(Full disclosure: I'm a teetotaler) Everything you described also applies to Spain. Here, it's usual to have a beer while eating (wine is less common for young

(Full disclosure: I'm a teetotaler) Everything you described also applies to Spain. Here, it's usual to have a beer while eating (wine is less common for young people); but, usually, "drinking to get drunk" is the norm in weekends and evenings. Many people actually do it on Thursdays, even if they still have to work or have classes the following day. Here, most people wouldn't call it a problem.