Today in 1991, Georgia gained their Independence from the USSR.
Republic of Georgia
Georgia Breweries
Georgia Brewery Guides
Other Guides
Guild: None Known
National Regulatory Agency: None
Beverage Alcohol Labeling Requirements: Not Known
Drunk Driving Laws: BAC 0.03% or 0.02%
- Full Name: Republic of Georgia
- Location: Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia, with a sliver of land north of the Caucasus extending into Europe
- Government Type: Republic
- Language: Georgian (official) 71%, Russian 9%, Armenian 7%, Azeri 6%, other 7%
- Religion(s): Orthodox Christian (official) 83.9%, Muslim 9.9%, Armenian-Gregorian 3.9%, Catholic 0.8%, other 0.8%, none 0.7%
- Capital: Tbilisi
- Population: 4,570,934; 123rd
- Area: 69,700 sq km, 121st
- Comparative Area: Slightly smaller than South Carolina
- National Food: Khachapuri, Khinkali
- National Symbols: Five red crosses, Kartlis Deda
- Affiliations: UN, Commonwealth of Independent States
- Independence: From the USSR, April 9, 1991 / From Soviet Russia, May 26, 1918
- Alcohol Legal: Yes
- Minimum Drinking Age: 16
- BAC: 0.03%
- Label Requirements: N/A
- Number of Breweries: 17
- How to Say “Beer”: ლუდი
- How to Order a Beer: N/A
- How to Say “Cheers”: Gagimardschoss / Gaumardschoss
- Toasting Etiquette: N/A
Alcohol Consumption By Type:
- Beer: 18%
- Wine: 20%
- Spirits: 62%
- Other: <1%
Alcohol Consumption Per Capita (in litres):
- Recorded: 3.90
- Unrecorded: 2.50
- Total: 6.40
- Beer: 0.76
WHO Alcohol Data:
- Per Capita Consumption: 3.9 litres
- Alcohol Consumption Trend: Stable
- Excise Taxes: Yes
- Minimum Age: 18
- Sales Restrictions: Places
- Advertising Restrictions: Yes
- Sponsorship/Promotional Restrictions: Yes
Patterns of Drinking Score: 2
Prohibition: None
Today in 1971, Bangladesh gained their Independence from Pakistan.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh Breweries
Bangladesh Brewery Guides
Other Guides
Guild: None
National Regulatory Agency: Department of Narcotics Control
Beverage Alcohol Labeling Requirements: Not Known
Drunk Driving Laws: BAC 0.00%
- Full Name: People’s Republic of Bangladesh
- Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India
- Government Type: Parliamentary Democracy
- Language: Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English
- Religion(s): Muslim 89.5%, Hindu 9.6%, other 0.9%
- Capital: Dhaka
- Population: 161,083,804; 8th
- Area: 143,998 sq km, 95th
- Comparative Area: Slightly smaller than Iowa
- National Food: Biryani, Rice and fish, especially Ilish
- National Symbols: Royal Bengal Tiger, Magpie Robin, Ilish (a.k.a. Hilsa Fish); White Water Lily; Jackfruit; Mango Tree; Red Sun
- Affiliations: UN, Commonwealth
- Independence: From Pakistan, March 26, 1971 / Official Creation of Bangladesh (a.k.a. Victory Day), December 16, 1971
- Alcohol Legal: No [Note: Foreign passport holders of non-Muslim nations can drink in some licensed restaurants and bars (and expatriate clubs) and can purchase imported alcohol from 'diplomatic bonded warehouses' at a hefty rate of sales duty (Approximately 300%). Holders of diplomatic passports and some other specially privileged persons (such as U.N. employees) have 'passbooks' which entitle them to buy imported alcohol from the same 'bonded warehouses' duty free. Often duty free and duty paid prices are shown alongside one another. Bangladesh nationals of any religion may purchase alcohol from special outlets with a medical certificate. Illegal homemade liquor (known as 'Mod' or 'Bangla') is widely consumed in rural areas. The (mostly Christian) Garo tribal folk also brew a strong rice beer called 'Choo'. Christians are permitted to use wine for Holy Communion.]
