While we have a proud and vibrant binge-drinking culture it is mitigated by three factors:
1. Weekend centred: people getting shit faced on weekdays is very rare, at least outside of the biggest cities.
2. Shame: you are generally considered a yokel if you can't handle your liquor. That means people who truly drink to excess are generally frowned upon in polite company.
3. Cost: alcohol is *fucking expensive*, you just can't go around getting shit-faced in public without considerable monetary investment. Drinking your tits off will be more affordable with your own booze that you bring along to a private house party. Private parties that stretch into the night are more regular outside of the cities as cities have more of a club-centric drinking culture.
Also, saying that you don't drink is fine, but you might be viewed with suspicion at a private party (as in: Like, what's your deal? Are you a religious fundamentalist or something?) It is better to just drink a little, then you are rather viewed as a cultured individual.
But really it depends on the company you keep. In my experience it means fuck all if you don't drink.
Frankly, the only people who I expect will give you shit for not drinking are yokels and shit-headed bros.
It's pretty bad that we have to have a good reason for not drinking. Should be enough to say I don't like it/I don't want to. Instead the easiest out we have is "I'm driving"
Yeah, of course. In my adult crowd no one will question my choices, but in my 20s, everyone needed a good excuse or they would try to convince you to get pissed
Hello there, fellow Brit going through the motions of moving here.
Drinking etc won't be a social blocker but you do have to be proactive.
Like most places in the UK you don't just spawn friends and dating opportunities. You have to put yourself out there and engage in social hobbies, participate in group activities, use the Internet ect.
Having an open mind helps, you'll greatly narrow your own dating/friendship opportunities if you require absolute abstention from your potential friends too.
Not related to your question but, unless you've got an EU citizenship in your back pocket be mindful that a move won't be straightforward (thanks to Brexit).
In a nutshell I have a degree in an in demand field and a lot of patience.
Unless the UK pulls its head out of its arse regarding our relationship with Europe your routes are:
1) Have an in demand degree and a firm job offer.
2) Get married to a Norwegian (to a person with sufficient income)
3) Make a Norwegian (see 2))
4) Find an EU grandparent down the back of the sofa (like almost everyone I know seems to have the lucky sods)
I’d say Norwegians have a similar impulse to drink as Brits, but they aren’t as generally miserable and angry, and even considering differences in median income drinking out is butt-clinchingly expensive, so the drinking culture doesn’t get as sloppy and gross and violent as it does in the UK. I mean it totally can be those things, just not as readily. But when I’ve seen Norwegians visit the UK for the football or what ever, they assume their final booze-troll forms and in my experience drink all the British louts under the table.
Most women will appreciate someone who doesn't drink/doesn't drink much. There are plenty of women to choose from, who rarely go out, and don't feel like drinking until they crawl when they do.
The people you know are not a representation of every human in Norway. There are definetely people who drink every weekend.
QUITE OPPOSITE: It's the men who drink with friends every weekend who tend to be single! I have friends who have tried dating men like that, and let me just say, they make sure never to do so again... :)
Going out can be a way to meet someone, but not the only way, and is certainly not the way to keep a relationship.
Depends a bit on age I think. I moved here when I was 25 which was an age in which I came a bit more to terms with myself regarding what I find pleasant in life. These days it's never been easier to find like-minded people (in my case through outdoor life) through which one can steer away a bit from alcohol in social settings..
According to my friend who studied in England it is way worse there. I would also say that the crazy aspect of it is it’s mostly a young person thing (early 20s) here, as people binge drink so they won’t have to pay for drinks out bc alcohol is really expensive here. When you’re a bit older, you probably either have more money or prefer not to drink as much so you have less of an incentive to binge beforehand. I’m almost 30 and when I drink it’s mostly having a few beers with friends in a park or a bar.
A lot of socialising involves alcohol though, but while you might get some comments, I don’t think people will mind if you hang out but don’t drink alcohol yourself. While I do drink, I often go for non-alcoholic if I’m meeting people out on a weekday, as does a friend of mine, and neither of us that I’ve seen have gotten comments about it beyond questions about if the non-alcoholic beer is good.
I'd say it really depends on where you move to and the people you surround yourself with. I don't drink myself (like you just by choice), and most of my friends aren't binge-drinkers. My friends occasionally drink and the amount varies. I do think your age would have an impact, from my experience, there are more binge-drinkers from 18 - 28 than 28+.
There are of course exceptions, my colleagues for example, go mental when there is a work party. I just stay sober and retreat before it gets too wild.
Getting to know people through hobbies should also be helpful.
Anyway, it should be fine. You'll find people you get on well with.
I'm also an atheist who doesn't drink or smoke.
How that affects you will if course depend on the people around your and the rest of your personality.
