Beber y Tomar

Question

Spanishdict has taught me to use beber to mean "to drink." However, I am also using the Fluenz software program to help me learn spanish. That program teaches the use of tomar to mean "to drink." I assume that both are correct, but is one more common or more prevalent in some situations?

Answer 1

When the context is drinking alcoholic beverages, I think that tomar would be used more often or where in English we would say have a drink or take a drink.

tomar or beber previous thread

Thanks for the thread. - tvich, Mar 17, 2010

Answer 2

I think that it's a regional preference. I've always heard Mexicans say "tomar" and rarely say "beber". I think "beber" is used more often with Spaniards. I'm not sure about anywhere else.