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When we think of college students, we automatically think of things such as nearly overdue assignments, sleepless nights, studying hard and so on. We also think of things such as multiculturalism and… partying! After all, modern higher education knows no boundaries: people are studying abroad and enriching other cultures with their own. While multiculturalism is a broad topic, I decided to look at something that is quite interesting – students' beverage preferences across different cultures. My online piece is going to review the beer-related specifics of culturally diverse college students when it comes to partying.
Let's start this way – alcohol has a number of social and cultural roles that cannot be ignored. Representatives of different ethnic groups usually have their own preferences when it comes to alcohol and give it their own meaning, which is quite interesting. For example, college partying is directly associated with beer rather than champagne, wine or other boozy beverages! But why?
Students’ beverage preferences lean towards beer mainly because it can be considered the most culturally neutral drink among those available; there are also lots of different sorts of beer from all over the world, so it is quite easy to satisfy everyone. By the way, such a topic is an interesting example of multiculturalism that deserve a dedicated multiculturalism essay or research, because it demonstrates how the youth from different parts of the world tries to find common ground to communicate. That means beer can unite young people of different cultures.
Let's begin with Germany. We’ve all heard of the famous Oktoberfest, and this country has a whole culture dedicated to beer. Germany is known for a variety of different sorts of this beverage, and every type has its own type of glass, rules on how it should be consumed, and so on. Germans like their foam pretty thick with an approximate layer equal to three fingers. It is quite interesting that craft beer is not as popular as you might think in this country, as people usually go with the more traditional pilsner.
Belgium – yet another country famous for its beer culture. Similar to Germany, pilsner is the preferred beer type in Belgium. However, the country is well-known for its fruit beers and stronger styles such as quadrupels, tripels and saisons. Representatives of this country also love their foam thick!
Japan is quite interesting in every aspect, including beer. We know that this is a country of exotic sweets and alcohol, but this does not apply to beer! For example, the Japanese adore light and dry beers with creamy foam. This might be due to the relatively young age of beer culture in this country that its representatives don't have a well-developed craft beer production.
The U.S. is kind of contradictory here. Some big brands, we won't name them here, have given the American beer a questionable reputation, especially abroad. Americans love beer, and some of the mainstream brands are offering cheap six-packs of exceptionally light and kind of "meh" beer. However, the situation has been changing for a long time, and the country is known for its awesome craft breweries. Still, it is possible to state that Americans do not have strong opinions on this beverage.
With some of the countries covered, it is possible to see that beer drinking is quite a science in itself. So, how do students help themselves and figure out what to do when partying? There are several things that might shed light – they are mostly about college lifestyle. Helpful tip: use an essay writing service like Customessaymeister and you would have no worries regarding the deadline of your homework.
While watching some online movie about college life, you have likely noticed that students are partying and beer in red plastic cups is a must-have. The reason is quite simple – you cannot shatter a plastic cup, and it is easily replaceable if you lose it. That is where multiculturalism comes into play. You see, representatives of different countries have their own drinking habits, which also includes preferences regarding stuff like the way to pour the beverage and how much foam it produces. Now it gets interesting!
When it comes to partying, students usually have limited financial capabilities, and this means that craft beer often isn't the way to go. That's where big brand beer comes into play, especially if one person is in charge of organizing everything. However, there is a thing that works in the multicultural setting of students who have to be financially cautious – BYOB! A famous acronym for "bring your own beer," this is an ingenious solution for people with wildly different tastes in beer. Everyone can bring what they prefer, thus eliminating a need to look for a middle ground to satisfy everyone, which is usually impossible.
While each and every country has its own preferences regarding beer consumption, students, as the most flexible group out there, are able to party while adjusting to the phenomenon of multiculturalism with impressive sensitivity. What's the point of using glasses? Better go with a plastic cup – it can be considered a free alternative with lower risks associated with it.
Everyone has different tastes – let them bring their own beer. This way, everyone will be satisfied with no conflicts and other negative consequences that could break the partying atmosphere, while easing the interpersonal communication. Students have to be adaptable, and their approach to students’ beverages illustrates that flexibility.
Header Image Courtesy Flickr/arvind grover