Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

Socialize

You are here: Home / Beers / Belgium Beer

Belgium Beer

By

belgium
Today in 1831, Belgium gained their Independence from the Netherlands.

Belgium
belgium-color

Belgium Breweries

Belgium Brewery Guides

Other Guides

Guilds: Belgian Brewers Association; Brewers of Europe; European Brewery Convention

National Regulatory Agency: Bureau for Import and Export Licences and Agricultural Refunds (Bureau d’Intervention et de Restitution Belge)

Beverage Alcohol Labeling Requirements: EU Regulations on Ingredients and Allergens

Drunk Driving Laws: BAC 0.08%

Belgium

  • Full Name: Kingdom of Belgium
  • Location: Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands
  • Government Type: Federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy
  • Language: Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official)
  • Ethnic Groups: Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11%
  • Religion(s): Roman Catholic 75%, other (includes Protestant) 25%
  • Capital: Brussels (Bruxelles)
  • Population: 10,438,353; 82nd
  • Area: 30,528 sq km, 141st
  • Comparative Area: About the size of Maryland
  • National Food: Moules-frites
  • National Symbols: Lion (Leo Belgicus); Red poppy
  • Affiliations: UN, EU, NATO
  • Independence: From the Netherlands, when King Leopold I ascended to the throne, July 21, 1831 / A provisional government declared independence from the Netherlands, October 4, 1830

belgium-coa

  • Alcohol Legal: Yes
  • Minimum Drinking Age: 16 (for beer & wine); 18 (for spirits) / Since 10 January 2010, it is illegal to “sell, serve, or offer” any form of distilled alcohol to those under the age of 18 or any alcoholic drink to those under 16. So fermented drinks like beer or wine are permitted above 16. Previously, it was illegal to sell alcoholic drinks to under-16s, but accompanying adults could buy drinks for them.
  • BAC: 0.05%
  • Number of Breweries: 151

Belgium-money

  • How to Say “Beer”: bier / bière / slang: pint (rhymes w/hint)
  • How to Order a Beer: Un beer, ahls-yer-bleeft / Une bière, s’il vous plait
  • How to Say “Cheers”: Gezondheid (huh-zohnd’-hayt) / Op uw gezonheid / Proost / Sante
  • Toasting Etiquette: Wait to see if your host offers a toast before sipping your drink. The guest of honor may also give a toast. Women may offer a toast. It is polite to stand for a toast. Raising your glass and saying “Sante” is the typical toast. A toast is always made to the host or to the one who buys the drinks.

    The Flemish raise their glasses twice during a toast. The glass is initially raised during the toast and then at the completion of the toast.

belgium-map

Alcohol Consumption By Type:

  • Beer: 57%
  • Wine: 37%
  • Spirits: 6%
  • Other: <1%

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita (in litres):

  • Recorded: 9.77
  • Unrecorded: 1.00
  • Total: 10.77
  • Beer: 5.49

WHO Alcohol Data:

  • Per Capita Consumption: 9.8 litres
  • Alcohol Consumption Trend: Stable
  • Excise Taxes: Yes
  • Minimum Age: 16
  • Sales Restrictions: Time, places, specific events, intoxicated persons
  • Advertising Restrictions: Some
  • Sponsorship/Promotional Restrictions: No

Patterns of Drinking Score: 1

Prohibition: None

belgium-eu