Why is the Southeastern United States so weirdly cultured towards alcohol?

[Bulbasaur05]

They demonize beer…and don’t see it as a actual “food item” or “art form” like in a lot of other cultures.

Also, at the same time, in the south the most popular beers are watery light beers sold in 30 packs with no real purpose other than to get wasted without filling you up.

It is not like that everywhere in the south, but for the most part you don’t see breweries with rich histories and craft beer scenes/hop heads etc.

This dichotomy perplexes me.

 

[marbleartist]

??? You mention the southeast, but then in the next sentence, you mention the south. I’m not sure of the specific area of the U.S. to which you’re referring. As a resident of the South, I can assure you that we have excellent microbreweries and breweries that respect the art of beer making. I can name a few if you like!

 

[Allegra]

In my opinon, beer is too heavy to drink in sweltering heat and humidity. They’re probably rum people.

 

[Little_Mary]

They demonize beer…and don’t see it as a actual “food item” or “art form” like in a lot of other cultures.

Also, at the same time, in the south the most popular beers are watery light beers sold in 30 packs with no real purpose other than to get wasted without filling you up.

It is not like that everywhere in the south, but for the most part you don’t see breweries with rich histories and craft beer scenes/hop heads etc.

This dichotomy perplexes me.

You are painting with a really broad brush.

 

[Bulbasaur05]

??? You mention the southeast, but then in the next sentence, you mention the south. I’m not sure of the specific area of the U.S. to which you’re referring. As a resident of the South, I can assure you that we have excellent microbreweries and breweries that respect the art of beer making. I can name a few if you like!

I meant “THE south”. Pretty much what would be SEC school states.

 

[phil19034]

You are painting with a wide brush.

However, some parts of the South are heavily influenced by the Baptist. Some Baptist groups are against drinking, etc.

So, if an area in the South is heavily influenced by this group of Baptists, then you will have people who are against drinking.

In regards to type of beer… Blue Collar & Rural people across the country, not just the South, tend to drink Bud, Coors, Miller, etc. Those beers tend to be synonymous with hard working America. They also tend to buy American cars too. Blue Collar & Rural people tend to be more patriotic than White Collar suburbanites, intercity dwellers, yuppies, hippies & hipsters.

Hope this helps some…

God Bless

 

[BeingSaved]

Texas is in the south, and everything is bigger there I heard,…esp their beer bottles
or is Texas called west, …yeah probably west but it is south,…lots more heat
requires lots more to drink,…so lots more to drink means lots more alcohol, if that happens to be what you drink

less heat, less drink,…more heat, more drink,…(it even somewhat rhymes)

yes this is logical

 

[tomarin]

They demonize beer…and don’t see it as a actual “food item” or “art form” like in a lot of other cultures.

Also, at the same time, in the south the most popular beers are watery light beers sold in 30 packs with no real purpose other than to get wasted without filling you up.

It is not like that everywhere in the south, but for the most part you don’t see breweries with rich histories and craft beer scenes/hop heads etc.

This dichotomy perplexes me.

Lack of German immigration maybe?

 

[BeingSaved]

They demonize beer…and don’t see it as a actual “food item” or “art form” like in a lot of other cultures.

Also, at the same time, in the south the most popular beers are watery light beers sold in 30 packs with no real purpose other than to get wasted without filling you up.

It is not like that everywhere in the south, but for the most part you don’t see breweries with rich histories and craft beer scenes/hop heads etc.

This dichotomy perplexes me.

you mean Florida, right,…its sweltering there,…and I think they like gin, right? or what do they drink, …gin and tonic and lime?

 

[BeingSaved]

They demonize beer…and don’t see it as a actual “food item” or “art form” like in a lot of other cultures.

Also, at the same time, in the south the most popular beers are watery light beers sold in 30 packs with no real purpose other than to get wasted without filling you up.

It is not like that everywhere in the south, but for the most part you don’t see breweries with rich histories and craft beer scenes/hop heads etc.

This dichotomy perplexes me.

you mean Florida, right,…its sweltering there,…and I think they like gin, right? or what do they drink, …gin and tonic and lime? lime rickeys?

 

[chefmomster2]

They demonize beer…and don’t see it as a actual “food item” or “art form” like in a lot of other cultures.

Also, at the same time, in the south the most popular beers are watery light beers sold in 30 packs with no real purpose other than to get wasted without filling you up.

It is not like that everywhere in the south, but for the most part you don’t see breweries with rich histories and craft beer scenes/hop heads etc.

This dichotomy perplexes me.

I don’t know where you get your info! It is a huge generalization that might apply to a few, but certainly not to the “culture”, whatever that is. I didn’t find it to be true in Louisiana, Georgia, or Mississippi and I have lived in one or another of these states for over 30 years. In fact, in 2011, citizens finally prevailed on the legislature to allow beer sales on Sundays after 12:30pm. Not a sign of a “culture” that doesn’t appreciate beer.

What “cultures” see it as a “food item” or “art form”? Here in the South, we see it as an alcoholic beverage. :doh2: Some enjoy brewing their own as a hobby. Nothing weird there, as far as I can see. (It could be that many just prefer the seemingly popular production of moonshine instead! )

The only thing I can mention that might be weakly related is that there are many Southern Baptists and other Protestants who preach that alcohol is sinful. You may disagree, but it is not a “weird” belief by any means.

In addition, a Georgia boy, President Jimmy Carter signed H.R.1337 into law which allowed home production for personal consumption in 1978.



