Alcohol conversation questions

🧑‍🏫 You are free to use this material in class.

🤷 For general advice on using conversation topics, see the article on conversation questions.
📜 For Teflpedia’s complete list of topics, see Category:Teflpedia conversation questions.

🔀 Go to another, random topic.

Alcohol

• What is a drug?
• Do you think alcohol is a drug?
• Do you think there is any connection between alcohol and harder drugs?
• Do you know many people who are teetotallers (nondrinkers)?
• What is the percentage of alcohol in the following drinks:
  • Beer
  • Wine
  • Spirits like whiskey and vodka.

Health effects of alcohol

• What is an alcoholic? How would you define an alcoholic?
• Have you ever known an alcoholic or someone who drinks heavily?
• What health problems do alcoholics suffer from?
• Should doctors treat the health problems of alcoholics even when the alcoholic does not quit drinking?
• In many parts of the world, the organization Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) offers free meetings to help alcoholics quit drinking. They claim to have the highest success rate (30% of alcoholics no longer drink) compared to any other therapy, including medical therapy. Do you know if AA is in your country? Would you recommend AA to a friend or family member who is an alcoholic?

Local brews

• Does anyone you know still make any traditional alcoholic drink at home? Have you ever tried it? Why/why not?
• In some regions they serve home-made liqueurs from bottles which have dead animals such as lizards or maggots floating in them. Have you ever been offered any? Would you drink it if you were?
• Is there a typical traditional drink in your region/country? What’s it made from? Do the young people drink it, or do they prefer imported brands?
• What are the most popular alcoholic drinks in your country?
• What is your favourite alcoholic drink (if you drink)?
• The UK has a number of traditional drinks. A kind of cider called “scrumpy" is made in the West Country; a type of beer called "real ale" is made over much of the UK; and, of course, malt whisky is made in Scotland. Have you tried any of these and, if so, what was your opinion of them?

Behaviour

• How do people who have drunk a little too much behave?
• What effect does alcohol have on you personally - your behaviour and appearance?
• Do you think there is any difference in the ways that people from different countries drink? Is there any difference in their behaviour after they have been drinking?
• “Binge drinking" is an activity where people go out and regularly drink a lot - frequently young people and frequently at weekends. Why do you think so many people binge-drink?
• In a "pub crawl" you try to visit as many pubs and bars as you can and have a drink in each. Have you ever been on a pub crawl?
• People become less inhibited after drinking. Have you ever regretted anything you have done or said after a few drinks?
• Do you think your ability to speak English improves after a couple of drinks?
• Some people use alcohol when they feel under stress. What do you think about this behaviour?

Hangovers

• Have you ever had a hangover? Describe the symptoms.
• Have you ever had to take time off work because of a hangover? What excuse did you give to your boss?
• Do you feel the need to phone people up to offer an apology in the morning if you have had too much to drink the night before? What do you say?
• What do you think is the cause of a hangover. Alcohol obviously, but does anything else from the previous evening also make you feel bad in the morning?
• Apart from not drinking any alcohol, do you know of any way to avoid having a hangover?
• What is the best cure for a hangover?
• Consider these “cures" - put them in order of usefulness. How many of them have you tried?
  • “The hair of the dog" - another alcoholic drink.
  • Sleep.
  • A cold shower.
  • A long run.
  • Orange juice.
  • Aspirin.
  • Drink lots of water.
• If you were to combine these cures what combination would you use?
• How long did your longest hangover last?

Drinking and the law

• At what age can you drink and smoke in your country? Do you think this is the most appropriate age?
• How old were you when you had your first alcoholic drink? Did you enjoy it?
• Do you think that being drunk should be against the law?
• Do you think people can be excused either legally or morally for their actions when drunk?
• Are the drinking and driving laws in your country too strict, not strict enough or just about right?
• In the USA, you cannot drink alcohol on the street. What are the laws regarding drinking in public in your country?
• Should pregnant women be arrested for child abuse if they drink heavily?
• Drinking can be considered in three ways: a minor vice, an illness (alcoholism) or a crime (drunk driving). Should drunk drivers be treated as patients or criminals?

Wine tasting

• Is wine a typical drink in your country? Do you drink wine?
• Do you have a preference for red wine, white wine or rosé?
• If you like them all, under what circumstances do you drink each one?
• What kind of wine traditionally accompanies these foods:
  • Fish
  • Poultry
  • Red meat
  • Cheese
  • Dessert
• Do you follow these customs, or do you drink whatever you like with these foods?
• What do you know about the wine-making process?
• What’s your opinion of the modern use of plastic stoppers instead of corks for wine bottles?
• Do you know how to open a bottle of champagne or other sparkling wines without the content spurting out?
• Have you ever had sparkling wine for breakfast in bed?
• If you decide to have wine with your meal when dining out, do you like to choose from the wine list yourself or do you let the wine waiter recommend something?

Vocabulary

• teetotaller,^BrE teetotaler^AmE /tiːˈtəʊtlər/: someone who doesn’t drink alcohol.

See also

• Beer conversation questions
• Drugs conversation questions
• Food conversation questions
• Health conversation questions
• Party conversation questions
• Smoking conversation questions
• Vices conversation questions