The ranking of the most drinking countries

The world health organization, the UN issued the results of the study, according to which the drinking country in the world for the year recognized tiny Luxembourg. Russia took to drinking only 18th place. The average Russian drinks for 12 months just about 8,87 litres of absolute alcohol, which by European standards is very small. These studies prove conclusively that the common abroad opinion on the total susceptibility of the Russians to drunkenness is just a myth. In Europe, they drink much more than in Russia.

Second after Luxembourg's line in "a drunken rating" is "beer" Czech Republic. Next comes a small but proud Estonia.

A little bit not reached the "podium" of Germany. Significantly behind the EU partners "wine" France. But even the average Briton now consumed in the year and then more than the average Russian - about 9,29 liters. This is the 16th highest in the world. Moreover, in the Albion is a very acute problem of drinking among adolescents. For this indicator, the young subjects of the British crown in front of the whole Old world. And "green serpent" every year wraps them all the same.

"For residents of the UK alcohol consumption is an important social factor, " says RBC daily translator and Professor of MGIMO Elena Yablokova. - Never missing a couple of Beers in the pub and not drinking it a few glasses of whiskey, they just sometimes hard to communicate with each other because of the mentality, characterized by some degree of restraint and seclusion". However, be surprised that the British average drink less than Czechs or Germans, it is not necessary. Indeed, in these European countries beer for centuries is the number one drink and not drink as a catalyst for communication, and often simply to quench thirst and toning.

It is worth noting that almost all of the leading Russia European countries there is a steady trend of growth in the consumption of alcohol. Meanwhile, the claim that Russians drink alcohol in much greater quantities than the "enlightened" Europeans are still very popular in the West. To dissuade the usual European or American from the heartland that Russian is not necessarily the ushanka, keeps house a tame bear and every day going to drink vodka Red square, is usually very difficult. This stereotype is actively cultivated in the foreign media, movies, and books about Russia. To verify this, just look at the last year of David Cronenberg's "a Blemish on the export or open recent novel the infamous French writer Frederic Beigbeder "Ideal". There the main characters are Russians, and alcohol on them flows like water.

Interestingly, in those countries where Russia is traditionally treated with sympathy, ordinary people are quite adequate representation of the relationship of Russian alcohol. "The Serbs have a saying - "drink like a Russian," he told RBC daily, the head of consulting Agency GO! Sasha Savicevic. But it does not mean that the person suffers from alcoholism. It's just our traditional drinks milder taste, and we drink their small drain. But Russian vodka - harder". According to Mr. Savicevic, Cossacks during the Russian-Turkish wars in the late nineteenth century, in which the Russians fought shoulder to shoulder with the Serbs, drank granted by Statute dose "bitter" in one gulp. Hence this expression.

But in much of the Western world, the image of the "ignorant, rude and drunk Russian barbarian" to expose nobody is in a hurry. Moreover, its use, judging by some publications in influential British magazines of The Times or The Telegraph, are actively encouraged. After all, attributing to the citizens of countries that are political or economic competitors of the EU and the USA, hypertrophic defects is part of the information war.