# American beer drinkers are lightweights! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 28, 2003, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-beer-drinkers-are-lightweights/171709 "2003-04-28T16:40:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stainless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Stainless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stainless)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-beer-drinkers-are-lightweights/171709/1 "2003-04-28T16:40:53Z")
This isn’t an anti-US thread, just trying to catch your attention with that title. So, being a Canadian in the land of 5.5% regular beer, I see a lot of American discussions of drunken debauchery that usually average 8 to 12 3.5% beers. I have also noticed that light beer (I don’t know what the alcohol percentage in US light beer is) is very popular among US college students. Personally, I can put away 10 to 12 5.5% beers in an evening and still walk away (I am only 170lbs). I have friends who can plow through up to 20 without being face-down and several more before things get truly ugly. It makes us sound like a bunch of raging alcoholics in comparison. So, have any US dopers ever gone on a bender in Canada and, if so, do you notice a sharp decrease in what you can ingest because of the strength difference? It seems like an obvious answer, but I have a hard time believing that our national tolerances are that different. ---
**Author:** ![Flymaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@Flymaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flymaster)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-beer-drinkers-are-lightweights/171709/2 "2003-04-28T16:50:12Z")
Strength difference? American Budweiser is 4.9%. Coors Original is 5.0%. American beer is pretty much exactly the same as Canadian: The macros are watered down crap, and the micros are some of the best beer on earth. Incidentally, my favorite beer is around 7%, and it’s brewed in Pennsylvania. In otherwords, your OP is baseless. ---
**Author:** ![roadrunner70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19b73/32.png) [@roadrunner70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roadrunner70)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-beer-drinkers-are-lightweights/171709/3 "2003-04-28T16:51:01Z")
Well yeah, but your 5.5% beer, at the current exchange rate, is only, like what, 0.8%? And Moosehead…c’mon, fer crissakes… ---
**Author:** ![mipiace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb9ed0/32.png) [@mipiace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mipiace)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-beer-drinkers-are-lightweights/171709/4 "2003-04-28T16:58:29Z")
Disagree - American beer is pisswater but American Beere drinkers are not lightweights. I’ve Oktoberfested with the best of them and if you want REAL beer…Bavaria man, that’s the ticket. Oh and PS - I’m a girl and I’ll challenge you to a drink fest - you buy. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-beer-drinkers-are-lightweights/171709/5 "2003-04-28T16:59:20Z")
I don’t drink it for the alcohol content; I drink for the taste. However, my homebrew tends to be about 5-7%, and I’ve made cider that came in at 13%. Three of those (in an hour and a half…) knocked me on my ass. Never again… ---
**Author:** ![Flymaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@Flymaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flymaster)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-beer-drinkers-are-lightweights/171709/6 "2003-04-28T16:59:44Z")
Also, Bud Light is 4.2% Still not the 3.5% that you’re claiming in the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Stainless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Stainless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stainless)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-beer-drinkers-are-lightweights/171709/7 "2003-04-28T17:08:04Z")
Yep, it looks like I’m wrong: [http://www.realbeer.com/edu/health/calories.php](http://www.realbeer.com/edu/health/calories.php). Is this equality a pretty new thing? I haven’t been to the US in probably more than ten years, but I’m sure I recall seeing MOST “regular” beers at about 3.5% and lights in the high 2% range. ---
**Author:** ![Gorgon\_Heap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f475e1/32.png) [@Gorgon\_Heap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorgon_Heap)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-beer-drinkers-are-lightweights/171709/8 "2003-04-28T17:09:26Z")
Yaaarrrr!!! The OP is fightin’ words!!! I’ll drink anything you got! I’ll drink you under the table! I’ll drink you over the moon! I’ll drink to the death! _YYYAAAAAAARRRRRRRR!!!_ ---
**Author:** ![Flymaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@Flymaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flymaster)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-beer-drinkers-are-lightweights/171709/9 "2003-04-28T17:18:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Stainless \* > \*\*Yep, it looks like I’m wrong: [http://www.realbeer.com/edu/health/calories.php](http://www.realbeer.com/edu/health/calories.php). > > Is this equality a pretty new thing? I haven’t been to the US in probably more than ten years, but I’m sure I recall seeing MOST “regular” beers at about 3.5% and lights in the high 2% range. \*\* Not new that I know of…perhaps you went to Utah, or something? They have some wierdass beer over there, but for about 45 out of 50 states, we get more or less the same crap you get in Canada. ---
**Author:** ![flybynight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@flybynight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flybynight)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-beer-drinkers-are-lightweights/171709/10 "2003-04-28T17:25:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Stainless \* > \*\*Yep, it looks like I’m wrong: [http://www.realbeer.com/edu/health/calories.php](http://www.realbeer.com/edu/health/calories.php). > > Is this equality a pretty new thing? I haven’t been to the US in probably more than ten years, but I’m sure I recall seeing MOST “regular” beers at about 3.5% and lights in the high 2% range. \*\* I know they sell “3/2” beer in grocery stores in some states, where only licensed liquor stores are allowed to sell real bear. 3/2 beer is basically watered down watered down budweiser or MGD or other macrobrew, etc. This beer is probably in the 2%-3.5% range you’re talking about. I don’t know who buys it either - I’ve never tried it myself. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-beer-drinkers-are-lightweights/171709/11 "2003-04-28T17:28:37Z")
Ugh. Add to my list of “Things I Hate about Minnesota”: They close the liquor stores at 8:30, and all day Sunday. I can buy all the Michelob and Bud a Mr. Beer I want at my local grocery store, but if I want something with any kind of quality to it, I have to wait for the stores to open. ---
