Summary
Excessive drinking is often viewed as a signature of the infamous sarariman (or salaryman), those legendary male workers who spend long days at work, then go out "on the town" with their bosses, getting -- in our vernacular -- "hammered" at local pubs, staying into the wee hours or until the boss calls it quits.
Public displays of drunkenness are declining, however. A recent newspaper article points out there is now only one drunk tank in Japan, "where once there were four in Tokyo alone." It further notes the number of intoxicated people in protective custody had dropped by 50 per cent over three decades.Finally, the tradition of "shaming" was enlisted in the cause. Given that those with power are supposed to be role models, the weeks following the car accident saw several elite individuals -- high-level bureaucrats, government officials, and CEOs -- "caught" in the act of driving while intoxicated and singled out on broadcasts for ostracism and punishment.See the full content of this document
Extract
A Nation Where Liquor Marts Are Vending Machines
TREVOR HARRISON
MANY countries have serious drinking problems. England is a prime example, of course. There, alcohol, racism, and class tensions have often proven a lethal mix. Likewise, Canada's national ho...See the full content of this document
If you are already a vLex customer, access here