Alcohol in Romania

By and large Romanians are not big drinkers. The country has its fair share of old soaks of course, but much like the Greeks or Bulgarians, Romanians drink only in moderation, letting their hair down only on special occasions (weddings, christenings, New Year’s Eve etc.)

Even amongst the young binge drinking is rare: the Anglo-Saxon macho-bullshit ‘I can drink more than you’ culture does not – yet – exist here.

When they do drink Romanians go primarily for beer: either their own, of which the best are the Timişoreana, Aurora and Ciucaş brands (though note that Tuborg is in fact the most popular), or imported beers such as Carlsberg, Heineken and Stella Artois.

Guinness is very popular and now commonly available, though note that it is – relatively - expensive.

Romanian wine is often good but like much else produced here suffers from inconsistency. The best labels are: Cramele Halewood, a winery in the Prahova Valley making some cracking reds and a good, dry methode champagnoise brut; Recas, best known for its various vintage merlots; Chateau Domenii sauvignon blancs.

When it comes to Romanian wine note that price matches quality, so always pay as much as you can, be it in restaurant or supermarket.