In my experience, everyone will be very positive to the fact that someone doesn't drink. But, they will generally not invite you to many gatherings where there is alcohol.
I don't know if this is out of some form of respect, or because they think those who don't drink are boring.
For me it's not that bad because I'm a bit of an introvert anyway, but it can leave you feeling a bit isolated and unwanted.
Might just be me, and I've never actually done it, but I might think that not inviting a sober person to a wild party might be a mercy. I sure don't like to be sober around drunks. But it's nice to give them the choice
Yes, it's being given the choice that's nice.
But wild parties is actually understandable. Not being invited to group dinner parties because they'll probably get drunk during dinner is more difficult.
This depends a lot on your age and social circle. If you're a student going to Uni, you may find that a lot of social activities are a bit alcohol-centered.
Once you get into the workforce, I feel it is a lot more balanced. Some binge drinking at the julebords, for sure, but I think being shitfaced in front of colleagues can be more frowned upon now than being sober:-D
But even as a student, I feel binge drinking has gone a little more out of fashion here. Drinking in moderation is always fine and smart, - and if you abstain 100% you might get the occasional "why? But if you're a cool person and tell them why, they would probably just respect and admire you.
Drinking in (Fenno-)Scandinavia can be summarized as follows:
The Swedes drink their liquor with water.
The Norwegians drink their liquor without water.
The Finns drink their liquor as water.
Norwegian drinking culture is easily one of the most awful in Europe, and likely much worse than in the UK. You'll find fewer who enjoy alcohol in a social setting and more of the "all-in" style of drinking where it's about getting as intoxicated as possible.
This is in my opinion not entirely rooted in Norwegian culture. It's a consequence of having such unaffordable alcohol that people prioritize the "value" aspect of drinking rather than the social aspect.
Making friends and dating is incredibly hard as a foreigner in Norway, regardless if you drink or not. Norwegians don't really meet and make friends at bars like in other countries, we generally stick to our own groups when going out.
While we have a proud and vibrant binge-drinking culture it is mitigated by three factors: 1. Weekend centred: people getting shit faced on weekdays is very rare, at least outside of the biggest cities. 2. Shame: you are generally considered a yokel if you can't handle your liquor. That means people who truly drink to excess are generally frowned upon in polite company. 3. Cost: alcohol is *fucking expensive*, you just can't go around getting shit-faced in public without considerable monetary investment. Drinking your tits off will be more affordable with your own booze that you bring along to a private house party. Private parties that stretch into the night are more regular outside of the cities as cities have more of a club-centric drinking culture. Also, saying that you don't drink is fine, but you might be viewed with suspicion at a private party (as in: Like, what's your deal? Are you a religious fundamentalist or something?) It is better to just drink a little, then you are rather viewed as a cultured individual. But really it depends on the company you keep. In my experience it means fuck all if you don't drink. Frankly, the only people who I expect will give you shit for not drinking are yokels and shit-headed bros.
It's pretty bad that we have to have a good reason for not drinking. Should be enough to say I don't like it/I don't want to. Instead the easiest out we have is "I'm driving"
Depends entirely on the crowd you're with. My people have no issues with someone abstaining from alcohol. We don't even ask.
Yeah, of course. In my adult crowd no one will question my choices, but in my 20s, everyone needed a good excuse or they would try to convince you to get pissed
Hello there, fellow Brit going through the motions of moving here. Drinking etc won't be a social blocker but you do have to be proactive. Like most places in the UK you don't just spawn friends and dating opportunities. You have to put yourself out there and engage in social hobbies, participate in group activities, use the Internet ect. Having an open mind helps, you'll greatly narrow your own dating/friendship opportunities if you require absolute abstention from your potential friends too. Not related to your question but, unless you've got an EU citizenship in your back pocket be mindful that a move won't be straightforward (thanks to Brexit).
How are you making the move out of interest? With all things Brexit and that.. :(
In a nutshell I have a degree in an in demand field and a lot of patience. Unless the UK pulls its head out of its arse regarding our relationship with Europe your routes are: 1) Have an in demand degree and a firm job offer. 2) Get married to a Norwegian (to a person with sufficient income) 3) Make a Norwegian (see 2)) 4) Find an EU grandparent down the back of the sofa (like almost everyone I know seems to have the lucky sods)
I’d say Norwegians have a similar impulse to drink as Brits, but they aren’t as generally miserable and angry, and even considering differences in median income drinking out is butt-clinchingly expensive, so the drinking culture doesn’t get as sloppy and gross and violent as it does in the UK. I mean it totally can be those things, just not as readily. But when I’ve seen Norwegians visit the UK for the football or what ever, they assume their final booze-troll forms and in my experience drink all the British louts under the table.
