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Home > Blogs > Uncorked > Archives > 2006 > January > 27 > Entry
Hey beer drinkers: Care for a bag of pork rinds with that six-pack?
Stereotype beer drinkers? Who, me?
Why do that, when they do such a fine job of it all by themselves?
Check out the results of a study published by the British Medical Journal about the grocery-buying habits of beer drinkers compared to wine drinkers. Researchers analyzed 3.5 million transactions over six months and concluded that:
Wine buyers bought more olives, fruit and vegetables, poultry, cooking oil and low-fat cheese, milk and meat than beer buyers … Beer buyers bought more ready-cooked dishes, sugar, cold cuts, chips (crisps), pork, butter or margarine, sausages, lamb and soft drinks than wine buyers.
I can see the t-shirts now: “Beer Drinkers: Keeping Cardiologists Busy Worldwide.”
And yes, I enjoy a fine brew on occasion myself — especially when I’m breaking out one of those delicious old TV dinners from the freezer …
Cheers!
Mark Fisher
Comments
By rama
February 1, 2006 5:16 PM | Link to this
“And yes, I enjoy a fine brew on occasion myself — especially when I’m breaking out one of those delicious old TV dinners from the freezer …” Its too bad that someone who seems to know his way around wine knows so little about beer. I would be embarassed to call myself an expert in the field without having a decent understanding of similarly fermented beverages. You clearly have your homework cut out for you. I challenge you to pick one beer from each style on this list: http://beeradvocate.com/top_beers.php and write a column on your thoughs of beer then.By mike
January 27, 2006 5:50 PM | Link to this
here’s another stereotype: most beer drinkers think “wine drinkers are snobs!!!” the best microbrew on tap is at bostons bistro on main streetBy Chris
January 27, 2006 3:38 PM | Link to this
I’d like to see the beer purchases separated into “swill” and “real beer” categories. From what I see at the store here in the US, the person buying the case of Bud is more likely to be buying the pork rinds than the person buying the La Fin du Monde. The latter seems to be more on par with your typical wine buyer. What this really all means is that I spend too much time: a) looking at what people put in their cart; b) trying to draw conclusions based on the quality of someone’s beer purchase.By Mandy
January 27, 2006 3:12 PM | Link to this
Where do the stereotypes for wine drinking and beer drinking come from? I mentioned the other day to a colleague that I enjoy a good Long Island Tea and the response was, “Oh, you’re a sophisicated drinker. You drink cocktails.” Well gee, I didn’t realize that drinking a long island tea automatically made me a sophisticate. I don’t really believe in stereotypes. Someone always breaks the mold. So why does wine make you seem a little more on the intellecutual side? Wine gives a different feeling than beer and personally I enjoy both for different reasons. I guess I have a tendency to drink wine more but I don’t think I do so because it’s healthier or a trendy thing to do. I just like what I like and I think many people are that way. But hey - your column provokes thought as it should do. I really enjoy your columns.By Thomas Hardy
January 27, 2006 2:05 PM | Link to this
Well, here we go again. Another “study” to make winos feel a little bit more superior. Isn’t that special? If they tilted that nose down a bit, and put it to use, they will find that beer not only has much more complex aromas, but flavors as well— which go with any food. Wine gets knocked out by so many of the foods listed in the study, it’s laughable! Beer does have an image problem, yes. Most wine drinkers ignorantly associate beer with the mass produced swill advertised on TV. Keep in mind not all beer drinkers are the same. It is true that it is more affordable, and those with lower incomes and education levels gravitate toward it for practical reasons. But there is new era of beer today that champions incredible ranges of flavors, healthy cuisine, and gourmet food pairings.By cathy
January 27, 2006 12:01 PM | Link to this
Hi Kate: This particular study took place in Denmark. While your diet is commendable, I think your eating habits are probably much more healthy than those of typical beer drinkers (actually, probably more healthy than most Americans regardless of their adult choice of beverage)! MSN’s coverage of the same study states: “Although the research was confined to Danish consumers, Gronbaek said studies in the United States and France produced similar results.” In general, most folks I know who drink beer— but do not drink wine— seem to follow the Homer Simpson philosophy of eating. Mmmmm, donuts. Mmmmm, pork chops. :) Me? I enjoy an occasional beer, especially Negra Modelo with Mexican foods. But for the most part, I’m a wino. And I do not touch pork rinds! ICK.By Leah
January 27, 2006 11:32 AM | Link to this
This report got a giggle out of me for sure. However, I must agree with Kate. There can be beer drinkers who follow a healthy diet. I don’t eat fried foods or much dessert. But, I still can’t deny the occasional sudden urge for pizza after lagers and for peanuts after ales. As a beer lover, the biggest factor working against my diet is the beer itself.By Kate
January 27, 2006 10:04 AM | Link to this
While I did find this report somewhat humorous, I am more apt to think that this must be the grocery buying habits of British Beer drinkers. Our house is equipped with a 1/6th barrell of Amber Boch on tap. However, for the most part, we follow a lean meat, brown rice, and salad diet. The grocery habits listed in your blog may be true of college kids, but not all adults.