- Minimum Drinking Age: Illegal
- BAC: 0.00%
- Label Requirements: N/A
- Number of Breweries: 1
- How to Say “Beer”: beer
- How to Order a Beer: Eka handoiya, doya koray
- How to Say “Cheers”: Joy
- Toasting Etiquette: N/A
Alcohol Consumption By Type:
- Beer: 0%
- Wine: 0%
- Spirits: 0%
- Other: 0%
Alcohol Consumption Per Capita (in litres):
- Recorded: 0.00
- Unrecorded: 0.20
- Total: 0.20
- Beer: 0.00
WHO Alcohol Data:
- Per Capita Consumption: 0 litres
- Alcohol Consumption Trend: Stable
- Excise Taxes: Yes
- Minimum Age: Illegal
- Sales Restrictions: Yes
- Advertising Restrictions: Yes
- Sponsorship/Promotional Restrictions: Yes
Patterns of Drinking Score: 3
Prohibition: None
Today in 1919, South Korea gained their Independence from Japan.
South Korea
South Korea Breweries
South Korea Brewery Guides
Other Guides
Guild: Korea Microbrewery Association
National Regulatory Agency: Korean Food and Drug Administration
Beverage Alcohol Labeling Requirements: Labels must include the following information:
- Name of the product
- Country of origin
- Type of product
- Importer’s name and address
- Importer’s business license number
- Date of bottling
- Alcohol percentage and product volume: Tolerance of +/- 0.5% with regards to accuracy of alcohol content
- Location where product may be exchanged or returned in the instance of a defective product
- Instructions for storage, if applicable
- Mode of distribution, must specify one of the three: “Discount store sale only,” “Restaurant sale only,” or “Sale for home use only” (taxes on beverages vary depending on the mode of distribution)
Drunk Driving Laws: BAC 0.05%
- Full Name: Republic of Korea
- Location: Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea
- Government Type: Republic
- Language: Korean, English (widely taught in junior high and high school)
- Religion(s): Christian 26.3% (Protestant 19.7%, Roman Catholic 6.6%), Buddhist 23.2%, other or unknown 1.3%, none 49.3%
- Capital: Seoul
- Population: 48,860,500; 25th
- Area: 99,720 sq km, 109th
- Comparative Area: Slightly larger than Indiana
- National Food: Kimchi and Bulgogi
- National Symbols: Korean Tiger; Hibiscus; Pine tree; Taegeuk, Namdaemun
- Nickname: Hanguk; Choson, the Land of the Morning Calm
- Affiliations: UN, African Union, Commonwealth
- Independence: From Japan, March 1, 1919 / Liberation Day, August 15, 1945, regained independence from Japan after World War II
- Alcohol Legal: Yes
- Minimum Drinking Age: 19 (If a person is at least 20 according to Korean age reckoning, that person may drink alcohol)
- BAC: 0.05%
- Label Requirements: N/A
- Number of Breweries: 21
- How to Say “Beer”: mek-ju (maek-joo) / 맥주 / 발포성 음료
- How to Order a Beer: 맥주 한 병 더 주세요 / Mekju han byung du juseyo (in a bottle) [Mayk-joo hahn-jahn, joo-se-yoh]
- How to Say “Cheers”: Chukbae / Kong gang ul wi ha yo / Konbe
- Toasting Etiquette: The most common toast is “gonbae,” which is the equivalent of “cheers!” If the toast is proposed as “wonshot” (one shot), guests are expected to empty their glasses in one drink. Formal toasts are usually made only by the host. Visitors may offer to pay for the bill, but the host will usually decline the offer.
The most common South Korean toast you will hear is ‘Gun-bae.’ When you raise your glass, be sure to do so with your right hand. To confer extra respect toward the person being toasted, support your right arm with your left hand. Be aware that the minute you drain your glass, it is a cue to your host that you would like a ‘refill.’
