The Unique Features Of Austrian Physical Appearance

Austrians are the citizens and nationals of Austria, a landlocked country in south-central Europe. Historically, Austrians were regarded as Germans and viewed themselves as such, but today, the vast majority of Austrians do not identify as German. Austrians have a strong sense of punctuality and are known for their love of dairy, potatoes, and pork. They also have a penchant for smoking and enjoy spending their afternoons drinking coffee and eating cake. While Austrians are direct and forthright in their communication, they are also very orderly and value cleanliness.

Punctuality

This focus on punctuality is reflected in the Austrian workplace, where lateness is frowned upon. Austrian work contracts include 5 weeks of annual leave, and there are at least 14 public holidays throughout the year. Austrians also have 'swing days', where if a public holiday falls on a Thursday, they can take Friday off, too.

Austrians are also known for their directness. They tend to cut the small talk and say things straight, which may be surprising to people from other cultures, but it is not considered impolite.

Austria has a strong formal culture, particularly in the villages of Tirol. When walking past someone on the street, it is considered extremely rude not to greet them with 'Servus' or 'Gruß Gott'.

Austrians are also sticklers for cleanliness. They take great pride in keeping their country neat and tidy, and there are even city-wide initiatives in Spring to help clean the cities for incoming tourists.

Austrian German

Austrians speak Austrian German, which is a variety of German. Austrian German sounds softer than German spoken in Germany, and German speakers can easily tell the difference. There are also regional dialects of German, such as Weinerisch, which is spoken in Vienna.

Austrians have a strong focus on punctuality. Being on time is very important to Austrians, and they will expect the same of you.

Austria is a highly developed country with a strong emphasis on cleanliness and order. Austrians are also known for their love of dairy, potatoes, and pork, as well as their enjoyment of smoking, coffee, and cake.

Smoking habits

Austria has been slow to adopt smoking laws, and Austrians adore smoking. It is legal to smoke at 16, meaning half the population is addicted by 17. Thankfully, it is no longer legal to smoke in restaurants and bars, but locals still love their cigarettes. Smoking is pretty ubiquitous and is a serious problem for young people, as up to a third of 16-17-year-olds are regular smokers.

In 2019, a tighter smoking ban came into effect, but it is still common to see people lighting up in places they otherwise wouldn't. For example, Austrians will light up at train station platforms, and after a couple of drinks, the underground stations can become smoking zones too.

Austria's smoking culture is so normalised that it barely rates a mention. Bars, restaurants and streetside, you can buy super cheap packs of cigarettes for as little as €4.

However, for non-smoking Brits or Americans, the often very public smoking seems completely alien. After sitting in a smoke-filled bar, you may well return home to find your clothes reeking of cigarette smoke.

Austrians' smoking habits make some feel as though they have travelled back in time to the 1960s.

Dairy consumption

Dairy products are extremely popular in Austria, and dairy farming is the country's most important agricultural sector. Dairy farming and production have been a significant aspect of Austrian agriculture for centuries, with traditional practices such as cheese-making in the Alpine regions indicating a long-standing tradition of dairy production in the country.

Austria has around 24,000 dairy farmers, who produce 3.9 million tonnes of raw milk annually, with approximately 89% delivered to dairies. The country's dairy industry is largely small-structured, with a majority of holdings being grassland-based family farms that keep an average of 20 dairy cows. 75% of dairy farms are located in mountain areas, contributing to the optimum exploitation of the extensive grassland.

The Austrian diet includes a wide variety of dairy products, such as cheese, milk, butter, buttermilk, cream, creamy spreads, sauces, and mayonnaise. In 2018, the average Austrian consumed 76kg of drinking milk annually, which slightly decreased to 74.4kg in 2019. Cream consumption also decreased slightly, from 8kg per person in 2018 to 7.9kg in 2019. On the other hand, butter consumption showed a slight upward trend, increasing from 5.5kg in 2018 to 5.6kg in 2019. Cheese consumption continued to increase, with per capita consumption rising from 21.8kg in 2018 to 22.4kg in 2019.

Austria's dairy industry is committed to maintaining its competitiveness by adhering to a quality strategy. All raw milk delivered to domestic dairies is GMO-free, with high standards for animal welfare and sustainability. The industry also continues to expand in foreign trade, with exports increasing by 12.6% in the first half of 2023, contributing to a positive trade balance.

Fashion

Austria is known for its craftsmanship, and this is reflected in the clothing and accessories available. Leather goods, jewellery, and wood carvings are all popular items that showcase the country's attention to detail and high-quality standards.

When it comes to fashion, Austrians also pay attention to functionality, especially in their footwear. Hiking and mountain biking are popular activities, so sturdy shoes are a must. Austrians are also known for their love of skiing and other winter sports, so warm and practical clothing is essential during the colder months.

Overall, Austrian fashion is classic, conservative, and functional, with a focus on high-quality materials and craftsmanship.

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