Spotted lasted Sunday at The Grand’Place/Grote Markt in Brussels: This baby-faced boy drinking Lindeman’s Kriek alongside what appeared to be (and acted like) his parents and grandparents.
Lindeman’s Kriek and Gueuze were being poured in the tent behind he family.
We’ve saw other young people drinking both beer and wine with the parents in Brussels restaurants.
Stan, this is quite normal in Belgium and not only with Kriek. It is quite common at local beer festivals to see a family of three generations sitting together at a table and enjoying the beer. It is part of Belgian culture.
Youth and kids drinking a beer or two with the family USED to be part of American culture. Anybody out there ever get teethed with a little whiskey on the binky?
Yeah they have what is called Table Beer in Belgium which is low alcohol and aimed at the younger market. The idea is that if you introduce the younger generation to alcohol in a mid form at a younger age they are less susceptible to go nuts, and binge drink like mad as soon as they come of age. Seem to work over there as well.
The same philosophy about alcohol applies in Scotland and France. If you do not make a mystery out of or demonise alcohol, there is more chance that responsible drinking will result.
As an aside, if you like Kriek try and get hold of that from Cantalon or a close second Boon.
Despite all the recent discussion, I’ll believe it when I see it (a change in the U.S. drinking culture, that is).