Page 80 - PowerE-L05-B

Lesson 20

Drinking Habits

Korea’s drinking culture is different from foreign

drinking culture. Usually elders pay for the drinks or

the person who invited people over is responsible for
the outcome. However, young drinkers have to

respect the elders by holding the glass with two
hands when they drink or when the elders pour the

alcohol into the glass, whether that person is old,
young, man or woman. Sometimes young people go Dutch just to be equal and

reduce the complexity. It’s a custom to receive the drink from elders without

refusing it, but lately drinking habit has changed slightly; a boss or co-workers
tend to force the employees to drink going over the limit. I’m not against drink-

ing, but I wouldn’t like to get stressed out and lose my health over drinking.
Most of all, remember not to be vicious drinker.

Comprehension

1. According to the paragraph, what is Korea’s drinking culture? What
are the etiquettes to be observed?
2. How has the drinking habit changed in Korea?

3. What does the writer think about drinking?

Questions

1. What are the merits and demerits about drinking?
2. Do you like to drink? Why or why not?

3. What are your favorite alcoholic drinks?
4. What do you think of heavy drinkers?

Vocabulary & Expressions
go Dutch : to share the cost of a meal in a restaurant
reduce : to make something smaller or less in size, amount or price
complexity : the state of being complicated
vicious : violent and dangerous and likely to hurt someone

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