is alcoholism a bigger problem in Europe or...

[ZACK U]

...America? This would have relevence to politics, since laws are different in both cultures.

[Reservoirdog]

I am not sure. Ask the president between drinks and lines.

[teenhamodic]

I've spent several years in Germany and Italy, and it seems to be a bigger problem in the US, especially for teenagers and college students. Most European countries do not have a legal drinking age, and children are exposed to alcohol at an early age. This seems kinda scary to us Americans, but what I found was that there is no curiosity or mystique about alcohol amongst the young people in Europe. There is no sense of "rebelliousness" in getting wasted before your "legal" age, because there is no legal age. While in this country, we seem to have a huge problem with binge drinking among our young people (which is the most dangerous kind of drinking). It is interesting to note however that in Russia, it is not uncommon for someone to drink Vodka all day (for breakfast, lunch and dinner) and no one there would think twice about it, while if someone did that here, it's intervention time!

[R Anthony PD]

Unfortunately -in my own humble opinion- it is higher in the two countries with the most beautiful people in the world... Russia and Ireland... According to the 2007 registry on several studies, Russia and Ireland are tops on alcoholism. Specially Russia where Alcoholism Treatment Clinics are part of the culture as for us is going to a family doctor for a cold or such.Then, the Scandinavian countries in North Europe and Poland.The rest of Europe uses alcohol in moderation. For example: England and Scotland use alcohol as much as Canada, moderate. France and Italy use alcohol (mostly wine) since childhood. Moderate and delude for children at every meal as Americans do with water or soda.-(Now... listen to this: The same studies showed the country around the world with most drug addiction: United Stated of America... yes, us, USA. So... Russia has Alcohol Treatment Clinics all over... Let's look around our own country and see how many Drug Addiction Clinics we have "as part of our culture"?... What's worse between the two evils? Terrifying, isn't it?)-

[Feis Ort]

Irish here and I know most are going to say us. But just to let you know which suprise me was the Finland has the biggest problem in Western Europe. The Swedes are another. In fact the Swedes go to Denmark to drink because Sweden has one of the strictest drinking laws in Europe. Most Southern European countries don't have a problem because they are expose to drink with meals etc. It a very European thing. But binge drinking is a huge problem in the US.