Map of Brewers and Wholesalers by State
beerinstitute.org/br

Least Consumption per Capita per State:
Kentucky: 24.4 gallons of beer per capita per year
Maryland: 23.2 gallons of beer per capita per year
New York: 22.4 gallons of beer per capita per year
New Jersey: 22.4 gallons of beer per capita per year
Connecticut: 22.1 gallons of beer per capita per year
Utah: 20.2 gallons of beer per capita per year
foxnews.com/leisure/2013/08/27/which-states-drink-most-and-least-beer/

 

[GEddie]

Texas is in the south, and everything is bigger there I heard,…esp their beer bottles
or is Texas called west, …yeah probably west but it is south,…lots more heat
requires lots more to drink,…so lots more to drink means lots more alcohol, if that happens to be what you drink

less heat, less drink,…more heat, more drink,…(it even somewhat rhymes)

yes this is logical

TX occupies the junction between South, West, and the Plains (it’s a big place)

We have some rather famous beer brands, such as Lonestar and Shiner Bock.

But we also have dry counties. Figure it out

As to the OP’s question, the Old South is strong in the Baptist religion, which led the anti-alcohol movement in the 18-and 1900s. That might be the cause of what you are describing.

ICXC NIKA

 

[Bulbasaur05]

I don’t know where you get your info! It is a huge generalization that might apply to a few, but certainly not to the “culture”, whatever that is. I didn’t find it to be true in Louisiana, Georgia, or Mississippi and I have lived in one or another of these states for over 30 years. In fact, in 2011, citizens finally prevailed on the legislature to allow beer sales on Sundays after 12:30pm. Not a sign of a “culture” that doesn’t appreciate beer.

What “cultures” see it as a “food item” or “art form”? Here in the South, we see it as an alcoholic beverage. :doh2: Some enjoy brewing their own as a hobby. Nothing weird there, as far as I can see. (It could be that many just prefer the seemingly popular production of moonshine instead! )

The only thing I can mention that might be weakly related is that there are many Southern Baptists and other Protestants who preach that alcohol is sinful. You may disagree, but it is not a “weird” belief by any means.

In Colorado there are lots more beer tastings that appreciate it as an art form.
I have lived in MS for nearly 20 years. I still get a weird vibe when buying a 6 pack of Sierra Nevada from cashiers…

In fairness to the south college towns are a little different, though at my own it was either Keystones or PBR for the most part.

 

[Bulbasaur05]

I did see this:

“We as Southern Baptists in the North Carolina Baptist State Convention want the world to know that we promote the King of Kings, not the King of Beers,” Tim Rogers, pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Indian Trail, N.C., told fellow messengers at the Nov. 8-10 annual meeting in Greensboro.

christiancentury.org/article/2010-12/baptists-debate-social-drinking

I found it ironic, because in circles where people actually follow beer and consume it as an experience “The King of Beers” isn’t really considered a beer…

From the same article:
*Lumpkins, who blogs at SBC Tomorrow, said younger Southern Baptist leaders do not appreciate that history and instead view teetotalism as extra-biblical and nothing more than “Pharisaical legalism.”
*

I actually I agree with that. Complete abstinence from alcohol is not rooted in scripture.

 

[chefmomster2]

In Colorado there are lots more beer tastings that appreciate it as an art form.
I have lived in MS for nearly 20 years. I still get a weird vibe when buying a 6 pack of Sierra Nevada from cashiers…

In fairness to the south college towns are a little different, though at my own it was either Keystones or PBR for the most part.

You’re using your own specific experiences and “feelings” to generalize. How about some facts? Please recheck my previous post. I added a few items.

 

[garn9173]

So, if an area in the South is heavily influenced by this group of Baptists, then you will have people who are against drinking.

I think that has a lot to do with it. When my sister and husband first moved to Salt Lake City when out and about, she ordered a margarita and the server wishpered to her, "you want alcohol in it? LOL Uh Duh.

 

[chefmomster2]

I did see this:

"We as Southern Baptists in the North Carolina Baptist State Convention want the world to know that we promote the King of Kings, not the King of Beers," Tim Rogers, pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Indian Trail, N.C., told fellow messengers at the Nov. 8-10 annual meeting in Greensboro.

christiancentury.org/article/2010-12/baptists-debate-social-drinking

I found it ironic, because in circles where people actually follow beer and consume it as an experience “The King of Beers” isn’t really considered a beer…

From the same article:
*Lumpkins, who blogs at SBC Tomorrow, said younger Southern Baptist leaders do not appreciate that history and instead view teetotalism as extra-biblical and nothing more than “Pharisaical legalism.”
*

I actually I agree with that. Complete abstinence from alcohol is not rooted in scripture.

But weird? When people disagree with us it doesn’t make them strange. It just makes them different. Learn to appreciate the diversity!

 

[Bulbasaur05]

You’re using your own specific experiences and “feelings” to generalize. How about some facts? Please recheck my previous post. I added a few items.

Eh, I trust the validity of my intuition on this one. I have been in the south a long time. There is a definite negative view on drinking. Also, when drinking it is done It often involves a large amount of watery beer. They could be related synergistically.

I don’t consider Austin, “THE south,” but the culture there is definitely way more open towards drinking without the need for an end in drunkenness. It being hot there, too, I don’t think the demonization is related to heat.

 

[GEddie]

Eh, I trust the validity of my intuition on this one. I have been in the south a long time. There is a definite negative view on drinking. Also, when drinking it is done It often involves a large amount of watery beer. They could be related synergistically.

I don’t consider Austin, “THE south,” but the culture there is definitely way more open towards drinking without the need for an end in drunkenness. It being hot there, too, I don’t think the demonization is related to heat.

Austin is “Southern” in the sense that it is one of the state capitals in the old Confederacy. It is also the most subtropical of the American state capitals (latitude 32[sup]0[/sup])

But it is also a very collegiate city, which in America, means lots of alcohol.

ICXC NIKA