O'Carroll - Cold Beer Warm Hearts (1)

The article by O'Carroll pointed out how many people enjoy Irish pubs because of the atmosphere they are so well known for. Countries all over the world have tried to duplicate the atmosphere of Irish pubs with their level of success up for debate. There is an aura that surrounds Irish pubs in a sense that after a long days work you can always find familiar faces to sit down and have a pint of Guinness with. It is also interesting to note the importance of drinking in cultures that are present in places like Ireland and Cape Breton because many important social events revolve around drinking and the activities associated with it. For example, it has been rumoured that for many years the hospital staff would give shots of beer to their patients daily. This is unheard of in North America. The importance of drinking in the Irish culture is not always a positive influence when contributing to their reputation. People might think that they are wild drunks who fight all the time at the pub and are unable to keep their lives together because of how much they drink. Countries that drink in moderation are said to have a much healthier life style because they don't involve themselves in binge drinking or at least don't have a reputation for it. Although popularly believed, this stereotype is not necessarily true.