Bulgarian Spirits

Novinite Insider » EDITORIAL | April 12, 2006, Wednesday // 00:00
Bulgarian Spirits Photo by Yuliana Nikolova (Sofia News Agency)

By Petya Sabinova

"I thought alcohol was a cultural activity," a SNA forum participant wrote, commenting a piece that claimed Bulgarians preferred alcohol to culture. It is true, in a way many have become almost professionals in the art of drinking, turning it into one of the more notable traits of the nation. We are generally capable of gulping down amazing quantities of hard liquor before tumbling into unconsciousness. Reasons for that are simple - before the excise taxes were blown up in December, alcohol was about the cheapest way to have fun. Home-brewed rakiya came out much less demanding on the wallet than, say, a visit to the theatre or cinema. Even today foreigners who visit the country are swooned by the low drink prices and often surpass their usual quota. Sporting events are also quite an incentive for drinking and our famous saying "win or lose we still get a lot of booze" was not conjured out of thin air. Many of the talents Bulgarians sport are closely tied with drinking - language skills improve shockingly, if one doesn't mind the slur. Also, those who try the amazing belly-dancing bends on the bar with solid feet would probably end up in the ER.

However, this is not a phenomenon observed in the Balkans only. Spaniards and their botellon that brought about a law against drinking in parks, Bavarians and their infamous beer, Austrians with the schnapps - alcohol plays a central role in many nations' culture. So the two really shouldn't be divided. Yes, Bulgarians spend a lot on drinks, but only because they are attempting to keep alive some quite focal parts of the local culture - definitely not something to scold us about.

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