Alcohol Consumption By Type:
- Beer: 18%
- Wine: 1%
- Spirits:81%
- Other: <1%
Alcohol Consumption Per Capita (in litres):
- Recorded: 11.80
- Unrecorded: 3.00
- Total: 14.80
- Beer: 2.14
WHO Alcohol Data:
- Per Capita Consumption: 11.8 litres
- Alcohol Consumption Trend: Stable
- Excise Taxes: Yes
- Minimum Age: 19
- Sales Restrictions: No
- Advertising Restrictions: Advertising
- Sponsorship/Promotional Restrictions: No
Patterns of Drinking Score: 3
Prohibition: None
Today in 1948, Sri Lanka gained their Independence from the United Kingdom.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Breweries
Sri Lanka Brewery Guides
Other Guides
Guild: None Known
National Regulatory Agency: None
Beverage Alcohol Labeling Requirements: Not Known
Drunk Driving Laws: BAC 0.06% — Breathalyzer testing is not used routinely. If suspected by police the driver is produced before the closest government medical officer who examines and determines whether the driver is under influence. If the driver refuses examination by the medical officer he is considered to have been under influence by default. [Note: WHO lists BAC at 0.08%]
- Full Name: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (f.k.a. Ceylon)
- Location: Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India
- Government Type: Republic
- Language: Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%, other 8%; English spoken by 10%
- Religion(s): Buddhist 69.1%, Muslim 7.6%, Hindu 7.1%, Christian 6.2%, unspecified 10%
- Capital: Colombo
- Population: 21,283,913; 57th
- Area: 65,610 sq km, 122nd
- Comparative Area: Slightly larger than West Virginia
- National Food: Rice and Curry
- National Symbol: Blue Lily, Jungle Fowl, Mesua Ferrea tree, Lion & Sword
- Nickname: Teardrop of India, Island of Dharma, Pearl of the Orient, Pearl of the Indian Ocean
- Affiliations: UN, Commonwealth of Nations
- Independence: From the UK, February 4, 1948
- Alcohol Legal: Yes
- Minimum Drinking Age: 21
- BAC: 0.06% or 0.08% (sources differ)
- Label Requirements: N/A
- Number of Breweries: 4
- How to Say “Beer”: Bire (Sinhala); Madhubaanam or Oru vakai cārāyam (Tamil)
- How to Say “Cheers”: Seiradewa (Sinhala)
- Toasting Etiquette: N/A
Alcohol Consumption By Type:
- Beer: 6%
- Wine: <1%
- Spirits: 94%
Alcohol Consumption Per Capita (in litres):
- Recorded: 0.35
- Unrecorded: 0.44
- Total: 0.79
- Beer: 0.02
WHO Alcohol Data:
- Per Capita Consumption: 0.4 litres
- Alcohol Consumption Trend: Stable
- Excise Taxes: Yes
- Minimum Age: 21
- Sales Restrictions: Time, location, specific events, petrol stations
- Advertising Restrictions: Yes
- Sponsorship/Promotional Restrictions: Yes
Patterns of Drinking Score: 3
Prohibition: None.
Today is the birthday of Fal Allen, who returned to Anderson Valley Brewing last year, after living for four years in Singapore, where he built and ran a craft brewery for Archipelago Brewery, a division of Asia Pacific Breweries. He blogged about his exploits there on his Brewing in Singapore blog, but since returning stateside, he’s been blogging at The Goat Rodeo. Join me in wishing the ageless Fal a very happy birthday.
At the Oregon Brewers Festival.
Also at OBF, with Daniel Bradford of All About Beer Magazine and Dave Buehler from Elysian Brewing in Seattle.
Fal participating in the swimsuit contest at the Craft Brewers Conference in San Diego several years back.
While still GM at Anderson Valley, launching Brother David at the Toronado in San Francisco. Clockwise from left: Fal, Mark Cabrera, David Gatlin, me and Dave Keene, the beer’s namesake and Toronado owner.
For a long while Europe has led the world in beer consumption by continent and also by nation since the EU has increased in economic prominence as a single entity. According to new data by Credit Suisse, China now leads the world in terms of beer consumption, growing at a pace of about 10% per year. The Economist has more details in All Pints East.
