I had my first sip of wine when I was fifteen in Paris. While the drinking age in France is 18, it is hardly enforced as much as it is in the United States. At a restaurant, I ordered a glass of rosette. My taste for alcohol was still growing; I was still learning that one is supposed to enjoy the feeling alcohol gives you, not the taste, and I drank very little of it over the course of dinner. I didn't drink much on that trip; I still much preferred a tasty soda as opposed to the dry taste of French wine.
It took some time, but I eventually learned that the point of alcohol is not always to enjoy the taste, but rather to enjoy the buzz it gives. I finally started drinking wine, beer, etc. when I was abroad when I was eighteen. I discovered the delights of Spanish sangria, which I enjoyed with my mom at every meal. I have also been able to enjoy wine in Ukraine and Germany, as well as beer in Switzerland and Ireland.
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| Vodka in Russia |
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| Enjoying sangria with my mom in Toledo, Spain |
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| Ukraine |
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| Wine in Heidelberg, Germany with my mom |
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| A beer in the Swiss Alps |
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| At the Guinness Brewery in Dublin |
When I finally hit 21 on November 29, it was not my first liason with alcohol. I have been very lucky and much of my experience thus far has been quite international.
My taste in wine is generally sweet. Cupcake is my big go-to brand when I am in a hunch about what kind of wine to get. I also really liked the Barefoot red wine when I tried it, and it is also a big go-to brand for my red wines. However, I am always willing to experiment and try new things, especially when it comes to alcohol. Like I always say, I'll drink just about anything as long as its alcoholic.
I think my experience with alcohol can be summarized by something one of my Australian friends (they know how to party!) I met in Ireland said: "Nothing brings people together like alcohol!" I definitely can attest to that. It is a great way to meet people, especially abroad in different countries with strange people you've never met before. While I, of course, encourage responsible drinking, loosening up with a few beers at a local bar in Galway is a great way to meet locals and suddenly become best friends with people you've only met minutes ago.
Like they say, When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Have a beer with some Irishmen. Visit a vineyard in Italy or France. Take a shot of vodka in Russia. It's surprising just how much you can learn about a culture just by sharing a drink.