**Author:** ![Stainless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Stainless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stainless)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-beer-drinkers-are-lightweights/171709/12 "2003-04-28T17:33:15Z")
**flybynight** : That’s exactly what it was, as the beer I remember seeing was in a grocery store (seemed unusual, as grocers can’t do that up here). In Canada, beer is beer and Molson Dry or MGD is all the same anywhere one finds it. I learn something new every day. I’m just glad it was beer related. ---
**Author:** ![Waddle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bb73d2/32.png) [@Waddle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waddle)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-beer-drinkers-are-lightweights/171709/13 "2003-04-28T17:39:56Z")
My solution to most beer availbility problems (I’m 16) is make my own. My dad has operated his own home brewery for 10 years and I’ve picked up on the trade. The beer we make is usually in the 6-8% range. We also make our own mead, thats usually at 12-15%. I can’t drink the vast majority of commercial beers now. It’s all hopless watered down crap. ---
**Author:** ![viking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@viking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/viking)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-beer-drinkers-are-lightweights/171709/14 "2003-04-28T18:37:06Z")
Also, if I recall correctly, one side of the border uses g alcohol/ 100g beer to get their percentage, while the other side uses g alcohol/ 100ml beer to get theirs. And since beer and pure water don’t have the same density, the two ways of measuring give slightly different results, such that American beer looks weaker than Canadian, but isn’t really. Yup. My homebrew book (Papazian 1994. The home brewer’s companion) lists both alcohol by weight and by volume for the recipes. The by volume listing is about 1 higher at the low end (4 vs 5%) and 2.4 higher at the high end (9.6 vs 12%) ---
**Author:** ![5-HT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/f19dbf/32.png) [@5-HT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5-HT)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-beer-drinkers-are-lightweights/171709/15 "2003-04-28T19:22:24Z")
back in my college days I would usually drink about 120 fl oz. of american beer. It was about 8.00% alcohol. Bud and Miller are weak stuff, but don’t mess with the 8 ball. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-beer-drinkers-are-lightweights/171709/16 "2003-04-28T20:18:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Stainless \* > \*\ ***flybynight** : That’s exactly what it was, as the beer I remember seeing was in a grocery store (seemed unusual, as grocers can’t do that up here). \*\* Speak for your own primitive province! Grocers have been selling beer and wine in Quebec for a decade. Of course, I’m in near-prohibition land BC now, where they’re planning to privatize liquor stores in order to _raise_ the price of booze ☹ As for the alcohol discrepancy-- the mainstream US beers available in Canada are actually brewed here according to the manufacturer’s guidelines. Most of the stuff is about 1/2% lighter than a homegrown Canuck brew. Not that I care much. MGD, Bud, Labatt’s and Molson are all pisswater. I’m the only guy I know who’s brought his own beer to a kegger. ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-beer-drinkers-are-lightweights/171709/17 "2003-04-28T20:26:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Stainless \* > \*\* > So, have any US dopers ever gone on a bender in Canada and, if so, do you notice a sharp decrease in what you can ingest because of the strength difference? It seems like an obvious answer, but I have a hard time believing that our national tolerances are that different. \*\* Yes, I have, and I was amazed at the weakness of what Canadians consider to be “good” beer. Gimme a barleywine or an Imperial Russian Stout any day. ---
**Author:** ![percypercy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8baadc/32.png) [@percypercy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/percypercy)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-beer-drinkers-are-lightweights/171709/18 "2003-04-29T00:06:48Z")
The beer I drink most often is about 6 percent alcohol. No worries here. I’ve yet to get stinking drunk. Now they make one that’s 14 percent I’ve got a hankering to try but I can’t get it up here. -Lil ---
**Author:** ![the\_Lady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bb73d2/32.png) [@the\_Lady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_Lady)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-beer-drinkers-are-lightweights/171709/19 "2003-04-29T01:28:43Z")
**Barbarian** there are some good things about privatized liquor stores; like the fact that there is one on every corner and they’re always open… Many’s the time I’ve been in Vancouver and been bitterly disappointed when all the liquor stores were closed at some ridiculous hour. And they’re privatized in Alberta, and everything is way cheaper. Course, that could just be the tax difference. ---
**Author:** ![Geoduck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c37758/32.png) [@Geoduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geoduck)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-beer-drinkers-are-lightweights/171709/20 "2003-04-29T02:47:59Z")
Don’t know what part of Canada you reside in, but if you are ever in Vancouver, just drop down to Washington and indulge in one of the 30-40 regional microbrews that just about any tavern or bar serve. Most of 'em are considered ales and I think that means at least 6% alcohol. That’s what I train on. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-beer-drinkers-are-lightweights/171709.md?page=2)