I have always enjoyed a beer and having lived in Pattaya for over a decade I was spoiled for choices of where to grab some light refreshments after a hard days work. I have cut back on my consumption over the last few years to no more than 10 bottles a week, but compared to the UK average of 3.8 bottles a week it still averages high.
But how does it compare to expats in Thailand’s average? In conjunction with Thaivisa.com I put together the ‘Great Beer Survey for Expats in Thailand’ and 692 respondents later the results were in – and I must say, by comparison, I look like a teetotaler!
I was taken back by some of the results, for example 7% of expats said they drink more than 50 bottles a week (wait until you find out Pattayans figure) and 27% said they drink everyday. So, over 1 in 4 of us enjoy a beer everyday!
In the UK 1 in 5 people now are teetotal, whilst 1 in 10 Expats in Thailand, according to this survey at least, also abstain from alcohol.
Don’t also make the assumption that the big drinkers are the retired or those living ‘up country’ either, as there was no correlation to any of these factors. Expats, whoever and whereever you are, have similar consumption patterns, unless, of course, you come from Pattaya…
Pattaya Expats in a league of their own
64% of the 118 Pattaya respondents to this survey said they drink a beer at least 3 times a week with almost 1 in 3 saying they have a beer every day (versus expat average 1 in 4).
14% said they drink more than 50 bottles of beer a week with almost half admitting they consume at least 20 beers a week, well above the suggested maximum of 14 beers a week suggested by UK medical officers.
Financially, even at 50 baht per bottle, drinking 50 bottles a beer is going to set you back 2,500 baht a week!
How much is too much?
To keep health risks from alcohol low, the UK Chief Medical Officers’ (CMO)
Let Dan know where you need help and he will send you recommendations and help you get set up
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I beleive these drinkers of more than 10 beers n week are probably people who have an inferiority complex and try to either build up courage or like to boast about their drinking as they have nothing else to boast or speak about.
I do not have to have alcohol to feel great and as I assisted with autopsies for many years I wish they can see their livers. Full of fat and hard like a polony slice.
I have probably have not consumed more than 40 beers in the 5 years in Thailand as I do not need Dutch courage