Shawn Mendes has opened up about his love of booze and Bieber in a new interview.
The 19-year-old Canadian singer told Rolling Stone he loves to drink when he’s in his native country, where the legal drinking age is 18 or 19 depending on the province.
“I drink a s**t-ton when I go home, and I just don’t drink in America. I get it all out when I go home,” Mendes said.
“I love rye and ginger. But I had to slow down because they don’t feel good the next morning, so I just started drinking tequila, and it’s better. I drink either Don Julio or Casamigos.”
Mendes said he’s no fan of the legal drinking age of 21 in the U.S.
“I don't find it frustrating because I care about alcohol. I care about time with friends in bars,” he explained. “I’m being denied a social experience, not an alcoholic beverage. I wish I was allowed to just go in the bar and drink a pop because then I would at least be there with everyone and I wouldn't have to be in my hotel while everyone else is at the bar.”
He said he thinks “18 is a f**king great idea” because “in America there's this kind of pressure that builds inside of needing to go to the bar that by the time you're 21, which is like a full adult, you just explode.”
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Mendes was also asked how he feels about the comparisons to fellow Canadian Justin Bieber.
“One thing people may not know about me is how much I look up to Bieber. I don’t think I’ve ever truly told him he was my main inspiration for what I wanted to do,” he said.
“I learned every one of his songs by heart. He taught me how to riff and sing. So every time someone asks me about Bieber, I always say, ‘That’s the biggest compliment you could give me.’”
Mendes said Canada produces so many great songwriters because “it’s winter for 10 months of the year” and he gave an answer when he was asked if Rush or The Tragically Hip was the better Canadian band.
“No matter what I say, I’m gonna get backlash, but I would say The Tragically Hip,” Mendes said. “But actually, I have a very invalid opinion because I’m so young. I don’t think I’m a true enough fan to answer that.”