Over the years I have read numerous articles in Spanish publications about the so-called cultura de guaro or alcohol-based culture of Costa Rica. Drinking is an integral part of most social life here. The spirits flow freely at almost every fiesta. The beer company sponsors hundreds of events yearly and their logo is everywhere. It seems there is a bar on almost every corner in Costa Rica. Binge drinking is very popular among the youth. Just check out the bars on a Friday night around the University of Costa Rica in San Pedro or the University Nacional in Heredia. They are packed with boisterous young people birriando or drinking beer as they say here. Supposedly the three most important things in a Costa Rican man’s life are soccer, women and beer, although not necessarily in that order.

Unfortunately, Costa Rica is said to have the highest rate of alcoholism in Central America –-?an estimated 20 percent of the population are problem drinkers.

Retirees and other Expatriates can easily fall into the drinking trap, too. Over the years, I have seen many fellow Americans fail to use their time constructively, and destroy their lives by becoming alcoholics while living in Costa Rica— many have died prematurely. Whatever you do, don’t make the mistake of being idle. Most of the people I have met here who have had drinking problems here do so out of boredom.

There are hundreds of activities in Costa Rica to stay busy and happy. Also don’t look for companionship in bars. Don (an alias) is an acquaintance of mine who live in a small town between Heredia and Alajuela. Every time I run into him he is complaining and grumbling about something. He spends most of his time at home playing on-line poker and squabbling with his Costa Rican neighbors over trivial matters. When he does go out , he hits the local bars where he has almost been a few fights and met some unsavory women with whom he became involved. Needless to say the relationships went nowhere. Don now tells me he moving to Nicaragua because he is fed up with Costa Rica. He is already bragging about how good the bars are there. Undoubtedly , Don will fall into the same trap there and be miserable. He has also mentioned Colombia and Thailand if things don’t work out in Nicaragua. I guess he preparing for another personal disaster.

The bottom line is that if you move abroad you take your problems with you and they won’t go away by excessive drinking or other destructive behavior. Get involved in constructive activities and you will be more successful when living abroad. This is what I preach on my monthly relocation/retirement tours.