Austria And Alcohol: An Unacknowledged Problem

When it comes to Austria and alcohol, there is a problem. Now, don’t get me wrong, I enjoy a nice drink with some friends. I’m also a born and bred Canadian. We tend to enjoy drinking. However, Austria takes it to the next level with their alcohol consumption.

And it starts young.

Drinking Age In Austria

Upon my arrival to Austria, I quickly learnt that alcohol was a huge part of Austrian culture. You go to any grocery store, and you’ll likely see that there are more alcoholic than non-alcoholic options. 

However, after living in America and China, I didn’t take much notice of the alcohol sections in grocery stores. It seemed normal-ish. That is, until I learned about the drinking age.

You see, in Austria, any hard liquor can “only be bought” by those above the age of 18. However, beer and wine are purchasable from the age of 16. 16! That means you could be drinking with children without even knowing it.

Yet, that’s not even the worst of it. In my 5 years between Austria and Bavaria, I have not once seen someone who is clearly under 18 be ID’d for hard liquor. Therefore, we have kids pouring shots at worst, and sipping on beers and wine at best; either way, they are getting wasted.

Austria and Its Alcohol Consumption 

*Numbers based on 2018 Statistics*

Austria currently stands at number 14 when it comes to litres of alcohol consumed per person every year. Austrians drink an estimated 11.96 litres on average every year. That is almost double the global average consumption of 6.18L of people over the age of 15 in 2018.

I understand that doesn’t seem like that big a number. That is, until you understand what is really counted. The average bottle of wine is about 12% pure alcohol content, so at 6.18L per person, that is roughly 53 bottlesper person per year.

Yet, Austria is at almost double that, to which I can attest. Most of the people I know could easily drain 100 bottles of wine a year. In a country of only 9 million people, too. Seriously, Austria and Alcohol are inseparable.

The Nonchalant Attitude Between Austrians And Alcohol

Like many European countries, one of the first things you might notice when it comes to alcohol is that you’re allowed to walk around with open liquor. Originally, I had thought this was awesome. I mean, no more having to finish my drink before going to another place? No one hiding bottles in brown paper bags? Awesome!

However, it leads to situations where drunk people are either incredibly disruptive and loud or the number of people passed out drunk (as depicted above) in random places is increasingly more common. Yet, no one really cares. When I asked about it, I was responded to with, “Yeah, that’s normal”

How that being a normal thing is acceptable is absolutely beyond me. Yet, it doesn’t end there.

Every event I go to, whether it’s been with the scout group I lead (ages 16-20) or something more upscale like a wedding, official meeting, fundraiser, or holiday, just seems like an excuse to drink. It feels as if things are created or planned just so that people can drink without judgment. Yet, this is the norm as I’ve been told.

Even a tour in Vienna that we went on recently, that had nothing to do with alcohol, spent a shocking amount of time talking about drinking, getting drunk, and other things surrounding alcohol.

Willing Ignorance Towards Alcoholism

An alcoholic – Alcoholism – destroyed a large portion of my life. My family fell apart. The only man I knew as a father left and hasn’t talked to me in years. The alcoholic got me kicked out of my apartment. He tried to get me hooked on drugs. He constantly tried manipulating and controlling me through emotional, mental, and verbal abuse. Furthermore, he got me fired. Then, worst of all, the stress of all of this happening made me screw up my schoolwork, losing my full scholarship. Years later, I rented a room from an alcoholic who stole hundreds of dollars from me, then threatened to sue me when I moved out over an arrangement that we made that she had broken.

Needless to say, I take alcoholism seriously and do my best to not have alcoholics in my life. Yet, living in Austria has made that incredibly difficult. Hell, my wife has at least one alcoholic in her family. Even though she’s been complaining about it being a problem that needs to stop for years, she still drinks with this person constantly. All because that’s what is normal here. It would be rude not to.

So, when it comes to Austria and Alcohol, apparently it is rude not to drink with someone you think or know has a problem. Even if that problem is actively hurting the people around them. It’s killing me to watch my wife go through something so painfully familiar. Especially when the person is called out and turns around to either subtly or viciously attack our relationship to deflect. Other people have noticed it, talked to either myself or the both of us about it, but don’t feel comfortable saying anything to that person.

It’s not just a personal issue, either. There are numerous people we see regularly that would be considered alcoholics back where I’m from. Yet, that’s just “normal” here. They are just “enjoying themselves”.

It really came to a head when I heard my wife echoing the sentiment, “I don’t need alcohol to have a good time, but it definitely helps!”

The nonchalance towards alcoholism is abysmal. The problems between Austria and Alcohol run deep; deep enough to be ingrained in the culture.

Some Other Problems Between Austrians and Alcohol That I’ve Seen

Since coming here, I have seen things that have shocked and appalled me. Some shaking me to my core, others leaving me terrified.

I have been a passenger in vehicles where people are driving down the highway and drinking a beer. It’s not just drinking and driving you have to worry about, it’s drinking while driving. I’ve also seen it in towns and cities when cars are driving along or at red lights.

As a scout leader, I went to a scouting event solely for the oldest groups in a district, expecting some real scouting experiences. Skill or leadership development or something of the like. What I saw was one structure built, a child-oriented story structure planned by the leaders, a few skits, and an evening of drinking. Young people aged 16-20 getting drunk and/or smashed. Inevitably, becoming belligerent and argumentative when told to do something for their safety. So I left.

A friend of Lisa’s drinking beer every time I saw her. Morning, noon, or night. On the train, at parties, etc. If I saw her, there was a beer in her hand.

Lisa’s family member draining multiple bottles of alcohol every time we met for board games. Inevitably resulting in an inability to play properly or even remember the rules.

My wife coming home drunk from official events or meetings. 

Running into people I know who have been drinking alone for hours. 

I could continue for several pages. Listing every last thing I’ve seen. However, I won’t. Instead, I’ll wrap things up.

Last Call

What really is last call in a place where some bars and clubs are open past the sun’s rise? A joke at best and non-existent at worst. Austria is a place where the most successful business could potentially be a bar open 24/7. 

Yet it’s not seen as a problem. No, it’s normal. I had originally thought that the rule allowing children aged 16-18 was a good thing. “It must be there to teach kids how to drink responsibly at a younger age. How great!” I thought. 

I was foolish… Naive. They aren’t taught how to drink responsibly at all. In fact, I’ve seen drinking irresponsibly encouraged. Not just by peers, but by adults. Adults that should be watching over, protecting, and taking care of these young souls. Adults double or triple the age of these kids.

Yet, that’s how things are here. It’s normal. If you don’t agree and adhere to it, then you are the weird one—foreigner or not. Austria and Alcohol are all, but inseparable. So, if Austria is on your list of places to visit, then stay aware. Perhaps that cute girl you just bought a vodka cranberry for might just be 16. You’ve been warned.

Seeing as Austria is the country with the 14th largest alcohol consumption, that means there are 13 countries where the problem might possibly run even deeper. Who am I to say? I can only speak to what I have seen and noticed here.

Have you been to Austria and noticed this issue? Is there somewhere you think is worse? Let us know down below

As always, we believe we should live with intention, travel with purpose, and let the world inscribe its stories upon us.

So until next time, stay authentic, stay Nomadic, and let the world inscribe its stories upon you more than you do upon it.