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Drinking While Traveling

Grabbing a bit in the famous Beer Halls in Munich, Germany!
Grabbing a pint in the beer halls in Munich, Germany!

 

Drinking is an important part of socializing, and socializing is an important part of traveling.  It encourages bonding and half-coherent attempts to describe yourself in another language.  As long as you can remember the previous night, you can come out of the experience with a new travel buddy and cultural knowledge.  Many hostels have pub crawls precisely for this reason.  It’s no secret that you’ll have a better time if you make some friends.

However, drinking abroad is not the same as drinking at home.  Even though it can add to your trip, there are a few things you should keep in mind while consuming alcohol abroad.

The Plane

Your journey starts in the airport.  If you’re considering packing alcohol in your luggage, read through TSA’s regulations. You don’t want to miss your flight because TSA finds Bacardi 151 in your bag.  Also, consider that most liquor bottles will take up valuable packing space, and most airports and tourist areas will sell some type of alcohol.  If possible, purchase your booze once you arrive at your destination.

By Jek Bacarisas (Flickr: alcoholic minibottles 2) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Source

Although, considering that some flights take around sixteen hours, you might want some liquor minis to encourage a more tolerable flight.  These are 1.7 ounces, so you should have no problem getting them through security as long as you keep them in a large plastic baggie.  Try not to flaunt your minis, though, as airline staff might be a little miffed that you’re cheating them out of a few bucks.  Also, while a few drinks can certainly help you sleep, don’t overdo it.  You’ll want to experience the city when you arrive, and that’s best done with a clear head!

Research the Local Drinks

You’re there to experience something different, right?  Try to step outside of your comfort zone.  There might be a speciality drink, like hot wine in the Czech Republic or hirezake in Japan .  Do some research to see if there is something specific to the country that you’re visiting.  Even if there isn’t, you might find a special name for a common drink that could come in handy while ordering- like a cuba libre, better known as a rum and coke.

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Whisky tasting in Scotland.

Local beers and liquors  tend to be cheaper as well, since they don’t have long distances and borders to cross, so if you looking to save, stick with the local!

Montalcino Wine Tasting- Italy-3

Vino!❤️ So here's to the start of my next adventure, a month down in Argentina and Chile . I was getting a little anxious being at home and in winter( I don't do well in cold weather) so I decided to book a last minute trip and join my friend on some South American adventures! I've been dying to head back to South America lately ( manly do to watching Narcos, which has oddly enough made me really wanna go to Columbia, maybe next trip though ) so here we are, my first stop , Mendoza. Now I've been in love with Mendoza for a long time, simply due to the fact that my favourite alcoholic beverages (Malbec Wine) come from here. So the plan for the first few days? Wine tours, wine and a lot of drinking Vino. Cheers InstagramI hope you are ready for adventure
Vino in Argentina!❤️

Be Conscious of Cultural Differences

Make sure you’re aware of the country’s legal drinking age.  Globally, it ranges from 16-25, and in other places it’s completely illegal.  This is definitely a necessary piece of information!  For example, don’t be outraged if you see teenagers drinking in Germany or you’re denied entry to a club in Puerto Rico for being too young.  There is a different set of laws in place in these countries, and you need to respect them.

Similarly, the attitudes around drinking can vary widely too.  Locals might look down on public drunkenness the same way that Americans view public nudity, or they might think nothing of it.  It might be an expected part of your daily meal or only reserved for celebrations. You should do some research online before heading out, but the best way to know this sort of delicate cultural perspective is to ask a local.  I guarantee that they will be more helpful than Google, and you both might learn something out of it. 

Knowing the cultural differences can save you from embarrassment, but you can also use it to your advantage.  Some places will give out free food with an alcoholic drink!  Being aware of small things like that can save you a lot of money. Just remember to drink a lot of water.

Safety

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This is an important category to consider no matter what aspect of travel you’re looking at, and for good reason.  You are in an unfamiliar place with limited resources.  However, drinking provides it’s own challenges here, as you will not be as alert as you normally are.  To avoid disaster, make sure you:

  1. Abide by the cultural customs you learned.  Most will be understanding if a drunk foreigner makes a mistake, but it’s best not to risk it.
  2. Do not drink alone.  Besides just being depressing, there is safety in numbers.  Drinking will make you stand out as a target, so be with a friend you trust to watch your back.  
  3. Don’t take valuables with you. Obviously, you have to bring some form of payment, but don’t bring your whole wallet.  Check your pockets every time you leave a bar to make sure that you haven’t lost anything.
  4. Know some keywords in a relevant language by heart.  If you only have a vague idea of some crucial vocabulary, you won’t remember when you’re drunk how to say “bathroom”, “car”, or “help”.  Those few words could be the difference between and good and a bad night.  
  5. Commit the address of wherever you’re staying to memory.  Write it down if you need to. Taking the card of the hotel/hostel is great to hand to taxis as well.

Being in a foreign country already comes with a set of challenges, and drinking only adds to that.  All the same, the social benefits usually outweigh the risks.  While it’s important to take these tips into account, also realize there are some things you will never be able to anticipate.  For some reason, none of the clubs in Granada have toilet paper.  There are some situations that will force you to improvise while intoxicated, but as long as you’ve got the basics covered, you’ll be able to go home with nothing worse than some mild alcohol poisoning.  

7 comments

  1. Levi says:

    So happy to see a blog from you! We get a lot of vlogs, and while I think we can all agree we love seeing your smiling face, the written word is seldom a bad choice. Great information by the way! I’d also add that not only will some airlines get mad at you for drinking your liquor mini on the plane, some will outright give you the boot if the door hasn’t closed yet. There are a few airlines that take it very seriously. If in doubt I’d recommend to just not drink it at your seat. Slip it in a pocket and head to the nearest latrine.

    Now, I have a question for you on the alcohol matter. What is Nadine’s alcohol of choice? I’m a rum fan myself.

  2. Thanks for the article. Never good to learn the hard way that some beer in other countries is a lot stronger than here in the U.S. LOL. Love the part where it reminds readers to know the drinking culture in the country you are in. So important!

  3. gessell says:

    Drinking in numbers is more fun and much more safe. I feel like here in Amsterdam I hear way too often of someone getting a little too drunk and falling in a canal or worse.

  4. yes you are right about drinking is an important part of socialization. drink alcoholic beverages while traveling is fun, but often people do not take responsibility and do arbitrarily. very good article, shall be read by the drunks haha.

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