Brookston Beer Bulletin

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Switzerland Beer

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Today in 1291, Switzerland founded their Swiss Confederation.

Switzerland
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Switzerland Breweries

Switzerland Brewery Guides

Other Guides

Guilds: Bierconvent International e.V; Swiss Brewers Association (Schweizer Brauerei-Verband)

National Regulatory Agency: Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture

Beverage Alcohol Labeling Requirements: Labels must include the following information: Name of product, Name and address of producer and importer (if applicable), Product designation, Alcohol content or actual alcoholic strength, Volume (in metric quantities only), Country of origin, Net content, Special instructions for use or storage (if applicable)

Drunk Driving Laws: BAC 0.05%

switzerland

  • Full Name: Swiss Confederation
  • Location: Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy
  • Government Type: Formally a confederation but similar in structure to a federal republic
  • Language: German (official) 63.7%, French (official) 20.4%, Italian (official) 6.5%, Serbo-Croatian 1.5%, Albanian 1.3%, Portuguese 1.2%, Spanish 1.1%, English 1%, Romansch (official) 0.5%, other 2.8%
  • Religion(s): Roman Catholic 41.8%, Protestant 35.3%, Muslim 4.3%, Orthodox 1.8%, other Christian 0.4%, other 1%, unspecified 4.3%, none 11.1%
  • Capital: Berne (Bern)
  • Population: 7,655,628; 96th
  • Area: 41,277 sq km, 136th
  • Comparative Area: Slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
  • National Food: Cervelat; Fondue; Rösti
  • National Symbols: Edelweiss; Alphorn; Swiss Cross
  • Affiliations: UN
  • Independence: Swiss Confederation founded, August 1, 1291

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  • Alcohol Legal: Yes
  • Minimum Drinking Age: 16 for beer and wine in most cantons (though 18 in some); 18 in all cantons for spirits
  • BAC: 0.05%
  • Number of Breweries: 75

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  • How to Say “Beer”: bier / bière / birra / biera, gervosa
  • How to Order a Beer: Ein Bier, bitte / Une bière, s’il vous plait / Una birra, per favore / in biera, per plaschair
  • How to Say “Cheers”: Prost / Votre Santé, Santé / Salute / Viva
  • Toasting Etiquette: When proposing a toast, wait until everyone has been served a drink (whether it is wine or mineral water) and then say, “Prost” (cheers, in German). The toast in German-speaking Switzerland is prost; in French-speaking Switzerland, it is votre santé or simply santé; in Italian-speaking Switzerland, salute. After your host has proposed a toast, look directly at him or her and respond, preferably in the local language. Then, clink glasses with everyone at the table, or at least those within your reach. Only then may you take your first sip.

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Alcohol Consumption By Type:

  • Beer: 31%
  • Wine: 50%
  • Spirits: 18%
  • Other: 1%

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita (in litres):

  • Recorded: 10.56
  • Unrecorded: 0.50
  • Total: 11.06
  • Beer: 3.10

WHO Alcohol Data:

  • Per Capita Consumption: 10.4 litres
  • Alcohol Consumption Trend: Stable
  • Excise Taxes: Yes
  • Minimum Age: 16 (18 for spirits)
  • Sales Restrictions: Hours, location, specific events
  • Advertising Restrictions: Yes
  • Sponsorship/Promotional Restrictions: Yes

Patterns of Drinking Score: 1

Prohibition: None

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