Greece is a Mediterranean country where alcohol consumption is a social event. Greeks drink wine, beer and spirits in a social setting to strengthen bonds between friends and family members and escape the main worries of everyday life. The legal blood alcohol limit in Greece is lower than in the United States or the United Kingdom. A blood alcohol level of just 0.05% (the equivalent of two drinks) will classify you as legal drunk, compared to 0.08% in the US and England. If you are arrested for drunk driving in Greece, you will have to pay a fine of up to several hundred euros. Even if you think you can drive perfectly drunk, the equally drunk guy in the other car may not be as talented. Most Greeks do this by drinking moderately while eating mezze. Some Greek islands have become party destinations for young people, even though they are not legally allowed to do so at home. A new law adopted by the Ministry of Health in July 2009 sets a minimum drinking age of 18. Popular cruise lines in the Aegean Sea seem to have different rules depending on the ship. Some serve alcohol to adults over the age of 18, others recognize a 21-year limit, and others allow minors to drink with parental consent. Check with your cruise line for clarification. Of course, driving after drinking is not recommended by a very active police force, which uses breathalyzers en masse after work, and strongly discouraged.
Everyone is expected to behave civilly before, during, and after drinking. If someone gets too drunk, their business is expected to make sure it doesn`t become a public nuisance. Although alcohol is indeed inexpensive, it is probably of cheap quality. Sometimes it can even be dangerously cut with pure industrial alcohols or methanol (a chemical commonly found in antifreeze). If this drink offering is too good to believe, it probably is. And just because alcohol is poured from a big-brand bottle doesn`t mean it started in a bottle. Drinking cheap alcohol, consuming industrial alcohol (ethyl alcohol) or consuming methanol can have serious side effects. The consequences can be consuming more alcohol than expected, alcohol poisoning or, in the case of involuntary consumption of methanol, blindness and even death.
Leave the quad at home. Although the Greek police are not interested in enforcing the drinking age, they are eager to enforce laws against drunk driving. The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.05. According to the report, in 2016, more than 50% of people in America, Europe and the Western Pacific (Japan, Australia, Oceania) drank alcoholic beverages. For comparison, in 2016, only 32.2% of people in Africa and 33.1% of people in Southeast Asia (India, North Korea, Sri Lanka, etc.) drank. In addition, 94.9% of the inhabitants of the Eastern Mediterranean (Egypt, Iran, Yemen, etc.) abstained from alcohol throughout their lives. Alcohol consumption is illegal in many Eastern Mediterranean countries, at least for Muslims. Also pay attention to the specialty of the village. Homemade spirit is technically illegal in Greece, but native spirits are made and will make your socks fall off, but what exactly is inside and whether it meets health standards is a guess.
Try to have only one to limit the damage. Alcohol consumption varies considerably from country to country, as does the legal drinking age. In the United States, you must be at least 21 years of age or older to purchase or consume alcoholic beverages (with some exceptions in some jurisdictions). Surprisingly, this is one of the highest ages in the world to drink. To the north of the United States is Canada, which has a legal drinking age of 18 to 19, and the legal drinking age is much lower in many other countries. In fact, some countries don`t have a minimum drinking age (although there may be a minimum age to buy alcohol) – although the vast majority of these countries still have laws on the age you need to have to buy alcoholic beverages. Conversely, in some countries (usually under strict Muslim rule), alcohol consumption is completely prohibited. Here`s what you need to know about alcohol consumption when visiting Greece. While some establishments have posted signs informing patrons that alcohol consumption before the age of 18 (or 17 or 16 without a guardian in some cases) is not permitted, enforcement appears to be uneven. Unlike other European countries, there is no official legal drinking age in Greece if you drink in private (such as in a house).
However, if you want to buy alcohol and drinks in public, you must be at least 18 years old. Although this is the law, it is not always strictly enforced. Hangovers can be tedious after a long night drinking raki or tsipouro, but mountain air and homemade Greek food are powerful antidotes to any illness you may endure. For a country that loves so much warmth, sunshine and friendly consumption, it`s surprising that microbreweries aren`t thriving. In fact, you`ll be hard-pressed to find any other type of beer than mass-produced ones. Drunk driving is illegal in Greece, as in the rest of the world. Winding and dark roads, unfamiliar cars, unexpected obstacles and narrow streets mean that Greece has the highest road fatality rate in the European Union, whether you drink or not. It is just as dangerous for Greeks as it is for tourists.
Social alcohol consumption is a big part of Greek life. Traditionally, Greeks drink at every meal – even small children are given a diluted glass of wine. But excessive alcohol consumption is frowned upon, and you are expected to remain “nice.” Although the Greek police are not interested in enforcing the drinking age, they are eager to enforce laws against drunk driving. They regularly stop drivers and test their blood alcohol levels. Compared to other European countries, the legal limit is quite low – punch .05 and you are above the limit. These subtleties of Greek drinking culture have been overlooked (or deliberately abused) by some visitors. However, excessive alcohol consumption is frowned upon. You are expected to remain “nice”. Most Greeks do this by drinking moderately and eating mezzes as they do. Try to follow the traditional Greek method and drink moderately.
Choose a tavern within walking distance (or a short taxi ride) of where you`re staying. In chemical terms, alcohol is an organic compound formed during the fermentation of grains, vegetables or fruits. Medically, alcohol is classified as a sedative (as opposed to a stimulant like caffeine or a hallucinogen like psilocybin) with a variety of physiological effects. Most of these effects involve slowing down or obstructing bodily functions. For example, alcohol inhibits bodily motor functions and slows reaction times. The more you drink, the slower and clumsier they become. Similarly, alcohol also hinders the brain`s communication pathways. While one or two drinks can make a person looser and more relaxed, continued consumption leads to symptoms such as slurred speech, cloudy thinking, and poor decision-making. Excessive alcohol consumption can also lead to additional complications such as vomiting, memory loss, drowsiness up to fainting, and in extreme cases, alcohol poisoning. Finally, long-term excessive alcohol consumption can contribute to serious physiological conditions, including (but not limited to) pancreatitis, cardiomyopathy, liver disease, hyperglycemia, cancer, and various neurological disorders. That`s not to say that microbrewed beers don`t exist.
Santorini Brewing Company brews the popular Yellow Donkey beer – a stacked beer among the varieties. You can find it mainly in Santorini and the surrounding islands. For the latest travel warnings and warnings around the world, read about lockdowns and border restrictions. In fact, they reached 17, if they did not change it again. From alcohol to hard seltzer, alcoholic beverages are an almost ubiquitous part of many modern cultures: wine at dinner, beer with friends on weekends, festive champagne toasts, etc. However, since alcohol is a drug that can significantly impair a person`s judgment and physical abilities, the consumption of alcoholic beverages in many countries is age-related. While alcohol production in domestic distilleries is prohibited by law in Greece, you will find homemade alcohol almost everywhere that can make you jump your head at the first sip! Ouzo “12”, “Pilavas” and “Metaxa” are the most popular brands of ouzo in Greece, although you can find good quality local varieties in various rural areas.