Beer Drinking Habits across Cultures

People will continue to drink beer even if there is an economic crisis. It would take more than just a recession to stop people from imbibing their favorite drink. Beer is a part of German culture with approximately 1,300 breweries producing over 5,000 brands of beer. It was also in Germany where the beer boots originated from when a general promised his troops that if they win the battle, he will drink beer from his boots. When his troops won, he had a beer boot fashioned from glass so as to fulfill his promise without the taste of his own feet. During gatherings beer boots passed hands for a festive drinking challenge.  

Beer drinking in the United States

Based on Gallup’s Annual Consumption Habits poll in July 2014, it was found out that the drinking preferences of young American adults have shifted from beer to liquor and wine. Polls in the early 90’s revealed that 71% of adults under 30 prefer beer but now only 41% drink beer on the same age group. However, there were no changes to the beer drinking habits on the older age groups. Over the past two decades, younger adults have moved exclusively to liquor but the brewing industry remains to generate billions of dollars for the economy and benefits tens of thousands of individuals. 

Drinking beer in a British pub

Great Britain is widely known for its pubs where in 2006, every Briton over 15 has drunk an average of 240 pints even if some have noticeably consumed more beer than others. Based on statistics, there are 82,000 British pubs meaning that almost every town or village had one. In recent years, beer drinking has declined due to the increasing costs but still the British pubs continued to serve beer and other alcoholic beverages. In fact, Britain produces the widest range of beers all over the world with the draught beer on taps or drawn from kegs and the Guinness whose popularity never waned. Aside from its draught beers, Britain has its share of canned and bottled beers including pale and light ales. 

The Czech Republic and its beer drinking habits

The Czech Republic tops the list of countries with the highest beer consumption per capita. Pale lagers of the pilsner type are the most common among the Czech beers. Czechs love their beer and almost every town has its own locally produced beers. At the brewery museum in the town of Pizen, the culture of drinking beer is evident from the past to the present. In the town of Budweis, any beer that is produced is called Budweiser which has become the trademark of America’s largest selling beer. 

How Asia surpassed America and Europe in beer drinking

Asia is now considered as the biggest beer-drinking continent and has obviously surpassed America and Europe. Although this part of the world is not widely known for producing beer, increasing amounts of beer are being consumed. Part of the reason for the increase of beer drinkers in Asia is its new found prosperity meaning that drinking beer has become correlated to economic growth.