Recovering alcoholic traveling in alcohol-centric cultures

In my experiences, while Alcohol plays an obvious role in European Culture, there is much less abuse on a broad basis. Yes, a glass or two of wine with dinner, but not usually bottles and bottles during the night. Even though alcohol may be available at nearly any snack stand...few locals walk around drinking (or even eating). In tourist areas maybe there is a little more abuse,(Think the party beaches of Corfu) but overall, the drinking I have seen has been in context and moderate, and intoxication frowned on. Likewise, in the situations I have been around, others rarely pushed me either way on any request or refusal of anything. Simply state you do not wish to drink, would prefer a soft drink, no need to explain. I would resist though trying to introduce them to the "Recovery Culture" or helping them understand the issues associated with your recovery and certainly don't prostelitize...that may cross some lines.

If you are visiting family and friends, my advice to you is to tell them in advance of coming you can not drink even one drop of alcohol. If you feel pressed, say you have a medical condition preventing you from drinking. I visit my Czech inlaws every year and they are pretty serious about drinking there too. One particular visit I was on medication for a kidney infection & could not drink. Once they knew it was a medical issue, they only offered me non-alcoholic beverages.

Thanks for your reply. I'm curious. In the Czech Republic, is there any such thing as a recovered alcoholic or rehab? Do people understand/respect the decision to abstain from alcohol in order to function and live a better life?

Believe it or not, there are just as many alcoholics here in Europe as there are in the States. It is a myth that alcoholism barely exits in France, Spain, Germany, Italy or Scandanavia. It is a HUGE problem.

There is also AA in every country over here in their native languages and also often in English. If people are interested they can find this info online.

As to going to parties, etc. it is common for people also not to drink because of their religions and it isn't often that one is asked why they arent drinking. Just have a water or a juice or soda.

Alcohol is very prevalent in many situations here that are different than in the states. A bottle of bubbly is opened at work for every birthday, beer and wine is sold at school functions, sekt is served at kids birthdays starting at 12 and 13. It is not illegal to walk down the street with a bottle or sit in the park drinking, so people do. Perhaps not so much in tourist areas, but if you look for it, you will see it.

But yeah, there isn't a recovery culture in Europe like there is in the English speaking countries. They just haven't showed it on tv, or in their movies yet and so hasn't reached a "cool" level, if that makes sense.

Hi, someone else posted some stuff on here a while back asking about AA meetings in Europe and after a couple of people posted, it disappeared. I don't know if it is something the person themselves did or the webmaster. It is kinda touchy on here as people have been posting for years and it does tend to take away their anonymity if you know what I mean. Good luck on your travels.

Yes there are a few recovered alcoholics I personally know of there. Most times the decision to quit drinking from what I have seen in Czech Rep has to do with a life threatening health issue. If this is the case their doctor will have them checked into a spa for a few weeks to dry out and it is mostly covered by the state insurance. But there are more "successful" alcholics holding down a job per capita there than in most countries. The men usually will go down to the hospoda after dinner each night and drink at least 2 liters of pivo with some shots of hard liquor in between. Many times its to play cards or table tennis or discuss such business like who they can afford to get on their town's football (soccer) team. They get up early in the morning and do a full day's work like nothing happened. And usually have a pivo with their lunch as well. "Going light" for them is having 3 pivos....1.5 liters total...with no hard alcohol. But it seems most everybody has a derelict uncle, cousin, or brother that drinks so much they don't anymore and not of any use to anyone.

Jo's post mentioning Scandinavia reminded me of our trip there this summer. In the US it is not uncommon for someone to have a couple drinks and get in the car and drive. The penalties here for drinking and driving are very light compared to other places. In Sweden where we were visiting distant relatives it was very obvious who was driving. They may have had one drink of a non-alcohol beer (though I think it had a very small amount), but after that none! It was taken very seriously that people weren't drinking and people respected that. No peer pressure like here in the US to "just have one more".

I'm sure that people will respect your wishes if you tell them you have a medical condition that doesn't allow you to drink any alcohol. I find, even here in the US, as one gets older the peer groups tend to respect those decisions more than when you're in your early 20's. As those above have said, for the most part, it's a very different culture regarding alcohol there compared to here.

When people are "toasting" it is a good idea to have something in your glass; water or a soft drink works. In some cultures it is considered an insult not to drink when a toast is offered. I've traveled with people who refrain from drinking alcohol for religious reasons. Usually people left them alone and didn't try to get them to drink. Just be firm and have a plan for an alternative beverage. I think the people not drinking because of alcoholism call themselves "recovering" alcoholics.

Jason- I just tell people I don't drink. I was offered home made "Roxie" in Katmandu, beer in someone's home in Switzerland and all over Europe. I just say, "no thank you."

There are recovery meetings all over Europe.

Don't worry about it, and don't drink, no matter what!

Hi Jason. People like to drink alchohol for eliminating a stress feeling. Drinking chamomile tea can eliminate stress. Let the chamomile steep in hot water for 20 minutes. Travelers can bring chamomile tea to Europe. But do not bring Chamomile tea to the U.S.A. At the airport in the U.S.A. where you arrive from Europe, if you happen to be one of the passengers selected for having all of your baggage opened and examined, searching for illegal drugs, having tea leaves in your bag could cause a hassle and a waste of your time. German Chamomile is the best. In Europe I saw chamomile for sale, on sidewalks in cities. Do not put sugar in chamomile tea.

Jason, we were in Kyrgyzstan last year for our son's wedding (back packing can lead to finding love in far away places). We had no problems at all with avoiding vodka - just a polite no thank you via the interpretor (our daughter in law). Actually, we saw very little vodka drinking, even at the wedding.