Moving abroad is an exciting decision to take, and it brings a lot of change to expats life: a new city, perhaps a different language and certainly another culture to discover. However, at what point are expatriates prepared to change their drinking habits and dive into another world? It can sound silly, but expats who are used to having their cocktails by the beach and suddenly find themselves with a glass of refined wine during a heavy winter can see the changing of habits as very challenging.
Renato Souza, a Brazilian expat living in Denver, Colorado, moved two years ago with his wife to work and study English in the US. For him, moving to Colorado represented a serious change of habits, as he was used to having his “cachaça” and “pinga” (Brazilian alcoholic beverages) for enjoying the weekends with friends. “Here is just beer, I mean, in Brazil, there is a beer culture as well, but I miss my cocktails and shots of Brazilian alcohol.” America has an incredibly vibrant craft beer culture. For the US, it would take time to establish a culture of sugar cane fermented alcohol in terms of soil and equipment, but most importantly, it would make investments just if there is an interest. “ I guess it is because beer is lower in alcohol and lends itself to be drunk chilled as a refreshing drink. This makes it a popular summer drink or something after hot outdoor activities here”, he shares.
Pub and drinking experience: from Brazil to the US
Also, bars and pub culture in Brazil are very traditional places for locals. Brazilians usually round up their tables in circles with Pagode music (playing the tambourine) as they drink and dance Forró. For Renato, who's from Belo Horizonte, a city known for its pubs in Brazil, it has not been easy. “I also miss the food portions; we had very good meat with manioc in the hot grill with butter, I never thought these things were so important to me, I guess I took it for granted.” He also sees a change of habits in terms of the pub experience. “Here people are seated inside of bars and chilling, in Brazil, there are tables in the sidewalks, music is loud and people are standing, dancing, talking to strangers, it is very different.” When visiting a bar in the United States, you are waited on at your table. You can either pay after each round or “run a tab,” which you “pick up” when you leave. Americans usually buy their own drinks when in groups.
Randall Burns, an American Graduate in Software Engineering, comments on wine in the US. “By the time the US was developed enough to support decent wine production, a lot of traditions were set.” For him, there is also the cultural issue: “little wine is produced in the Netherlands, UK, Mexico, Scandinavia, and the parts of Germany where most early us immigrants came from. “The French that came to the US/North America didn't get decent wine grape growing areas”.
Although wine and Brazilian alcoholic drinks are not a thing in the US, its craft beer is known internationally and attracts expats. The States pump out one of the best craft beer in the world, according to Luxe Digital ranking. Like its Scandinavian neighbors, the United Kingdom traces its brewing history back to abbeys and monasteries. Since 1971, the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has encouraged the preservation and revival of traditional ale production. Around 70% of pubs now serve real ale, which has steadily increased its market share.
Wine culture
France is the world's second-biggest wine producer in terms of volume after Italy, putting out more than a billion gallons every year, including 55% red, 25% white, and 20% rosé. Wine is part of the French culture and life. If you are an expat interested in moving to a country for its wine, then France will be the best place for you. In France, wine is the best answer for everything: don't know what to give as a gift? What to drink at a party? What to take for a party? What to drink for celebrating? Du vin! There are several bodegas all over France and wine bars which indeed are more common than craft beer ones. Excellent champagne and sparkling wine are also from France. Therefore expats who are used to having the habit of drinking wine or who are interested in it should definitely consider France.
Changing to rice wines
Expats from the Occident, interested in changing their drinking habits at the most, should think about South Korea. Most traditional Korean alcoholic drinks are rice wines, fermented with the aid of yeast and Nuruk (a wheat-based source of the enzyme amylase). The main varieties include clear rice wines (Cheongju), milky rice wine (Takju), distilled liquor (Soju), fruit wine (Gwasil-ju), flower wines, and medicinal wines. Soju, which is a clear, low-alcohol, distilled spirit, is the most popular liquor in Korea. It is the best-selling liquor in the world, according to CNN, so expats might be tempted.
