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Original poster

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:
itsgettingweird · 04/09/2025 07:19

I think it’s the relationship between seeing as drinking as a sociable celebration behaviour and holiday being just that. So not necessarily wanting a drink but almost like an ingrained mindset?

I always had a cooked breakfast at the airport - even if I didn’t particularly want it it was just part of what I did!

I imagine some people it’s alcoholism? I use to be a holiday rep decades ago and we had a lot of lone travellers come through having urinated on themselves and seemingly unaware - but also not outwardly drunk and rowdy iyswim?

Fastingandhungry · 04/09/2025 07:18

MuffinsAreJustCakesAtBreakfast · 04/09/2025 07:09

The same reason you think it's normal to pay £84 for a paperback booked published five years ago and £12.99 for a single bag of crisps.

normal rules don't apply in airports.

🤣

BCBird · 04/09/2025 07:18

For some people they see it as signifying the start of their holiday. Not for me, a Boots Meal Deal or a spritz of new perfume is my indicator😂

CoastalCalm · 04/09/2025 07:17

Bloody Mary or an Espresso Martini for me please with a couple of rounds of toast , butter and jam

soupyspoon · 04/09/2025 07:17

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

Because they've probably been up since about 1 or 2 in the morning so its like lunchtime

An hour to get ready, 2 hours to the airport at least, 1 hour getting through the check in, security, blah blah blah, by all that time, you're wide awake, you've been on the go and fancy a little drinkie.

Rewis · 04/09/2025 07:16

I'm sure some are scared scared flying etc. But I just think drinking has become a symbol of a holiday so the first drink at 5am at the airport signifies you're officially on holiday. Novelty and how it os normally "forbidden"

RedRiverShore5 · 04/09/2025 07:15

I can't stomach alcohol any time of day but anything else I can eat at any time so I guess if I drank alcohol that would be the same and I could easily manage it at 5am and not just at the airport

LaughingCat · 04/09/2025 07:15

I’d take a lovely glass of Buck’s Fizz or a morning mimosa before a holiday, no trouble…no-one’s ever offered me one but I would if they did 😂. Couldn’t drink a pint though or eat breakfast. That’s too much.

Embankments · 04/09/2025 07:12

Fear of flying for me.

Complet · 04/09/2025 07:12

Novelty? Been travelling four hours so it feels a different time? Scared of flying? They just fancy it? They’re at the airport lounge and want to get their money’s worth in free drinks?

GoldThumb · 04/09/2025 07:11

Because time doesn’t exist at the airport.

EmeraldShamrock000 · 04/09/2025 07:11

If I am in the airport at 5am, its holiday time, I definitely enjoy a glass of wine for my nerves before boarding.

Sowingbees · 04/09/2025 07:11

I find it weird that people can't eat or drink normally at 5am.

I could wake up and eat and drink anything - I don't understand how time affects what you eat.

AhBiscuits · 04/09/2025 07:10

I think it's become a bit of a tradition. I'd do it if I wasn't on a holiday with the kids.

MuffinsAreJustCakesAtBreakfast · 04/09/2025 07:09

The same reason you think it's normal to pay £84 for a paperback booked published five years ago and £12.99 for a single bag of crisps.

normal rules don't apply in airports.

LhudeSingCuccu · 04/09/2025 07:09

I guess these people have been up for hours. I’ll have a breakfast champagne or mimosa at Heathrow, it’s tradition!

Ihavetoask · 04/09/2025 07:08

Holidays start once you're on your way to the airport

13SixWeetabix · 04/09/2025 07:08

I couldn't stomach it, and although I'm not adverse to a drink I have never been even slightly tempted to have a drink on a flight either no matter how long. But, people are different and have different circumstances and like different things 🤷‍♀️

RampantIvy · 04/09/2025 07:07

It's not something I fancy, nor do I want to spend half the flight queuing for the loo.

Cluckycluck · 04/09/2025 07:06

BriceNobeslovesMurielHeslop · 04/09/2025 07:01

I’ve never understood how people can stomach pints at 5am either. I’ll have a Bloody Mary please.

Completely with you, it absolutely has to be a bloody mary at that time of the morning!

Firstshoes · 04/09/2025 07:05

If it's an early morning flight it doesn't feel like a normal morning as I usually have been up for hours. Airport time is not normal time. I would never have a glass of wine at 5am usually but I will at the airport. It's being in holiday mode and also does help me relax as I don't love flying.

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?

aintnospringchicken · 04/09/2025 07:03

I’ve had a few early morning flights and every single time Wetherspoons is always rammed with people drinking alcohol pre flight.Personally I can’t even eat at that time never mind drink alcohol.
I’ve heard people say that their holiday starts at the airport and drinking alcohol at any time of the day is part of the holiday ie,start as you mean to go on.

DappledThings · 04/09/2025 07:03

Airports exist outside of nornal time zones! 5am is just another time of day when you've been up for hours already to get there. It's not the same as 5am at home.

Never had a drink that early myself but I don't think it's that strange when the whole process of plane travel means your body clock and routine is all over the place anyway

SatsumaDog · 04/09/2025 07:02

I guess it’s either a fear of flying or they just want to kick off their holiday with a celebratory pint! Personally I’d be asleep under the table and miss my flight if I tried it!