For sure. As others mentioned some locals have gone so far as to make drinking in public illegal.
Now in your example, suppose you’re a lonely stranger. Do you just nudge in on a circle with your beer and “Hi I’m Shawa” ?
Your answer may be yes, but in other cultures that’s going to get the police called, or maybe end in a stabbing. Which is why society is in the state it’s in
In London on sunny days the park is 100% rammed with people sitting in circles on the grass drinking, from like noon to sunset