IN TOWN

Let's now cover certain of circumstances you might be faced with while trying to integrate your new society.

SHOPPING
There are differences as to what you will find in shops between Britain and Belgium. For instance, I was very pleased to see that it is possible to buy drugs (for aches and pain) in supermarkets instead of always having to go to a pharmacy. Moreover, I was even more pleased by the fact that generic drugs really have kicked off, notably in hypermarkets. Indeed, you will be able to buy allergy relief tablets, ibuprofen tablets, paracetamol tablets etc. for as little as £1! Naturally, branded drugs are also available.
Breakfast is the principal meal. It would be unwelcome to spoil it by buying the wrong ingredients in order to prepare it!
Milk is an example of ingredients you should be wary of. Fresh milk is broadly distributed throughout the UK.



If you don’t like it, you’ll be able to find UHT cartons of milk, but principally in multinational chains of hypermarkets.
Whether you chose to buy fresh or UHT milk, make sure you read carefully the package since the packaging colors are inverted compared to those found across the channel.

In Belgium, red pack is full, Green is semi-skimmed and Blue is skimmed whereas, in the UK, Red is skimmed, green in semi-skimmed and blue is Full, so once again, let's update your knowledge:


ALCOHOL
Alcohol is a consequent part of our western lives. According to figures, in increases attractiveness by 10%! This is a sensitive figure especially for post-adolescent still very hormonal university students on a night out.
For those of you continentals, who are used to laxist regulations in this area, print this next section:
Know that you have to be 18 in order to buy or consume alcohol. Moreover, if you look under 25, you can be asked to show an ID. According to the English law, pubs and bars have to close at 23h unless they have a special license. The minimum age to enter a bar/pub/club is 18. If you are under that age, you will be pleased to find out that there are special under 18 nights (where no alcohol is sold). Clubs regularly close at around 2-3 am but there again, some have special licences in order to be able to close later (in general +-5am.
Don’t look shocked, I know it’s really different from the long-lasting nights out in Brussels city, where some bars open until 8am, this can only be better for your health, plus I’m sure you’ll integrate your new life really quickly!