Do the Irish really drink as much as stereotypes suggest?

[momophile]

I'm part Irish. But I don't know the answer to this.

[HEyHEY]

1. Cause you're too drunk to think?

[momophile]

2. I'm a cheap date these days

one glass of wine and I'm done. but I used to be able to hold my own.

[HEyHEY]

I had two last night and felt hungover today

ANd I too am half irish

[Solon]

3. I think Ireland has more pubs per capita than any other nation...

though don't quote me on that, I'm like 80% Irish, and drunk right now. :)

[Burma Jones]

17. I believe that honor goes to Iceland......

If you say Bars, Clubs and other drinking establishments are the same as Pubs....

[guitar man]

4. No

....we drink more! :bounce:

[unpossibles]

5. are you trying to start a fight, boyo? n/t

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

6. Yes, I say this as someone who is not only mostly Irish but who has backpacked across Ireland.

They really do drink that much.

[deucemagnet]

7. Friends and family who have visited Ireland

tell me that the pubs close at about 11:00 pm. Compared to some American cities, that makes them teetotalers.

[Raven]

8. Yup. Hickup!

:-)

[dr.strangelove]

9. No one could drink as much as that stereotype suggests,

but I do try my hardest to live up to it.

[Burma Jones]

20. What about the Russians?

[grace0418]

30. In college I worked with a lot of exchange students and I would say that

the Aussies, the Germans, the Brits and the Russians drank at least as much as the Irish drank, if not more. The Aussies especially *really* liked to party. But then again, I was meeting the people adventurous enough to pick up and move to another country for a couple of years, so maybe by their very nature they are more free-spirited and into having a good time.

I sure did have a lot of fun with all of them. I remember feeling so chuffed when they would tell me I wasn't like other Americans, that I was more like a European.

[hedgehog]

32. I think I've told this story before, but it's a good one.

My son is working a project in India with a bunch of Aussies. Now the beer in India is at best a work in progress, shall we say. Every day the Aussies would work like hell, and by quitting time they were ready to relax. They'd run over to the bar, line up and all order a beer. Then when the drinks came, they'd all look at what was in their glasses and look very, very sad.

[Miss_Strawberry]

10. Happy Hours....

have been banned in Ireland after the percent of Emergency Room intakes related to alcohol got to the half-way mark. If you are going to buy a drink you have to pay full price for it....maybe then you won't buy so much and won't get sent to the emergency room. This was about two years ago. Makes a girl proud.

[LostinVA]

11. The ones in my family do

[dropkickpa]

12. Not at all

The ones I'm related to drink more!
:toast:

[Midlodemocrat]

13. I'd respond, but I'm too drunk.

:hide:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

21. You're not even Irish.

[Missy Vixen]

14. I'm half Irish

The ones in my family sure do -- well, the ones that are still with us.

Julie

[Midlodemocrat]

15. Boy howdy, your boy came through in a BIG way today!!!

:bounce:

[Missy Vixen]

16. Didn't he, though?

:woohoo:

Somehow, I'm thinking he'll be consuming a few beverages later. Maybe.

:party: :woohoo:
Julie

[Midlodemocrat]

19. I'm waiting until 4PM

Then it's HAPPY HOUR!!!!

But, first I have to go to the bank.

[grace0418]

33. Well my mom's family (Irish) all owned taverns. Don't know if that means anything

but it gives something of an indication.

[Burma Jones]

18. I don't know, but I do know I like Irish Bars.....

[qwertyMike]

22. No

They just enjoy it more, singing, dancing, hence the reputation

The Scots drink more in the UK, but they get MEAN and violent.

The Welsh just sing, what you would call Gospel Music - Brings tears to your eyes

And the Eglich too probably, but they binge heavily.

From Google:
#1 Luxembourg: 15.4 litres per capita
#2 France: 14.4 litres per capita
#3 Ireland: 14.2 litres per capita
#4 Portugal: 12.9 litres per capita
#5 Hungary: 12.3 litres per capita
#6 Czech Republic: 11.8 litres per capita
#7 Denmark: 11.5 litres per capita
#8 Spain: 11.5 litres per capita
#9 Switzerland: 11.2 litres per capita
#10 Austria: 11.1 litres per capita
#11 Germany: 10.5 litres per capita
#12 United Kingdom: 10.4 litres per capita
#13 Belgium: 10.3 litres per capita
#14 Netherlands: 10.1 litres per capita
#15 Australia: 10.1 litres per capita
#16 Greece: 9.5 litres per capita
#17 Italy: 9 litres per capita
#18 Korea, South: 8.9 litres per capita
#19 Slovakia: 8.9 litres per capita
#20 New Zealand: 8.9 litres per capita
#21 Finland: 8.6 litres per capita
#22 Poland: 8.3 litres per capita
#23 United States: 8.3 litres per capita
#24 Canada: 7.7 litres per capita
#25 Japan: 7.6 litres per capita
#26 Sweden: 6.2 litres per capita
#27 Iceland: 6.1 litres per capita
#28 Norway: 5.7 litres per capita
#29 Mexico: 4.8 litres per capita
#30 Turkey: 1.5 litres per capita
Weighted average: 9.6 litres per capita

So we Irish are up there :(

[redqueen]

27. Well it's a small country...

and from what I hear, local pubs are the places where people go to hang out with their neighbors and friends, so...

[hedgehog]

29. My son manages a lot of industrial construction projects

involving engineers and technicians from all over the world. He sat down one day and figured out that about 1% of the installation cost of any project involving Europeans or Australians went to cover the bar tabs!

[Lethe]

23. they're all drunk bastards

and my incorrect spelling and red hair confirms that.I'm your son for god sakes. Why won't you acknowledge me!?

[kwassa]

24. there is an old 12-step joke .....

"Where would AA be without Irish Catholics?"

[Forkboy]

26. Step 13...Start all over again!

[hedgehog]

25. My Dad maintains that it all balances out between the ones who drink too

much and the ones who don't drink at all. I can remember being introduced to my Uncle Timothy at a family funeral when he was 90 some years old. He looked good. My Dad proceeded to list all the relatives who made it well past 80, and commented he didn't drink, she didn't drink, etc. Then he listed the ones who die young, he died when he was 57, he always drank, she died at 62, she always drank too much... It really made an impression.

[Blue-Jay]

28. I'm pretty sure that the Scots drink more.

My grand-dad used to say: "What do you call a Scot who can't handle his drink?"

"Irish."

(Ol' Finley MacNichol was quite the drunken brawler in his younger days.)

[Dukkha]

31. hell yes

every one I've known drinks like a fish, including a 100lbs girl that could out drink me and I'm a 6'' 200lb Italian

[ceile]

34. In Ireland, no.

Here, yes!
Pubs over there close at midnight or earlier. And all of my Irish friends here (my ex included) drink like fish several days of the week.

[ganeshji]

35. I don't know about the stereotype,

but my Grandfather always maintained that the reason that Guinness was invented was so that the Irish didn't take over the world. Not that that would be all bad imho.