The post is called "drinking games" and it doesn't talk about drinking games at all. Which is a shame because after traveling and drinking a lot in different countries I've found that drinking games were one of the most interesting thing.
For example, chinese people love to play with dices, or shouting games, hand games... french people love to play card games when drinking. Canadian people love beer pong... Which us french people find stupid, it's dirty and it's such a hassle to play.
Although I love Malcolm Gladwell, surely not one of his most interesting article.
PS: I also noted that professionally, alcohol is a huge part in Asia. Japan, China, Korea, you are supposed to get drunk with your boss, you are suppose to get drunk while concluding a deal...
In Canada, people drink alone, they drink alcohol in front of other people who don't drink alcohol, they don't wait to drink...
In France, people always drink with other people, if the other doesn't drink alcohol then one can't drink alcohol, we have to wait until everyone's poured and everyone has cheered before drinking the first sip.
Also in France it's common courtesy to bring a bottle when you come to a party, meeting and to share it with everyone. I learned the BYOB (Bring your own bottle) in Canada, which I find really anti-sociable.
PS2: There are a lot of local, regional alcoholic drinks, but beer is something I found everywhere.
In Asia, you are expected to act "drunk" when you are drinking with your colleagues/boss. You aren't expected to actually get that drunk, though you can if you want. The higher your station, the less drunk you'll want to really get because you may have to take an important call.
In Canada, people drink socially, and a smaller number drink alone (much like anywhere else). If someone doesn't want to drink at a dinner or outing, everyone else respects their choice not to drink and doesn't press them. Waiting to drink depends on the social context.
> In Asia, you are expected to act "drunk" when you are drinking with your colleagues/boss. You aren't expected to actually get that drunk, though you can if you want.
Not true in South Korea. They'll have drinking games and challenges you'd be expected to participate in.
> The higher your station, the less drunk you'll want to really get because you may have to take an important call.
Well, it's the boss who makes everyone go out to drink, so if he doesn't want to do it, it doesn't happen.
> In Asia, you are expected to act "drunk" when you are drinking with your colleagues/boss. You aren't expected to actually get that drunk, though you can if you want
Comming from a culture that doesn't accept fake-drinking I must ask: what's the point of it? Is there any cultural background explanation?
It's just part of the social ritual. You get "drunk" so that everyone can unwind because the normal social rules no longer apply. You can even call your boss a jerk and all will be forgotten tomorrow.
I'm pretty sure I've read stories about korean, japanese dying on the road after a meeting. Also stories about people throwing up at meetings, but it is seen as a good thing because they show they're trying their best.
> Which is a shame because after traveling and drinking a lot in different countries I've found that drinking games were one of the most interesting thing.
In case you were planning to visit Poland or some post-USSR country, we have no drinking games at all. We just drink, and we drink to get drunk, 'drinking games' don't make any sense for us and are generally subject of disregard so it's not even a thing worth mentioning if you are here.
The only quasi-sensible (by our standards) game I recall is 3 glasses, probably too hardcore for most nations of the world (well, it is hardcore even for us). You put 3 shots on the table - one filled with water, one with vodka, one with spirit. You have to pick two, you drink one and wash down with the other, good luck if you wash down vodka with spirit.
> Also in France it's common courtesy to bring a bottle when you come to a party, meeting and to share it with everyone
Here too. Loosely translated there is a rule "you shall not come empty-handed" aka you need a "glass ticket" to enter a party. And it's not 'courtesy', it's a big deal, even if you're broke or lost in the middle of the night in a neighborhood you don't know, you should bring whatever you can afford at the nearest 24h or gas station.
On my business trips to Paris, nobody refrained from drinking because I don't drink. I would have been mortified if they had. How strong is the "we don't drink if someone doesn't drink" culture? Is it related to social drinking as opposed to, say, having a glass of wine with dinner? I'm just trying to understand the culture and how I can expect my not drinking to impact relations there.
For example, chinese people love to play with dices, or shouting games, hand games... french people love to play card games when drinking. Canadian people love beer pong... Which us french people find stupid, it's dirty and it's such a hassle to play.
Although I love Malcolm Gladwell, surely not one of his most interesting article.
PS: I also noted that professionally, alcohol is a huge part in Asia. Japan, China, Korea, you are supposed to get drunk with your boss, you are suppose to get drunk while concluding a deal...
In Canada, people drink alone, they drink alcohol in front of other people who don't drink alcohol, they don't wait to drink...
In France, people always drink with other people, if the other doesn't drink alcohol then one can't drink alcohol, we have to wait until everyone's poured and everyone has cheered before drinking the first sip.
Also in France it's common courtesy to bring a bottle when you come to a party, meeting and to share it with everyone. I learned the BYOB (Bring your own bottle) in Canada, which I find really anti-sociable.
PS2: There are a lot of local, regional alcoholic drinks, but beer is something I found everywhere.