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Can someone explain 5am airport drinking?

409 replies

Prenoden · 04/09/2025 06:52

I'm not asking this as a kill joy or teetotaler, I enjoy a drink on holiday as much as anyone but how are people able to stomach pints at 5am?

Been on holiday recently and could barely eat before flight yet everyone else had pints/ g&t etc. It wasn't even mid morning it was 5am

OP posts:
Pastaandoranges · 04/09/2025 09:33

Holiday mode starting, been up for hours already and spent weeks anticipating your holiday and packing and organising, working all year to afford and pay for it and finally starting your break. It's that feeling of, we're finally here, having our holiday, we can relax finally, forget about work and anything stressful at home and let's drink to that.
Also takes the stress and edge off of being stuck in departures like cattle and makes the whole process a little more enjoyable and carefree.
I don't have an early morning drink when travelling with kids as I have to be on the ball and make sure I don't lose them in the drpartures area, but will definitely have a glass of champagne early if I am travelling child free. I always drink a glass of wine or three on a long haul flight as well as it helps pass the time and helps sleep.

VanessaSanessa · 04/09/2025 09:31

This thread is making me want a bloody Mary and I've never tried one!!

NeatKoala · 04/09/2025 09:31

It's the start of the holiday! Nice buzz, and you sleep it off in the plane.

Same thing as people drinking Mimosa on Christmas morning for breakfast.

Franpie · 04/09/2025 09:30

Lanzarotelady · 04/09/2025 09:25

Because they have been up since 3am
Its a special occasion
They aren't tired
They are excited
A drink symbolises the start of the holiday
They are sick of being judged by people like you
Its a novelty
Make them sleep on the plane

Absolutely not judging. More like marvelling at their ability to drink alcohol at that time. I had also been up 3 hours. What’s this 3 hour rule? Do people normally fancy a drink 3 hours after waking? I’ve been up 3 hours now, still couldn’t stomach a cocktail or large glass of red right now!

cobrakaieaglefang · 04/09/2025 09:29

I guess it depends on how long you have been up? If you have been up 6 hrs, is it any different to a lunch drink. It's a social normality to drink later in the day, but actually, its just a drink, its just the effects of alcohol that prevent most of us doing it, particularly if we have to function during the day. hence spoons reputation 😉 I couldn't drink coffee without feeling sick in the morning.

notacooldad · 04/09/2025 09:28

I wish I could have a drink on the 5am flight!! My sons and dh do but id be wanting a wee the minute I sit down on tbe plane and then wanting another one 10 mins later.

I can't even face having a coffee or a coke!

Starlight1984 · 04/09/2025 09:28

Time has no meaning at the airport. Who normally is wandering round Boots at WH Smith at 5am? Having been up and dressed for hours?

Normal rules don't apply once you are through check-in and security!

Plus people are in holiday mode and excited. We usually book the airport lounge (we get it free with our bank accounts) and as soon as we have sat down with a glass of prosecco / beer and some picky breakfast buffet bits, we are officially on holiday 🍾

Lanzarotelady · 04/09/2025 09:26

Minniliscious · 04/09/2025 09:19

Why is this thread making me fancy a large wine in a Spoons at Stansted airport 😳 Even a 5am one ….

Because it feels bloody exciting
Bacon Butty and a wine at 6am is the best

DressOrSkirt · 04/09/2025 09:26

Reasons I can think of:
-They've come from a different time zone
-Jet lag
-On a different schedule to you/the norm (eg shift workers)
-Scared of flying
-Getting in the holiday mood

Lanzarotelady · 04/09/2025 09:25

Franpie · 04/09/2025 09:23

I don’t get it either. I was in a business lounge (so free booze and food) with my DS at Heathrow at 6am over the summer and the number of people going up to the bar ordering mojitos, beer, wine, champagne turned my stomach. I could barely drink my coffee I was so tired. How they were managing to drink alcohol I’ll never know.

Because they have been up since 3am
Its a special occasion
They aren't tired
They are excited
A drink symbolises the start of the holiday
They are sick of being judged by people like you
Its a novelty
Make them sleep on the plane

InterestQ · 04/09/2025 09:25

I drink quite a lot with enthusiasm - MN would undoubtedly shriek with horror at my units - and I rarely drink at the airport. It makes me feel ill.

I fly a couple of times a month and having a glass of champagne or whatever and then it wearing off and needing to pee, getting tired and the distance to the gate and the standing around and the getting up and down to let people in to their seats on the plane and too hot then too cold and it’s just so not worth it.

I saw some men in suits drinking red wine at 7am at City airport the other week and felt ill just thinking about it!

