We all know that in most things, Britain is outperforming France at the moment.

But Britain is even starting to outperform France when it comes to WINE. Alcohol consumption in Britain has increased, whilst in France and Germany, whose people are becoming more health-conscious, alcohol consumption is decreasing.

And in France, even consumption of wine is decreasing - whilst in Britain it's going up and, if present trends continue, the British will be drinking more wine than the French by the year 2015.




Grape Britain beats France


By JACQUI THORNTON
Health Editor

BOOZY Brits are downing record amounts — while wine-supping French and beer-quaffing Germans ease up, a survey reveals.

Drinking in the UK rose by 5 per cent from 1999 to 2004 to more than 8 billion litres a year.

But alcohol consumption fell in France by 6 per cent and in Germany by 8 per cent.

The report by researchers Mintel reveals 88 per cent of Britons had an alcoholic drink in the past year, ahead of the French at 86 per cent and the Germans at 70 per cent.

Sales of wine in France dropped by four per cent while consumption of the grape in Britain shot up by 23 PER CENT!!

Beer in Germany slumped by 10 per cent.

Senior analyst Hanna Kivimaki claimed the French wine industry had “lost its way”.

She added: “Wine is losing its traditional role as a meal accompaniment.

"For many, water has become a more common drink with a meal.”

But wine downed in France (3.35 billion litres) is still far greater than in Germany (1.98 billion litres) and the UK (1.19 billion litres).

Well Britian isn't out performing France on the quality of its wine, that is for sure.

And the food.

And sometimes the women.

And sometimes the accent.

And the weather.

Ha ha...Grape Britain, 'cuz of the wine. Hee.

A British wine was recently voted the best in the world....



...and so was a British restaurant, and Britain had more restaurants in the World's Top 50 restaurants list than France, Italy and the United States.

I would certainly rather eat roast beef or bacon and eggs rather than frogs' legs in garlic or snails in garlic.

24 August 2005
BINGEING BRITAIN
Our boozing hits record levels..as it falls in Europe
By Lorraine Fisher Health Correspondent
BOOZY Brits now down a record eight billion litres of alcohol a year, figures revealed yesterday.

Drinking levels have shot up in the past five years - but have fallen sharply in Germany and France.

And Britain's spending on beer, wine and spirits has rocketed 15 per cent to £38billion - a third more than France.

Report author Hanna Kivimaki said: "In France and Germany the culture seems to be moving towards healthier lifestyles and away from alcohol."

The study came as police voiced "serious concern" that all-day pubs will fuel more violent crime.

Brits sank five per cent more booze last year than in 1999.


But wine consumption is up 23 per cent - driven by a Bridget Jones generation of women and our increasingly sophisticated tastes.


Ms Kivimaki revealed: "UK wine sales are now larger than spirits."


She said rising incomes and more advertising were factors but added: "The popularity of wine among women has helped drive this impressive growth."


However, drinking levels in France are down six per cent and in Germany eight per cent - and are forecast to keep falling in both countries.


Ms Kivimaki, of market researchers Mintel, explained: "Many adults, particularly the younger generation, are increasingly health-conscious.


"As a result, many of them have switched either partly or entirely to non-alcoholic drinks."


Germans splash out £31.9billion a year on boozing, four per cent less than in 1999.


Although the French drink less than five years ago, their purchasing has risen seven per cent to £28.5billion.


Ms Kivimaki explained: "They're drinking less but spending more on better quality beverages."


While UK beer consumption is unchanged, it has shrunk 10 per cent in the other two countries.


However, although wine drinking is down four per cent in France, in Germany it has risen by the same figure.


Meanwhile, violent crimes on the railways rose 11 per cent to nearly 9,800 last year, British Transport Police have revealed.


And on the London Underground there were 14 per cent more offences.


Chief Constable Ian Johnston said booze was to blame for a large number of offences and said he had "serious concerns" about the effects of new 24-hour pub laws.


RMT union chief Bob Crow said: "It is deeply disturbing that violence on the railways is still on the increase.


"Our members have to bear the brunt of aggressive, drunken behaviour."

mirror.co.uk

Lets not aruge over what food is better, and what not.... because everyone has different taste.....

All this article says to me is that Brits are getting drunker.....? What is it you exepct to discuss with this article?

So the British are just getting drunker and committing more crimes....... Wow theres something to be proud of!

An AUSTRALIAN complaining about people drinking beer!

What a strange world we live in.

And there lies the comment that gets this thread closed.