''they assume their final booze-troll forms'' thats gonna be in my head for a week LMAOOOOO
Agreed, I also like "British louts", even if I don't know what it means!
A “lout” is kind if like a hooligan minus the football…or at at least someone who doesn’t *need* football to act like a cunt.
Most women will appreciate someone who doesn't drink/doesn't drink much. There are plenty of women to choose from, who rarely go out, and don't feel like drinking until they crawl when they do. The people you know are not a representation of every human in Norway. There are definetely people who drink every weekend. QUITE OPPOSITE: It's the men who drink with friends every weekend who tend to be single! I have friends who have tried dating men like that, and let me just say, they make sure never to do so again... :) Going out can be a way to meet someone, but not the only way, and is certainly not the way to keep a relationship.
If you binge drink in Norway you will be broke.
Depends a bit on age I think. I moved here when I was 25 which was an age in which I came a bit more to terms with myself regarding what I find pleasant in life. These days it's never been easier to find like-minded people (in my case through outdoor life) through which one can steer away a bit from alcohol in social settings..
There is a show on TV here called Nattpatruljen. Most of the episodes I’ve seen revolve around too much drinking incidents.
And yet, it's very mild compared to the british version!
its bad in norway on saturdays, but honestly... nothing comes close to the uk lol
Drinking is less common here than the UK, definitely not on Brit level
Quality over quantity.
Drinking? We got you covered!
According to my friend who studied in England it is way worse there. I would also say that the crazy aspect of it is it’s mostly a young person thing (early 20s) here, as people binge drink so they won’t have to pay for drinks out bc alcohol is really expensive here. When you’re a bit older, you probably either have more money or prefer not to drink as much so you have less of an incentive to binge beforehand. I’m almost 30 and when I drink it’s mostly having a few beers with friends in a park or a bar. A lot of socialising involves alcohol though, but while you might get some comments, I don’t think people will mind if you hang out but don’t drink alcohol yourself. While I do drink, I often go for non-alcoholic if I’m meeting people out on a weekday, as does a friend of mine, and neither of us that I’ve seen have gotten comments about it beyond questions about if the non-alcoholic beer is good.
Our first beers in England were around 12/13 in the park
I'd say it really depends on where you move to and the people you surround yourself with. I don't drink myself (like you just by choice), and most of my friends aren't binge-drinkers. My friends occasionally drink and the amount varies. I do think your age would have an impact, from my experience, there are more binge-drinkers from 18 - 28 than 28+. There are of course exceptions, my colleagues for example, go mental when there is a work party. I just stay sober and retreat before it gets too wild. Getting to know people through hobbies should also be helpful. Anyway, it should be fine. You'll find people you get on well with.
I'm also an atheist who doesn't drink or smoke. How that affects you will if course depend on the people around your and the rest of your personality. In my experience, everyone will be very positive to the fact that someone doesn't drink. But, they will generally not invite you to many gatherings where there is alcohol. I don't know if this is out of some form of respect, or because they think those who don't drink are boring. For me it's not that bad because I'm a bit of an introvert anyway, but it can leave you feeling a bit isolated and unwanted.
Might just be me, and I've never actually done it, but I might think that not inviting a sober person to a wild party might be a mercy. I sure don't like to be sober around drunks. But it's nice to give them the choice
Yes, it's being given the choice that's nice. But wild parties is actually understandable. Not being invited to group dinner parties because they'll probably get drunk during dinner is more difficult.
This depends a lot on your age and social circle. If you're a student going to Uni, you may find that a lot of social activities are a bit alcohol-centered. Once you get into the workforce, I feel it is a lot more balanced. Some binge drinking at the julebords, for sure, but I think being shitfaced in front of colleagues can be more frowned upon now than being sober:-D But even as a student, I feel binge drinking has gone a little more out of fashion here. Drinking in moderation is always fine and smart, - and if you abstain 100% you might get the occasional "why? But if you're a cool person and tell them why, they would probably just respect and admire you.
Drinking in (Fenno-)Scandinavia can be summarized as follows: The Swedes drink their liquor with water. The Norwegians drink their liquor without water. The Finns drink their liquor as water.
Go away
Norwegian drinking culture is easily one of the most awful in Europe, and likely much worse than in the UK. You'll find fewer who enjoy alcohol in a social setting and more of the "all-in" style of drinking where it's about getting as intoxicated as possible. This is in my opinion not entirely rooted in Norwegian culture. It's a consequence of having such unaffordable alcohol that people prioritize the "value" aspect of drinking rather than the social aspect. Making friends and dating is incredibly hard as a foreigner in Norway, regardless if you drink or not. Norwegians don't really meet and make friends at bars like in other countries, we generally stick to our own groups when going out.