Job Discussion Forums

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I visited Poland often when I was a student. My "hazy" memories are that there was a lot of very heavy drinking going on. Is that still the case ?

Mariana · Joined: 03 Feb 2003 Posts: 26 Location: Bavaria

I remember when I went to Poland a few years back. On the job info, they specifically requested "no heavy drinkers" but when our bus pulled into Warsaw at about two in the morning, they whisked us off to some wedding party that was still in full swing, and brought us in without even letting us unpack or have a shower after the long bus journey, and plied us with LOTS of vodka! That seemed to set the tone pretty much for the rest of our stay! (We were working in English summer camps through APASS.)

Txpole · Joined: 11 Feb 2003 Posts: 2

When I went to Poland in '99 most of the new teachers hit the beer and vodka pretty hard for the first couple months. It was a combination of the stress of the new job/country/etc, and the fact that if you want to meet people you have to go to bar. Also, it looks strange to sit in a bar in Poland and not drink. After a while most of us tapered off to normal levels. Alcohol does play a big part in most Polish social activities though. I think it was the amount of public drunkeness that was most suprising to me, but Harry is correct that it varies based on the state of the local economy.

XXX · Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2003 11:03 pm Post subject:

Yes. After a few three day weddings and cook outs that lasted until the sun came up the next day, I can safely say that people do drink in Poland.

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

well last time I was in Poland was March of last year, and I must have drunk almost every day because the people that I was with were.
But after being in Poland a week, I stopped. I started drinking water at a bar in Lodz. My friend wasn`t pleased with my unsocial behavior.
Of course, I was drinking beer the next day, but I just needed a break.

So yes, there still is drinking in Poland. But more beer is being consumed.

XXX · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2003 4:50 pm Post subject:

Agreed. Although Polish vodka is consumed in large amounts, beer has over taken it. And Polish beer is of excellent quality and price,which is much cheaper than of the vodka. Contrast this to Russia where the opposite is true.

itslatedoors · Joined: 17 Feb 2003 Posts: 97

Oh dear, you really are an amateur.Try a trip to Ostrava and the 'Radegast' brewery or the 'Gambrinus' of Bohemia ...now that's good beer.'Lech','10.5','Zywiec','Helvelius','EB' and 'Okocim' are in the Beazer Homes League of the football conference.On the other hand 'Wyberowa' and 'Zubrowka' are vodkas with which the Poles can truely match the the consummate brewing skills of the Czechs.Having lived in Poland and the Czech Republic I'm not sure which nationals would win in a drinking competition but one thing is for sure- a lot of alcohol would get drunk.If you like a 'tipple' the region is a veritable Mecca and I'm certainly a pilgrim.(Currently in the Middle East drinking the piss of all pisses....'Fosters').

XXX · Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2003 2:50 pm Post subject:

I agree with all you wrote, except I found that EB tasted of soap. Also, I guess that you forgot about Tskyie, which was my beer of choice.

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

the only Polish beer I really care for is Zywiec. Maybe because of the water quality. Okocim has a nice export beer that can be found in the US (I drank it in New York) and it is far better than Okocim in Poland.
Certainly Czech beer is superior. Staropramen (from Prague) is one of my favorites. Czech Budweiser is good too. And Zlaty Bazant from Slovakia.
EB apparently went bankrupt. It serves them right, I never could stand it.

itslatedoors · Joined: 17 Feb 2003 Posts: 97

Absolutely right Brooks,Zlaty Bazant should be on anyone's list of good brew.You could also try a trip to Bruxelles,the Medina of the yellow gold industry, for the Chimay,Duval and a host of Trappist beers.Happy times.

XXX · Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2003 4:19 pm Post subject:

If anybody out there can get to Zakopane, here is a bar that I recommend. As you are heading down Krupowki Street ( when you get there you will know what I mean) it is located on your left, not too far down the hill. The name is Antykwariat. You will see a Pilsner Urquell sign. Litres of Urquell go for 8 zlts. Enjoy!

itslatedoors · Joined: 17 Feb 2003 Posts: 97

I'd recommend the Dubliner in Poznan or my favourite bar of all time,the brain ,(spelt something like musg), in Bydgoszcz.

mike10 · Joined: 11 Jul 2004 Posts: 28

mike10 · Joined: 11 Jul 2004 Posts: 28

Kevin Fletcher · Joined: 08 Nov 2004 Posts: 10

Hi,
Yes for sure a lot of drinking goes on here, but I don't think it's any worse than in the UK!