WESTERN DRINKING NORMS: ARE THEY ROOTED IN ROMAN AND BARBARIAN ANTIQUITY ?

Abstract

In antiquity distinctly different drinking norms developed in Western Europe. The southern, or Mediterranean, wine drinking culture viewed wine as a normal part of the daily diet and cultivated the vine. The northern, or Nordic, culture viewed alcohol with ambivalence (extreme heavy drinking vs. abstinence) and consumed and manufactured grain based beer and spirits. Expansion of the Roman Empire brought the Southern wine drinking norm to West Central Europe. As these areas became Romanized, they adopted urbanization and Mediterranean wine-drinking patterns. After the decline of the Western Roman Empire, the oldest provinces - which retained Roman culture and language - also retained Mediterranean norms. Romanized areas such as Gaul integrated some aspects of northern drinking into the predominantly southern patterns as a result of the Germanic invasions and evolved a blended pattern of both wine and grain based beverages. The Nordic/Germanic areas, untouched by Roman influence, retained heavy ale/beer drinking patterns and preferences. Britain lost its veneer of Romanization and reverted to a pattern with Northern overtones in the wake of the Germanic invasions throughout the early Middle Ages. These drinking preferences and attitudes from the early Middle-Ages became the underlying cultural norms in modern Western Europe. Although patterns are changing, these different drinking customs and beverage preferences are still found in nations overlaying these ancient cultures today.

This model is supported by statistical analyses. Pearson-rho calculations show significant (P <.001) positive correlations (r =.7) between being a Roman Province, Viticulture, Romance language, and high per capita absolute alcohol and wine consumption, all features of Romanization. Multiple regression analysis reveals that high per capita alcohol consumption is predicted by having a Romance language and being a former province (78%). Conversely low per capita alcohol consumption is predicted by a Germanic language and lack of being a Roman province. High wine consumption is predicted by Romance language only (75%). High beer consumption is predicted by a Germanic language and low alcohol consumption (51%).