Originally Posted by
Globocnik
In France, once, I was offered wine with dinner. I declined, politely, saying that I do not drink. The host incredulously replied "but this is not drinking, this is wine".
I was talking to the big cheese (grande fromaggio?) of an Italian government supply vessel about 10 years ago about the fact that our Aussie government equivalent had banned alcohol. His reply was, "Unfortunately its the modern way, so have we, the guys will just have to be happy with beer and wine".