The world’s booziest countries (and how to visit them)
drinking abroad
Fancy a tipsy getaway this autumn? Well you may be in luck. In a quest to find the best destinations for drinkers, we’ve been crunching the data on everything from the average price of a pint to annual levels of wine consumption to discover the very best countries to indulge. So raise a toast to the following…
10. Romania
The great nation of Romania has one big statistic in its favour, in that it just happens to be the planet’s biggest per capita consumer of alcohol – that’s beers, wines, spirits, the whole caboodle – according to the World Health Organisation. A hefty appetite for the sauce is one thing, but is the eastern European nation any good for a boozy break?
Bucharest makes for a raucous night out, says our writer - Getty
Having been to Bucharest several times, I can give the Romanian capital a solid thumbs up – provided you can handle a little edge to your night out. The local liquor (tuică – a pungent plum brandy) tastes like fire ants took a bath in moonshine; lots of bars still allow indoor smoking; and supermarket beers often come in the kind of jumbo measures that would be banned on health and safety grounds over here.
9. Germany
Not only is Germany an impressively affordable place to get a beer (with an average price of a pint in Berlin being £3.90, according to Numbeo – compared to London’s £6.50), there’s every chance you’ll get a decent one too. It turns out, the Germans are as good at winning gold at the annual World Beer Awards as they are at winning football tournaments.
While it’s been trendy for approaching a decade now, the old Hanseatic city of Hamburg remains a top-tier weekend break for those who appreciate a tipple. Avoid the more lurid parts of the Reeperbahn and head to one of Hamburg’s celebrated breweries, some of which – like Ratsherrn – have their own pub next door.
8. Netherlands
As much as we might turn our nose up at the stag-dos, you’d be hard-pressed to find any seasoned traveller who doesn’t have fond memories of letting their hair down in Amsterdam. The city’s blend of cafe culture and late-night bars is practically a cliché by now, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t good times to be had.
Amsterdam’s cafe culture has long made it a draw for visitors - Getty
The well-heeled artsy district of Jordaan remains a personal favourite, not least due to the concentration of fashionable galleries offering complimentary champers at their evening exhibits. If you’re going to imbibe, at least look cultured while you’re doing it.
7. Czechia
More than three decades after the first budget flights touched down in Prague for some debauchery, the country formerly known as the Czech Republic has lost none of its appetite for a knees-up. Not only do the Czechs put away more pints per capita than anyone else in Europe, their beer prices are amongst the cheapest (around £2.10 for a pint).
If you want to avoid the crowds in the capital, try the southern city of České Budějovice. While best known as the home of Budvar – including its tourist-friendly HQ – it’s also a charming city break in its own right, with bars and restaurants dotted around its baroque town square.
6. Austria
It might not be the first country that comes to mind when you think of alcohol. But it turns out that Austria’s consistently impressive scores across all categories – including its impressively low ranking in the influential Nanny State Index – have helped the Alpine republic leap above some of the usual suspects in our final rankings.
If you fancy a memorable wine break, then Austria’s understated reputation may work in your favour. Just a 90-minute drive from Vienna, the stunning valleys around Niederösterreich are home to some of the most scenic vineyards along the Danube, yet are still relatively undiscovered.
5. Georgia
It’s the former Soviet republic with a cult following amongst adventurous boozers – and now a direct British Airways flight to boot. What makes Georgia such a majestic destination? As a return visitor, I’ve always described it as the Italy of the Caucasus, thanks to its distinctive rich cuisine, stellar winemaking culture and proud grasp of its history.
Shardeni Street is at the heart of Tbilisi’s drinking culture in Georgia - Alamy
Should you make it to Tbilisi for a night on the town, the cobbled pedestrianised lanes around Shardeni Street are a great place to start. Wander through on a summer’s evening and you won’t be able to move for good options to start your night.
4. United States
Despite its reputation for puritanism, the United States remains a great destination for a good drink, provided you understand the various cultural nuances. As for our index rankings, the US scores highly for its acclaimed beers and the fact that several of its most-visited cities (Orlando, New York City and Nashville) have a highly concentrated selection of drinking dens.
While it wasn’t ranked in the Nanny State Index, the fact you can also enjoy a drink whilst watching live sport (including soccer) has to merit a bonus point. Good news for anyone venturing to next year’s World Cup.
3. Italy
When it comes to the good things in life, no one does it quite like the Italians – and you can include booze on that list. Not only are the prices impressively competitive (€5 is the average price for a bottle of wine, according to Europe-Data.com) but they’re experts at keeping things in moderation too: consuming around half as much beer as us Britons.
Venice is home to a host of legendary night spots - Gary Yeowell
Of course, as a tourist you don’t have to worry about the last bit, unless you’re going to stick to that whole “When in Rome…” thing. As for the best cities to let loose, surely Venice has to be amongst the very best places on Earth to enjoy an evening on the sauce. Just be careful about not falling into the water.
2. Spain
Whether it’s the ubiquitous Madri lager or the pubs of Tenerife, Spain has long had a rather boozy association in the mind of most Britons. Even better, it turns out the Spaniards have some of the best beer prices in Europe (a pint costs £3.40, on average, in Madrid, according to Numbeo, but you’ll easily find £2 beers down on the coast), as well as two cities – Sevilla and Barcelona – that rank in the top 20 for the concentration of bars.
Yes, Spain might have been pipped – just – to the top on this occasion, but that won’t be a concern when you’re enjoying an ice cold cerveza whilst taking in the rugged landscape of Andalucia.
1. Portugal
In the end, it was their Top Trumps approach that won it for Portugal, given their high scores across the board. Not only are they amongst the higher per capita drinkers of wine in the world, they also have some of the cheapest prices. There’s even an option to order a refreshing Sagres in McDonald’s, if you care for that sort of thing.
Lisbon’s ubiquitous ‘ginjinha’ shops help make Portugal the world’s greatest country for a drink, according to our writer - Getty
As someone who has enjoyed many long nights in Lisbon, I’m happy to see our oldest allies take the trophy here. To my mind, they also deserve another bonus point for having one of the most decadent hangover remedies – a sharp cherry liqueur called ginjinha that’s readily available from little boltholes across the city for those who need a pick-me-up at any time of the day.
If you’re feeling worse for wear, it should put a spring in your step.
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