England has a bit of a world reputation for enjoying their alcohol. All of the United Kingdom is known for their pub and bar culture. In fact, there is perhaps no other culture in the world where it is more acceptable to spend excessive time in a pub or bar. This is not a result of widespread addiction and alcoholism, although those things are certainly present in England’s culture as well. England’s culture of drinking spans many centuries, even millenniums, back, and is present in the modern way they approach alcohol.

Arguably, the people who the British descended from could have been drinking alcohol as long as 12,000 years ago. Unearthed, ancient jugs that were meant for holding beer indicate this to us. Beer made from grains was the alcohol of choice for several millenia, and was associated with excessive binge drinking. In the 1st century AD, the Roman Invasion influenced the English popular culture toward moderation in drinking. Wine was more readily consumed lightly, with a meal, while beer was consumed for the purpose of becoming drunk. These two cultures or schools of thought have remained in England for centuries, however, England is notorious for its celebration of the “beer based thinking,” that alcohol is for binging in order to become very drunk. The weather could also play a factor, according to many mental health experts in England. For much of the year, England is very gray, promoting alcoholism as a means of coping with depression and lack of Vitamin D.

England’s history with alcohol affects the culture of its modern day residents in a number of ways. Drinking is more common and more acceptable in England than in many other regions of the world. This is a long evolved social acceptance and tolerance of drinking. Not only this, but alcoholism and alcohol tolerance can be linked to genetics. The longer alcohol consumption has been passed down genetically, the more genetically predisposed a person is to alcoholism and to alcohol cravings. As you can see, England’s relationship with alcohol has been many years in the making.

England is a country that many travelers across the world come to visit, not just because of England’s rich culture and history, but because of the prominent world standing that England has. Many regions of the world are familiar with English culture because of the far reach that English colonialism has had historically. The sites and experiences one can find in England are of a great deal of interest to many global citizens. There are a number of historic sites to visit in England, but among the most popular are:

• The Tower of London. This remarkable historic site, formally known as Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress, has a complex, long-established history with England. Located in London on the River Thames, the tower was originally a castle and dwelling place for royalty in the 11th century. In the 10th century, the tower was converted into a prison which was used for over 800 years. Presently, it is one of England’s most popular tourist attractions and World Heritage Sites.
• Westminster Abbey. This large, Gothic church located in Westminster, England is another well-visited tourist site. Its construction began in the 13th century, and since its creation, it has undergone a number of title changes, including church, abbey and cathedral. It is currently known as Royal Peculiar, meaning it is directly responsible to the Sovereign. It has been the site of many royal weddings, funerals and church attendances.
• The Canterbury Cathedral. Located in Canterbury, England, this Christian structure is one of the oldest in England and is designated as a World Heritage Site. It was originally founded in the 6th century and was completely rebuilt in the 11th century, then restored after a fire in the 12th century. The Canterbury Cathedral is probably most well known for its role in Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales as the pilgrimage site of Thomas Becket’s shrine.
• The Roman Baths. In the English city of Bath is a well-preserved Roman bath house that was a place to publicly bathe. The hot springs that feed into the bath house have been used for bathing by British royalty since 836 BC, but during the Roman invasion, a temple and a bathing house complex were built starting in 60 AD. Modern day tourists can view the baths but not get in the water.

The tradition of the English pub dates back as far as Roman taverns. The Romans established taverns and inns along the Roman road network that became an important part of Anglo-Saxon culture. By the year 1,000, they were so common that they had been restricted to one per village, establishing the idea of the pub being the community center of sorts. The term “pub” comes from the original phrase “public house;” a significant beginning to the hospitality industry of England.

The pub became modernized and remained an enduring staple of English culture through the passage of time. Many celebrity and historical figures of England have been known to frequent pubs. They carry a great amount of tradition with them, as well. Their primary purpose is of course to serve “ale” and other alcoholic beverages, but the pub food of England is a long standing tradition of its own, including menu options such as Shepherd’s pie and fish & chips. The atmosphere of an English pub is also a large part of its tradition, boasting patriotic emblems, historic architecture, song and merriment.

The pub scene of England has become a tourism industry of its own. Many visitors to England want to see the country’s most historic pubs or say they have been on an English “pub crawl,” and there are many tour companies that offer pub tours or base their businesses on them solely. Some have argued that the pub tradition of England contributes to the country’s problem of alcoholism and feel the pub tradition should be more heavily moderated. England is among the countries with the worst alcoholism problems in the world, and its residents are increasingly traveling long distances for alcohol treatment center British Columbia, the United States and Australia. For now, however, pub tourism is booming and continuing to bring ever increasing numbers of tourists to the region.

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