Which Wine Goes Best With Sidearms?
I've been thinking about this for a few days now: "French Riot Police Furious Over Ban on Wine During Lunch".
I'm trying to imagine a scenario in which the response to any members of law enforcement anywhere in this country upset they can't drink on the job is met with anything other than, "Are you F'ing Kidding?"
The somewhat notorious French riot police are quite upset that new rules demand they not drink beer or wine with lunch. In fact, they are outraged over the new rules.
The head of the French Police Union has this to say:
"In 11 years, I've never seen a problem caused by a colleague in an inebriated state. [The] officers do not have any more or less alcohol problems than anybody else in society. They should be allowed to drink in moderation."
I'm going to assume they mean to say that any problem associated with these officers were never a result of inebriation, rather than the notion that these officers problems happened despite their inebriation.
As comical as this is, what's really my point here is that if you ever needed an example of the differences between the American and French culture—and I admit one more example likely isn't necessary—this one is perfect. It also jibes with the general subject matter of this blog.
More from AOLnews on this issue:
"According to a specific French law, alcohol is banned while employees are at work — with the exception of wine, beer, apple cider and pear cider. The French find it perfectly acceptable to drink a moderate amount of beer or wine at lunch during workdays."
I too find it perfectly acceptable to drink a moderate amount of beer, wine, apple cider, and pear cider at lunch. In fact, I don't think I have a problem with drinking a bit of spirits with my lunch. However, I don't carry a sidearm—let alone riot clubs.
Here in Memphis, no one, except for me apparently, drinks wine with lunch, not even one glass. It’s a sea of iced tea. If I’m in a restaurant for lunch, whether with my wife or with friends or whatever, our glasses of wine will be the only ones. The whole culture is against it.
Interesting isn’t it, Fredric…what’s happened with the notion of alcohol with a meal during the day. I mean, there has to be a middle ground. But it seems like the French Riot Police and the American business culture find themselves at the two ends of the spectrum.
I live in the US and I’m all for having a glass of wine or a beer or even a cocktail at lunchtime. The fact that this is so frowned upon in our society may add to the general reported stress level that Americans experience when compared to workers in places like France or Spain (we also don’t get siestas). That being said, “in moderation” is subjective, and there are certain professions (heart surgeons, air traffic controllers, taxi drivers…) where I’d be much more comfortable knowing they hadn’t been knocking em back at lunch. I gotta say that riot police probably falls in this category, no matter what country you live in.
It seems like in the 70’s in the US there was a thriving tradition of drinking during business lunches. I’m 43 but too young to remember. Then MADD and the Reagan years put an end to it being socially acceptable. Now in most places in the US people think you’re an alcoholic if you want to enjoy of glass of wine with your meal during lunch.
Having lived in France the past nine years its exceptional that you wouldn’t have a glass of wine at lunch in a restaurant. That being said when the CRS or French riot police are deployed to control demonstrations (usually in the spring or early fall when the weather is good) they shouldn’t take issue with having to lay off the booze.
Wine at lunch, or beer, has been an accepted part of western culture. Even in the US, it’s practiced, albeit most cautiously. But to tell France (or California) officers that it’s illegal to drink on the job might be opposed. Alcohol cannot possibly distort the brain, or it would be scheduled as a controlled substance.