It is probably no different in Europe with respect to this sort of thing than it is back home but…

… avoid getting into trouble in any foreign Country as their laws can differ and the rights of a visitor are not neccessarily the same as the rights of a citizen.

It is arguably worse if not legally then socially to cause trouble in another Country.

When visiting another Country everyone is an "Ambassador" for their own Country and should respect the culture, property, laws and people of the country they are a guest in.

Traveling to Europe is an incredible experience and you shouldn’t have to be worried about babysitting your friend. Maybe you should consider going solo so you won’t have to worry about him – sounds like he may need to mature a bit before heading out to other countries.

On the other hand if he approaches this trip in the right way it may be the thing that helps mature him.

Bottom line is that it’s not acceptable to be a sloppy, violent drunk in any country and if someone can’t hold theit liquor properly they shouldn’t be drinking at all.

Sorry to sound like Dear Abby but I have come across people like your friend in my travels and they can ruin the experience for a lot of people not just themselves and their traveling companion.

I totally agree with everything you said and thank you for your advice. I think my friend will be able to control himself for the most part, with a little reminder here and there that we are representing the U.S. Like I said, I just want to know what I’m dealing with. I have been to Mexico several times and everyone knows the stories about those prisons and the law enforcement on the streets. In Cancun, I had to carry a grown man to his hotel room because he was passed out in the street with his wallet in his shirt pocket. If he were seen by a police officer, he probably would have woke up in jail with his wallet missing and sore ass in the morning. I just wanted to know if it was as strict in certain countries in Europe since I haven’t heard the same horror stories from people who have come back from there. I just want to have a good time without having to drag anyone out of the gutter.

We recently had an alcoholic from another country who hit a police officer. (Often this happens when foreign soccer fans come to DK and get in fights). It is up to the discretian of the police in Denmark to hold a foreigner arrested for a criminal offense. In this case, the embassy intervened, but the police refused to let him go. He was charged with assaulting a police officer and he was placed in routine solitary confimement for 14 days. Then the story dropped out of the news.

I got arrested in Prague for "desecrating a national monument" because I took a drunken piss on St. Nicholas church. However I worked out a deal with the officer were I just &quotaid the fine in cash".

So it depends on the situation.

Take a cautionary look here:
http://www.abc.net.a…

He should also bear in mind that the point at which others become violent, and the extent of the violence they use, is to some degree culturally determined. He might think its push and shove time, but someone else may think its pull knife/beer glass in face time.

Certainly in UK, most violence between strangers is alcohol fuelled – it doesn’t take much for a fight to start in a town centre on a Friday or Saturday night – and pardon me for saying so, but a loud drunk American will (rightly or wrongly) really irk some people – sif he starts looking for a fight, he’s likely to find one pretty soon.

He should go to Dublin! This a drinking culture, bar none. In addition, the drunks are extremely docile. If he wants to fight I can recommend Aberdeen and Glasgow and, of course, Liverpool.

Guys like your ex-roomie, who seem to grow beer muscles, and get out of control when they drink, probably should not drink at all. However, just warn him ahead of time – in a very serious tone… They do not play with tourists in many of these foreign lands… Some Police especially have a chip on their shoulder for smart-assed Americans, who think they are big stuff! They face no reprisals when beating-up a drunk, and it happens all the time. He cannot hire some Rodney King wannabe type Defense Atty. to get $5 million for police brutality when he gets out of line in Ireland, Germany, or Poland, etc… It simply does not work that way over there!

What I suggest is getting him – the way guys do!! Every time he passes-out drunk, do something to him while he is asleep… Take permanent marker, and draw tits on him, or something like that. Hey, it does not matter your age or education level.. When guys are out travelling & drinking with buddies, the rules NEVER, EVER change!! You are fair game on the road, and in hotel rooms etc… for sabatoge when in a drunken fog!!! You nail him real good a few times, he will slow-down on the drinking just enough, if for no other reason – than to try and make you pass-out first, then get even…

quote:
a loud drunk American will (rightly or wrongly) really irk some people – sif he starts looking for a fight, he’s likely to find one pretty soon.

Very true. And not many policemen are happy to accept a "fine in cash" either. In fact in most countries (certainly all the non ex-eastern-block countries) I wouldn’t even suggest it. Safer to put up with jail.

Having to babysit this character might get a bit tiresome if he’s going to act like a tool all across Europe but I’m sure he’s not too bad if you’ve already made up your mind to travel with him.
I used to know someone who was similar-not for getting into fights so much, but getting too drunk and banging his head or sometimes getting into trouble. This guy went to college in California too. It’d be funny if it was the same guy…
The police in certain countries are pretty strict, but not as strict as California. Still if you’re caught breaking the law, it’ll ruin your trip. You don’t want them calling the embassy or your parents.

Just explain to the guy that you’re up for a good laugh, some wild times but not for getting into scraps or ruining the experience for other people in your hostel/train carriage/ etc.

Wandrian is dead right. You’ll be ambassadors for your country. Not that this fact will be mean much to your pal at 3am if he’s in a drunken fight with some Frenchman over the Iraq war or something, but people do judge other nationalities on the people they meet on these trips.

Police aren’t that strict in Ireland or Britain, but I’ve seen the Gendarmes in France deal with trouble makers pretty swiftly.
Crack skulls first. Ask questions later. Well, that’s what it looks like from afar…