4 ms·

A lot of changes in behavior while drinking are, at low doses, social / cultural remission rather than via universal effect of the drug in question. The simple

A lot of changes in behavior while drinking are, at low doses, social / cultural remission rather than via universal effect of the drug in question. The simpler answer is that people build relationships through shared interests and experiences. Getting brutally intoxicated is just a pretty boring one that some people reach for.

toastal 6y ago
I found this curious when I lived in the UK. People didn't seem keen on talking to strangers at a coffee shop, but were at the pub. I had a date once that declined dinner with me as too serious but offered getting drinks instead. It was really confusing, but it seemed having drinks was a requirement for establish new social connections. I inquired if people thought that this was true and healthy for relationships, and it seemed the consensus was "yes, it's true; no, it's probably not healty, but it's not gonna change". It seemed very odd for it to be a social culture requirement. Then moving to Southeast Asia where the social events centered more on the food than the booze gave me a place where I felt more comfortable. There's no 'stiff upper lip', and strangers at lunch or in teh market are as jovial and friendly as those I'd met at the pub a few times I went.
- baby 6y ago
  I’ve lived in London and in Asia, and there’s as much drinking in Asia if not more. I remember reading that south korea is the biggest consumer of alcohol per capita in the world
  - toastal 6y ago
    I'm in Thailand now. There's a lot of Chang and Leos tipped back all over, even casually on the stoop of 7-Eleven, but it's more about the sentiment of not needing to have a drink. The only time it's remarked is when people say it's odd for a Westerner to not go to the bars (which is annecdotal but indicative of how Western culture is perceived here). It was a bit different in Laos though where Beer Lao can sometimes be cheaper than water and is sort of a national pride and probably most well-known export.

toastal 6y ago

I found this curious when I lived in the UK. People didn't seem keen on talking to strangers at a coffee shop, but were at the pub. I had a date once that declined dinner with me as too serious but offered getting drinks instead. It was really confusing, but it seemed having drinks was a requirement for establish new social connections. I inquired if people thought that this was true and healthy for relationships, and it seemed the consensus was "yes, it's true; no, it's probably not healty, but it's not gonna change". It seemed very odd for it to be a social culture requirement. Then moving to Southeast Asia where the social events centered more on the food than the booze gave me a place where I felt more comfortable. There's no 'stiff upper lip', and strangers at lunch or in teh market are as jovial and friendly as those I'd met at the pub a few times I went.

baby 6y ago
I’ve lived in London and in Asia, and there’s as much drinking in Asia if not more. I remember reading that south korea is the biggest consumer of alcohol per capita in the world
- toastal 6y ago
  I'm in Thailand now. There's a lot of Chang and Leos tipped back all over, even casually on the stoop of 7-Eleven, but it's more about the sentiment of not needing to have a drink. The only time it's remarked is when people say it's odd for a Westerner to not go to the bars (which is annecdotal but indicative of how Western culture is perceived here). It was a bit different in Laos though where Beer Lao can sometimes be cheaper than water and is sort of a national pride and probably most well-known export.