Tourists Should Avoid This Awkward Etiquette Mistake When Going Out Drinking In Europe

Beer, wine, and spirits are embedded into the cultures of many places around the world. In the case of Europe, these drinks are practically their own tourist attractions. From touring wineries to hanging out at pubs, millions of visitors to the continent add getting some great local drinks to their itineraries. However, just as alcoholic beverages vary from country to country, so do perceptions surrounding drink consumption.

In the United States for example, drinking alcohol often evokes images of rowdy parties and excess. Americans risk being fined or arrested for public intoxication, but visibly drunk people exiting bars, clubs, or fraternity houses might not receive much attention from onlookers. To an extent, we expect it. In contrast, Europeans generally do not want to be seen out and about while visibly drunk. They can be arrested if they get violent, but the continent's general disdain for public drunkenness makes most Europeans stay mindful of their own alcohol tolerance, so they can avoid potential embarrassment. One could argue that in this instance, peer pressure has some societal benefits. Countries like the United Kingdom, Germany, and others see fewer drunk driving incidents than the United States, for example. Part of this boils down to the unspoken rule tourists should know about drinking alcohol in Europe — sip your drink slowly to really savor it. It's part of the meal, the experience, when dining.

Much of the European attitudes toward drinking relate to how alcoholic beverages fit into the cultures of each country. In Ireland, creating the perfect pint of Guinness beer is like an art form. This is just one reason why the Guinness Tour in Dublin is worth braving the crowds. Wine regions in multiple countries are designated UNESCO World Heritage sites with intricate processes of their own. These are just a few examples of how alcoholic beverages are deep cultural experiences to hold in high regard.

In the United States (perhaps stereotypically), people tend to pay less attention to what meal would pair well with any specific drink or what process their drinks went through to go from field to bottle. For some Americans, getting drunk is somewhat of a goal when going out for a night on the town. Given that, generally speaking, Europeans want to savor their drinks in relaxing environments, getting drunk in public will make you look like a total tourist in Europe. As locals voice concerns about the negative impacts of tourism, respecting Europe's social protocols becomes all the more important so that you can help prevent Europe from becoming "anti-tourist."