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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:
Figcherry · 04/09/2025 10:38

I have no problem with anyone having a couple of drinks before flying.
Drunks however should not be allowed near a plane imo.

eqpi4t2hbsnktd · 04/09/2025 10:36

The dr did give me valium but they have stopped that now.... meanies

RaraRachael · 04/09/2025 10:36

It seems to be a tradition among OH and his friends. They have a Whatsapp group and everyone is expected to show their airport pint photos - the earlier the better.
Personally my stomach is in knots at the prospect of flying so all I can manage is a bottle of water.

eqpi4t2hbsnktd · 04/09/2025 10:35

I am a terribly anxious flyer and will neck a gin tin in the loos (I realise I sound like I have a problem here....) this works for me and I can manage the flight. I don't drink on flights btw as I don't like it....

paranoidnamechanger · 04/09/2025 10:33

Very sad and grim. And rather pathetic. I always look at those people and hope they’re not on my flight.

SquirrelsInSpace · 04/09/2025 10:33

Anxious flyer here. I use it to calm my nerves.

WellingtonBoot · 04/09/2025 10:28

For me, as a shift-worker (on thos particular topic, you probably don't want to know what I do!!!) your 5am could be my 5pm.
Even at home, sometimes I get in from work at 6am and pour myself a G&T!

pizzaHeart · 04/09/2025 10:27

I can’t as I’m the same as you. Those who can are still drank at this time so you need to wait a bit until the evening 😉

zingally · 04/09/2025 10:27

I certainly couldn't stomach alcohol at 5am! Even a coffee can be a challenge for me at that hour.

Tink3rbell30 · 04/09/2025 10:25

Gross, don't know how they don't feel queasy.

Megifer · 04/09/2025 10:25

I dont like flying so whether its 4am or 11pm, I WILL get very tipsy at the airport!!

whitewineandsun · 04/09/2025 10:23

InOverMyHead84 · 04/09/2025 06:59

Holiday mode, sometimes people will have been up for many hours just to get to the airport and through check on. The holiday now begins.

This plus airports are shit. We have to be there so early. I get it.

MrsDoubtfire1 · 04/09/2025 10:22

I was on a long ferry crossing years ago. It was 6 a.m. and I had been sick all night on the rough crossing. There were people eating a full English. Turned my stomach.

Coffeeishot · 04/09/2025 10:20

Alcohol and ibuprofen mix fine you could have had another 😀

Notsurewheretostarthere · 04/09/2025 10:10

Lanzarotelady · 04/09/2025 10:09

Medication and champagne! The pearl clutchers will be up in arms!

😂 It was only one glass though.

Lanzarotelady · 04/09/2025 10:09

Notsurewheretostarthere · 04/09/2025 10:07

Completely. I still had stitches though so I took my ibuprofen with the champagne 😁

Medication and champagne! The pearl clutchers will be up in arms!

Notsurewheretostarthere · 04/09/2025 10:07

Coffeeishot · 04/09/2025 10:03

Bet it felt like a real treat though🥂

Completely. I still had stitches though so I took my ibuprofen with the champagne 😁

Parky04 · 04/09/2025 10:06

A fry up and a pint at 5am before a flight is part of the holiday!

dimsiaradcymraeg · 04/09/2025 10:04

Hate flying, a glass of fizz helps me relax.

Coffeeishot · 04/09/2025 10:03

Notsurewheretostarthere · 04/09/2025 09:59

Really really expensive though!! I was celebrating the first holiday after a lot of surgery so it seemed justifiable!

Bet it felt like a real treat though🥂

notimagain · 04/09/2025 10:02

I was in a Wetherspoons this week for breakfast at 9am however and there were absolutely tonnes of men in there having pints with their Full English. A lot of them seemed to be workmen in high vis jackets or elderly men on their own and that did scream "alcoholics."

Perish the thought but it's just possible the high vis jacket wearers might be night shift workers having a bit of downtime at the end of a long shift.

Not everyone works day shifts and is therefore on the way to work at 9am.

Coffeeishot · 04/09/2025 10:02

mrlistersgelfbride · 04/09/2025 09:58

I can’t do it . I feel sick at that time and if I have not had much sleep too.
After 10am would be fine. Partner has always done it.

Yeah i never feel great early in the morning I think that's probably why I couldn't face a drink.

Notsurewheretostarthere · 04/09/2025 09:59

Lanzarotelady · 04/09/2025 09:51

I want that now! Bugger my bacon butty and a glass of rose- I am telling Mr Lanzarote I want eggs and pink champers - now that is posh!

Edited

Really really expensive though!! I was celebrating the first holiday after a lot of surgery so it seemed justifiable!

mrlistersgelfbride · 04/09/2025 09:58

I can’t do it . I feel sick at that time and if I have not had much sleep too.
After 10am would be fine. Partner has always done it.

GameOfJones · 04/09/2025 09:58

I imagine it's tradition for some people. Something they don't normally do and symbolises that they are out of the usual routine and the holiday has begun.

I love a drink although haven't done the 5am airport drinking myself....but I don't see it as being any different to having a Bucks Fizz with my breakfast on Christmas morning which loads of people do!

I was in a Wetherspoons this week for breakfast at 9am however and there were absolutely tonnes of men in there having pints with their Full English. A lot of them seemed to be workmen in high vis jackets or elderly men on their own and that did scream "alcoholics."