Beer and Wine - No Big Deal in Switzerland

The Swiss don't automatically make the connection between bad behavior and drinking alcohol.  Beer and wine are just two more beverages.  They are available just about everywhere drinks are sold including a few vending machines.

Beer and wine are also two of the cheapest things in the country if you look in the right places.

You can buy 12 Heineken (330 cl) cans for 11.95 Swiss Francs (about $15 CDN).  One German beer was "Aktion Preis" at 13.95 Swiss Francs for 24 500 cl cans!  You can also snap one open on the way home and drink it at the bus stop and nobody will care.  While it's not uncommon to see people sipping a beer on a train, it's also not done as often as you would think.

Swiss commuter enjoys a Carlsberg on the way home from work.

The Swiss are tougher on drinking drivers.  The country recently lowered the acceptable blood alcohol level to .05 for drivers, compared to Ontario's .08.  The outstanding public transit system in Switzerland helps keep drunk drivers off the road.

The more relaxed rules also don't eliminate problems.  There will be alcohol related issues on a Friday or Saturday night in downtown Zurich.  Rowdiness due to drinking is just not as closely associated with ease of access.  "Stupid is as stupid does..." as Forrest Gump would say.

It is no big shock to see people drinking a beer mid-morning at an outdoor cafe.  It wouldn't be assumed that person has a problem.  They may just want a beer at 10:00 am. and it might be less expensive than the coffee, which is a whole other story.
   Wine is sold alongside beer in most grocery stores.  A wide selection of deep discounts are offered each day for both beer and wine.  A major change from Ontario's controlled pricing. The Swiss produce excellent wines but little is exported.  Wines from neighbouring countries seem to be more popular.  A decent 500 cl. bottle of French wine sold today for 2.75 Swiss Francs or about $3.50 Canadian.

I'm not sure what system of delivering booze is better.  Somehow, I don't think we're going to allow beer at a city bus stop anytime soon.

Two women chat over a beer at 10:30 AM in Winterthur, Switzerland