Apology

[Moparnut72]

I had one of our local news/general interest shows on the tube this morning. They had a segment talking about alcohol abuse. They didn't say what countries were included but the US came in 10th from the top. Surprise: Italy came in last. SO, I guess we can't blame Luigi anymore for Grappa at lunch being responsible for some of the issues we sometimes experience with our beloved Moto Guzzis. 
kk

[Tom H]

So does this mean they keep messing up without a decent excuse? 

Tom

[Tom]

Guys working at the factory in Mandello would hit Hardy's Cafe for their shot of grappa to end their siesta break and that was before heading back to  work.    

The cafeteria lunch room line at the Ducati factory has birra and vino.  They can hit up the bar for their grappa shot afterwards.    

Of course the exec's can't complain because the bartender usually uncorks bottles of vino for the exec lunch room.   

[guzzisteve]

There was a segment on EuroNews about the most drunk women in the world. Netherlands.

[pehayes]

Italians do consume a lot of wine and grappa, but not so much distilled alcohol.  I once visited a restaurant in Vicenza late on a hot day and ordered a refreshing "gin e acqua tonica".  A few minutes later my server arrived with a clear glass filled with gin and tonic.  Um, excuse me, but I'd like to have ice (vorrei ghiaccio).  The server took away my glass and soon came back with (I kid you not) one ice cube floating in the cocktail.  I have since learned to ask specifically for TWO glasses; one pieno ghiaccio (full of ice) and one with gin e acqua tonica.  I'll mix my own thank you.  Italians don't do ice very much and hence not much for highballs.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[Dukedesmo]

I worked in Italy in the '80s. The shop floor in the factory had a cold drink vending machine with Coke, Fanta and Beer in it and in the canteen at lunch time there were bottles of red wine on all the tables (courtesy of the owners who also owned a vineyard).


That said, I never saw anyone abuse it just a glass or two of red and the odd cold beer to refresh.


Prior to this I had worked in a comparable factory in England and, had the same been on offer, little (quality) work would have been achieved... 

[twowheeladdict]

I had one of our local news/general interest shows on the tube this morning. They had a segment talking about alcohol abuse. They didn't say what countries were included but the US came in 10th from the top. Surprise: Italy came in last. SO, I guess we can't blame Luigi anymore for Grappa at lunch being responsible for some of the issues we sometimes experience with our beloved Moto Guzzis. 
kk

How did they define "Alcohol Abuse"?  At what point beyond Alcohol Consumption becomes abuse?

[Dukedesmo]

I feel I have a little knowledge on this matter, having travelled quite extensively and (in the past at least) been known to enjoy a drink or three.


Obviously I haven't been to every country in the world but I can confidently say that the Irish must be at (or very close to) the no. 1 position for alcohol consumption, maybe not for abuse as they all seem to enjoy it and handle it rather well.


I like Ireland...   

[Moparnut72]

I think because it is so much a part of the culture and commonly available there is not much abuse. The Coors brewery when it was still family owned had beer taps through out brewery for employee use.  Not any longer.
kk

[bacongrease]

 Methinks the engineering room had to have gallons of free vodka, scotch, bourbon and moonshine..

[Bulldog9]

Haven't looked at the list, but the Eastern Europeans have it down.  One of my Afghanistan deployments, we had Romanian, Czeck, German, and Poland Military with us (along with some British, Italian, French, and Canadians). We were at a German FOB (Forward Operating Base) where they had beer in their DFAC (Dining facility), the Germans, French and Americans all had 1 beer with dinner, the Romanians would have 6-10, Czeck, 5-6, and Pols 4-5. We were all shocked how the Romanians put it down............... Was Becks Beer.............