142 CultureShock! Bolivia
the counter or tables and stimulating male guests to imbibe
and to invite. For some of these women, drinking on the
job is a no-no. How can this be possible? The gullible male
believes he is ordering an expensive mixed drink for the
sexy woman. Instead, she is served a mere soft drink, and
her apparent carnal desires are inextricably connected to
the surge of cash.
When all is said and done, drinking of any kind is linked
to socialising. In urban Bolivia, the extended family is the
dominant social structure for tippling in a group. In rural
indigenous Bolivia, the community is the focus, with the local
annual festival as the scene of optimum imbibing.