Venezuelans and Alcohol

Last week one of the emails I received about my article “Venezuelans and Suicide” suggested that perhaps Venezuelans are happy because they drink a lot of alcohol. Along with that comment, they sent me a news item saying that Venezuela is the country with the highest alcohol consumption in Latin America. According to the study, based on national surveys in seven of the nine countries analyzed and on surveys in the largest cities in the cases of Brazil and Mexico, average consumption of pure alcohol in Latin America is 5.5 liters a year. By country, Venezuela consumes the most (8.9 liters per person a year), followed by the Dominican Republic (8 liters), Brazil (6.9), Colombia (6.3), Mexico (4.8), Nicaragua (4.2), Costa Rica (3.9), Peru (3.7) and El Salvador (2.6).

That news set me thinking, and I asked myself whether happiness could really have anything to do with how much alcohol one drinks. I thought of my family and friends, and I believe that of everyone I know, only two drink alcohol every day, and I don’t think they are happier because of it than those of us who don’t drink often. I remembered a former alcoholic who once told me his terrible story (he later joined Alcoholics Anonymous and recovered), and I realized that alcoholics cannot be happy.

I also thought about crime, because it is linked to alcohol or drugs. But if we work out the percentage of criminals nationwide, I don’t think it comes to even 1% of the population (about 280,000 people), so that group can’t have much influence on consumption.

Something we should take into account is our people’s well-known “beer culture,” but I also thought of something else that I believe is typical only of Venezuela, and that may be why the amount of alcohol we drink goes up so much: the endless gatherings and parties we throw to celebrate anything, anywhere in the country, at any time, whatever one’s social or political situation. And even when we are “eating a cable,” as we say when money is tight, we pool our money or find some way to put on the gathering or party, and a crowd always comes.

A friend told me recently that she had been in Italy and met a woman from Maracaibo who had lived there for ten years (the daughter of an Italian immigrant who never got used to Italy and went back because he preferred to put up with hardship there). She said she was excitedly preparing her daughter’s fifteenth birthday party in Punto Fijo, and that her husband had come ahead to buy the whisky for more than 200 guests. This couple lives on unemployment benefits in Italy, and even so they are thrilled about the celebration.

I also thought about the number of parties held, for example, in Caracas or in the interior of the country in luxury venues (which you have to book more than a year ahead because they are always full), with at least 200 guests. The amount of alcohol served there is large. And here we have the custom (I would say the “bad habit”) of serving alcohol on every occasion, starting with baptisms (as soon as the baby is born, the cooler is already full to toast with the godparents, friends and so on), children’s parties, First Communions, every birthday, fifteenth birthdays, weddings and so on and so on.

And since I always like to look on the bright side, I thought: Venezuelans are truly not only happy but very generous, and they love sharing with their friends and families, in spite of everything. Because you have to see what it costs nowadays to put on any gathering or party (however small), all the more so if you buy any kind of alcoholic drink. But one way or another something has to be done, because special occasions definitely have to be celebrated with our fellow Venezuelans, whom we treat with great pleasure. That’s just how we are!

Of course, one might think it absurd that in a country with so many problems so much is spent on parties, and that really is something we need to sit down and reconsider. For example, what would be the problem if, instead of whisky, rum or beer, we served papelón con limón or passion fruit juice? The idea, after all, is to share our happiness, whatever we drink or eat.

And although some say people throw parties to show off, I sincerely believe Venezuelans cannot live without sharing and being generous with others. But we definitely have to learn to celebrate, and to share our happiness, without spending so much.