On the other hand, holidaying with my mum and dad as a child, my dad would always have a pint first thing. Not a big drinker, not even a weekly drinker - never seen him drunk in my life and he would order a Guinness and love it.

Starlight1984 · 04/09/2025 09:24

Scotsgirl001 · 04/09/2025 07:28

It’s one of only two times acceptable to drink in the morning. At the airport heading on holiday, and Xmas Day 🥂☺️

Absolutely!

Lanzarotelady · 04/09/2025 09:23

SimoneHere · 04/09/2025 08:57

You really have 8 drinks per day for most days of your holiday?

Genuinely just curious. I would have far too much coffee and cake, so definitely not judging! But alcohol-wise I’m a 1 glass of wine a week person, so it’s interesting to see how much it varies.

8 drinks a day on holiday is not unusual, nor would someone be drunk!

Lunch time - 2 cans of beer with a cheese toastie
Couple of cans in the afternoon round the pool
Glass of wine or G&T after a shower
2 glasses of wine with dinner
G&T back at the apartment
Other drinks drunk - loads of water as its bloody hot
Cup of tea

There 8 drinks done easily - not in the slightest bit drunk
That would be over 10 hours, less than one drink an hour

Icanttakethisanymore · 04/09/2025 09:23

Chompingatthebeat · 04/09/2025 08:26

Becsuse they're inferior to you op

And crucially, we are all now aware of that important distinction. No point being superior to someone unless everyone knows about it.

Franpie · 04/09/2025 09:23

I don’t get it either. I was in a business lounge (so free booze and food) with my DS at Heathrow at 6am over the summer and the number of people going up to the bar ordering mojitos, beer, wine, champagne turned my stomach. I could barely drink my coffee I was so tired. How they were managing to drink alcohol I’ll never know.

HappiestSleeping · 04/09/2025 09:22

My friends and I have a rule that you have to have an alcoholic beverage (usually a beer) at the airport no matter what time it is.

I confess that I have been one of those at 5am with a pint (usually Guinness as that is almost a complete breakfast). I also confess that I sometimes have to force it in, and it is only the one. I think it started as nobody has to drive from then on, but over the years, it has morphed into a tradition.

dogcatkitten · 04/09/2025 09:19

CultureAlienationBoredomandDespair · 04/09/2025 06:57

I think it’s a mix, some people are just in holiday mode and may well have been up a long time to travel to the airport. Others don’t like flying and drink to take the edge off or some just hope it will help them sleep through their flight.

And drinks on the plane are probably really expensive, so the 'get a few in before we board', seems like a good idea (to some).

Lanzarotelady · 04/09/2025 09:19

User364431 · 04/09/2025 08:40

Alcoholism obviously

ODFOD! And when you're over there, FO some more!
Could you clench your arse cheeks any more!

I am having a drink a 5 am at the airport because I am on my bloody holidays! And if you're judging me, I'll have another one! So stick that up your self righteous bottom!

Minniliscious · 04/09/2025 09:19

Why is this thread making me fancy a large wine in a Spoons at Stansted airport 😳 Even a 5am one ….

jolies1 · 04/09/2025 09:17

Airports have their own time zones. If I’m at the airport at 6am I’ve been up for 3 hours at that point, I’m not sure I could stomach a pint but I can usually manage a mimosa or a Bloody Mary.

LillyPJ · 04/09/2025 09:16

They've probably already been awake for 4 hours or more, they're excited and in holiday mood, they have money to spend and there is a bar open... At least it's better than trawling through all the perfumes, make-up and over-priced skin creams.

JustMyView13 · 04/09/2025 09:15

I think the logic for some, is that they’ve woken early, got up, ready, travelled a considerable distance to the airport, and it ‘feels’ like the afternoon. There’s not much about a departure lounge which makes it feel like 5am. I guess they’re kinda like vegas in that sense - time doesn’t exist.
Personally, it’s a bit keen for me. But to each their own. No judgement.

MissAmbrosia · 04/09/2025 09:14

When I go away with my friends we always have prosecco and pringles on the plane - even at 6am. It feels classier than a pint in Wetherspoons though I know its the same thing 😁

Minnie798 · 04/09/2025 09:13

It's just holiday mode, not a sign that everyone is a functioning alcoholic.

CunningLinguist2 · 04/09/2025 09:11

BitOutOfPractice · 04/09/2025 07:04

Because normal time has no meaning in an airport.

Hard to believe not everyone is like you isn’t it?

Unnecessarily catty - agreed with your first line completely, but you sounds awful w. the 2nd one. That's a shame.

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