According to the report, in 2016, more than 50% of people in America, Europe and the Western Pacific (Japan, Australia, Oceania) drank alcoholic beverages. For comparison, in 2016, only 32.2% of people in Africa and 33.1% of people in Southeast Asia (India, North Korea, Sri Lanka, etc.) drank. In addition, 94.9% of the inhabitants of the Eastern Mediterranean (Egypt, Iran, Yemen, etc.) abstained from alcohol throughout their lives. Alcohol consumption is illegal in many Eastern Mediterranean countries, at least for Muslims. While some establishments have posted signs informing patrons that alcohol consumption before the age of 18 (or 17 or 16 without a guardian in some cases) is not permitted, enforcement appears to be uneven. Hangovers can be tedious after a long night drinking raki or tsipouro, but mountain air and homemade Greek food are powerful antidotes to any illness you may endure. For a country that loves so much warmth, sunshine and friendly consumption, it`s surprising that microbreweries aren`t thriving. In fact, you`ll be hard-pressed to find any other type of beer than mass-produced ones. Greece is a Mediterranean country where alcohol consumption is a social event.
Greeks drink wine, beer and spirits in a social setting to strengthen bonds between friends and family members and escape the main worries of everyday life. Social alcohol consumption is a big part of Greek life. Traditionally, Greeks drink at every meal – even small children are given a diluted glass of wine. But excessive alcohol consumption is frowned upon, and you are expected to remain “nice.” Popular cruise lines in the Aegean Sea seem to have different rules depending on the ship. Some serve alcohol to adults over the age of 18, others recognize a 21-year limit, and others allow minors to drink with parental consent. Check with your cruise line for clarification. Most Greeks do this by drinking moderately while eating mezze. In chemical terms, alcohol is an organic compound formed during the fermentation of grains, vegetables or fruits. Medically, alcohol is classified as a sedative (as opposed to a stimulant like caffeine or a hallucinogen like psilocybin) with a variety of physiological effects. Most of these effects involve slowing down or obstructing bodily functions. For example, alcohol inhibits bodily motor functions and slows reaction times. The more you drink, the slower and clumsier they become.
Similarly, alcohol also hinders the brain`s communication pathways. While one or two drinks can make a person looser and more relaxed, continued consumption leads to symptoms such as slurred speech, cloudy thinking, and poor decision-making. Excessive alcohol consumption can also lead to additional complications such as vomiting, memory loss, drowsiness up to fainting, and in extreme cases, alcohol poisoning. Finally, long-term excessive alcohol consumption can contribute to serious physiological conditions, including (but not limited to) pancreatitis, cardiomyopathy, liver disease, hyperglycemia, cancer, and various neurological disorders. A new law adopted by the Ministry of Health in July 2009 sets a minimum drinking age of 18. Here`s what you need to know about alcohol consumption when visiting Greece. Families drink almost every dinner, and it`s not uncommon for children (even under ten) to take a few sips of table wine. Some bars are known to dilute drinks, but not with water, but with pure alcohol. It`s cheap for them and keeps the kick in the drink that keeps customers coming back for more. This practice makes it difficult to accurately calculate how much you`ve drunk, and pure alcohol may not be as pure to your system – it`s extremely toxic. Drunk driving is illegal in Greece, as in the rest of the world. Winding and dark roads, unfamiliar cars, unexpected obstacles and narrow streets mean that Greece has the highest road fatality rate in the European Union, whether you drink or not.
It is just as dangerous for Greeks as it is for tourists. Alcohol consumption varies considerably from country to country, as does the legal drinking age. In the United States, you must be at least 21 years of age or older to purchase or consume alcoholic beverages (with some exceptions in some jurisdictions). Surprisingly, this is one of the highest ages in the world to drink. To the north of the United States is Canada, which has a legal drinking age of 18 to 19, and the legal drinking age is much lower in many other countries. In fact, some countries don`t have a minimum drinking age (although there may be a minimum age to buy alcohol) – although the vast majority of these countries still have laws on the age you need to have to buy alcoholic beverages. Conversely, in some countries (usually under strict Muslim rule), alcohol consumption is completely prohibited. If you plan to drink alcohol and know you could be intoxicated, take the same safety precautions as if you were at home. Set up a table in a tavern within walking or taxi distance from your hotel.
And yet another reminder of why Greeks traditionally include an accompaniment of mezzes, small snacks, with their drinks: it slows down the process of intoxication. Unlike other European countries, there is no official legal drinking age in Greece if you drink in private (such as in a house). However, if you want to buy alcohol and drinks in public, you must be at least 18 years old.