Italians & their alcohol consumption …
There is a tendency for first time visitors to Italy to be prepared for a high level of alcohol consumption on their trip. In my opinion, this comes from two perspectives.
One, Italian wines have been seen as some of the best in the world. In the US, one can pay dearly ($100 a bottle and up) for fine Barolos, Barbarescos, Amarones, and Brunellos.
Second, Italians have been mentioned in numerous media as some of the greatest consumers of wine, on a per capita basis, in the world. Which is true. The Office International de la Vigne et du Vin (OIV) reported that in 2001 Italians were surpassed only by the French in per capita consumption of wine. The operative word here is WINE.
However, what will surprise many is that Italians, on a per capita basis, do not consume much alcohol at all. And, it appears what they consume is primarily wine, and wine primarily with meals.
The Statistical Yearbook of the Economic Commission for Europe 2003, published by the UNECE arm of the United Nations, showed Italians as being the 22nd greatest consumer of alcohol on an annual per capita basis in the study area of Europe and Western Asia.
From the report, the top 10 consumers, in descending order, were:
• Republic of Moldova
• Luxembourg
• Portugal
• Ireland
• Czech Republic
• France
• Slovenia
• Germany
• Slovakia
• Croatia
And, from 1985 to 2000, total per capita annual alcohol consumption actually fell about 35% in Italy.
From our experience, most Italians are very careful about their health (except for smoking) and their alcohol consumption. In my 10+ years of travel to Italy, I have yet to see an inebriated (drunk) Italian. I’m sure they exist; I just haven’t seen one or been with one.
My Italian friends tell me it would be a huge embarrassment for an Italian to be seen in his or her community intoxicated (DRUNK). Plus, they tell me that Italians don’t feel the need to consume alcohol to feel good or lower their inhibition level to be able to socialize. Bravo!
This is not to say that you won’t see tanked individuals in Italy. What it does say is that when you do, you can be virtually certain they are foreign tourists or other foreigners (immigrants).
The quickest way to be picked out as one who “fa una brutta figura” – translated as “makes an ugly or bad-looking figure” or “displays bad form” – would be to consume too much alcohol and get loud and obnoxious because of same. So, if you’d like to blend in, not draw negative attention, and make a “bella figura”, I recommend moderate alcohol consumption while in Italy. You feel better, and you’ll “figura” better.
Ciao … Marco
One, Italian wines have been seen as some of the best in the world. In the US, one can pay dearly ($100 a bottle and up) for fine Barolos, Barbarescos, Amarones, and Brunellos.
Second, Italians have been mentioned in numerous media as some of the greatest consumers of wine, on a per capita basis, in the world. Which is true. The Office International de la Vigne et du Vin (OIV) reported that in 2001 Italians were surpassed only by the French in per capita consumption of wine. The operative word here is WINE.
However, what will surprise many is that Italians, on a per capita basis, do not consume much alcohol at all. And, it appears what they consume is primarily wine, and wine primarily with meals.
The Statistical Yearbook of the Economic Commission for Europe 2003, published by the UNECE arm of the United Nations, showed Italians as being the 22nd greatest consumer of alcohol on an annual per capita basis in the study area of Europe and Western Asia.
From the report, the top 10 consumers, in descending order, were:
• Republic of Moldova
• Luxembourg
• Portugal
• Ireland
• Czech Republic
• France
• Slovenia
• Germany
• Slovakia
• Croatia
And, from 1985 to 2000, total per capita annual alcohol consumption actually fell about 35% in Italy.
From our experience, most Italians are very careful about their health (except for smoking) and their alcohol consumption. In my 10+ years of travel to Italy, I have yet to see an inebriated (drunk) Italian. I’m sure they exist; I just haven’t seen one or been with one.
My Italian friends tell me it would be a huge embarrassment for an Italian to be seen in his or her community intoxicated (DRUNK). Plus, they tell me that Italians don’t feel the need to consume alcohol to feel good or lower their inhibition level to be able to socialize. Bravo!
This is not to say that you won’t see tanked individuals in Italy. What it does say is that when you do, you can be virtually certain they are foreign tourists or other foreigners (immigrants).
The quickest way to be picked out as one who “fa una brutta figura” – translated as “makes an ugly or bad-looking figure” or “displays bad form” – would be to consume too much alcohol and get loud and obnoxious because of same. So, if you’d like to blend in, not draw negative attention, and make a “bella figura”, I recommend moderate alcohol consumption while in Italy. You feel better, and you’ll “figura” better.
Ciao … Marco
posted by Mark Pukita | 9:34 AM
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