Why does Southern Europe have much lower rates of alcoholism compared to Northern & Eastern Europe?

[Miko]

I heard that Scandinavians had a gene that made them ENJOY alcohol, like hallucinating

[Universe]

Good point, but would you rather trust to self-reported claims or suicide rates?
https://worldpopulationreview.com/co...ate-by-country
Among the first countries in Europe are the following: Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Slovenia, Hungary..

Why didn't I get notification about this post? The countries you listed are all Eastern European countries.

Suicide rate does not the whole story about a country. People in Northern European countries (and in countries created by Northern Europeans: Australia, Canada, USA) are more satisfied with life than people in Southern European countries.

World's lowest suicide rates can be found in Venezuela, Jordan, Honduras, Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq etc. Why doesn't everyone move to those countries if suicide rate is so important? Northwestern Europe, USA, Canada, Australia score high on "self reported life satisfaction" and do attract lots of immigrants for a reason.

[Victor]

only in case of heavy consumption of alcohol beverage like vodka, but wine is not that bad, and drinking a few glasses of red wine a week could help lower blood pressure and increase plasma

Balkans massively produce (it's almost not controlled) homemade fruit brandy named rakija, it's usually like 46% and it's being served very often. They drink more often, but in less amounts, more a socializing and cultural thing, not a way to run away from problems.

My maternal grandpa from Ukraine, a prominent agronomist on the republican level, drank some plum samogon everyday before dinner, for example.

[Atlantic Reptilian]

Balkans massively produce (it's almost not controlled) homemade fruit brandy named rakija, it's usually like 46% and it's being served very often. They drink more often, but in less amounts, more a socializing and cultural thing, not a way to run away from problems.

My maternal grandpa from Ukraine, a prominent agronomist on the republican level, drank some plum samogon everyday before dinner, for example.

True. Some people always had some alcoholic beverage stored somewhere and even drivers could be chemically drunk but still be driving. Being drunk was not a legitimate reason for not going to work. Disciplined Slavic genes, I guess

[Atlantic Reptilian]

I heard that Scandinavians had a gene that made them ENJOY alcohol, like hallucinating

I have never heard of such a thing. Perhaps, if you are skinny you cannot tolerate alcohol as much, but that would apply to people outside of Scandinavia as well.

[tk'es]

Balkans massively produce (it's almost not controlled) homemade fruit brandy named rakija, it's usually like 46% and it's being served very often. They drink more often, but in less amounts, more a socializing and cultural thing, not a way to run away from problems.

My maternal grandpa from Ukraine, a prominent agronomist on the republican level, drank some plum samogon everyday before dinner, for example.

it sounds quite yummy, i gotta try once by visiting the balkan areas

[Victor]

it sounds quite yummy, i gotta try once by visiting the balkan areas

[rothaer]

Why does Southern Europe have much lower rates of alcoholism compared to Northern & Eastern Europe? Is is it genetic, cultural, or both? Does it have something to do with higher EEF admixture leading to less alcoholism?

The uninhibiting effect of alcohol provides less gain to people that are already extravert. And this is ultimately genetical, yes.

[rothaer]

I heard that Scandinavians had a gene that made them ENJOY alcohol, like hallucinating

Yeah, of course it's enjoyable. But after hallucinating hardly is enjoyable the comparison is somewhat odd.

[Todesritter]

If alcohol consumption is not that different between southern and northern europe, it has to be social and connected to the actual drinking culture - binge-drinking, drinking alone, blackout drinking (more typical of alcoholism) seem to be more typical in NE and EE and potentially connected to the culture of local socialization, the greater isolation an individual experiences as well as generally more depressive environments, work stress, etc. South Europeans drinking alongside a good meal to socialise use alcohol more as an addition to a passtime and less as a coping mechanism with the purpose of getting drunk. Alcohol used as a coping mechanism creates alcoholism.

Perhaps the fact there is absolutely nothing to do here in winter, the nights are comparably long and the days tend to be dull and overdrawn, has a psychological impact and drives people to drink not to have to put up with boredom and unbearable life. Historically, people would also take to alcoholism due to poverty, famine (often exacerbated if not downright caused by weather) especially in mostly agrarian areas.