Saturday, July 2, 2011

Free Beer

By Irina Safaryan

“FREE BEER!” A CHEERING voice exclaims from the next table with a group of American students from Gonzaga who believe that they just scored a round of complimentary beverages. Walking into a bar in Italy, no one asks for a credit card, ID or a way to secure payment. Once you order and take a seat, the drink is served to your table; you can take your time to enjoy an evening socializing and drinking, all without having to pay, just yet.

The time that one has with their drink is also a cultural difference, no rush. Italians can sit for hours enjoying just one glass of wine without having the bartender be frustrated, in America the question “can I get you another?” would have been asked several times. The drinking habits of Italians differ in the fact that being drunk is socially unacceptable whereas many Americans we have no shame in “going big!”

After one is finished with their beverage and is ready to call it good, a check from the bartender comes verbally. Unlike the itemized paper list of consumed items in America, the one in Italy is one that operates on the honor system. The honesty works both ways. I have yet to hear cheers for free drinks from any Italians.

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