]

I'm from Ukraine, and as other post-soviet countries, Ukraine had all the typical soviet issues with alcohol consumption. It wasn't unusual to go to school in the early morning and see people (neigbours) vomiting at the street in a heavy hangover. My classmates (13-14 y.o.) were bragging how they were hospitalized with some acute form of gastritis from drinking too much vodka. That was how you gained popularity in a class. In (ex-)USSR countries there were no culture of healthy drinking whatsover.