Britain's drink problem correcting itself?

[David98uk]

I'm in my 30s had a varied life and lived all over the country, served in the military etc etc.. Drink has always been a big part of things.

"Getting hammered.."
"Friday Saturday night yay!"
"Coming down for sesh?!"
"having a few pints down the pub"
"watching the game (few pints obv)"

I've given up booze for the most part, i'll only drink on holiday abroad now

I've witnessed pubs close down in my local towns and villages for the last decade and it's still continuing. The people who frequent what is left are basically old men, some down and out dole types on universal credit, and people on disability spending their allowances. Elderly day drinkers are dying off and nobody is replacing them.

The young people that i work with (hospitality) are not really into it either, the lads are into gaming and going to the gym, and the girls are saving up to "go traveling"

The reduction in people going to pubs doesn't mean there aren't as many people drinking.

The smoking ban put many off going to the pub. The price of drinking out versus buying drink in a supermarket and drinking at home and the impact of the pandemic have played roles.

Pubs started dying off when alcohol began to be sold in supermarkets. The demographic you mention are still drinking, they're just doing it at home because it's cheaper.

But yes, I hope the younger generation are moving away from it.

It’s changed. I don’t go to the pub to get pissed, I go for a drink and a nice meal with my husband, dog and toddler.

I litter pick in the woods every weekend. I get bagfuls of empty cans of cider, small bottles of cheap vodka, lager, beer. It's not old men sitting there getting pissed with their sweeties, vapes and drugs.

This has been happening for a while now.
I was in my teens/early 20s in the 90s and binge drinking was the norm.
Younger people I know now tend to go to gigs and be happy with tap water and watching the bands
They see alcohol as more of a middle aged thing and see it as quite boring.

not sure what your point is ?
maybe it's just pub culture dying out because times have changed?
the younger generation don't go to the pub to socialize anymore,
the community has died out

people are still drinking plenty in clubs and in their own houses, especially since lock down , so the drinking problem is still alive, I would argue that its even worse now

old men, some down and out dole types on universal credit, and people on disability spending their allowances are people on universal credit, disabled people, and elderly men not allowed to drink in the pub?
how do you even know that these people are benefits did you go up and do a survey?

I don't think it's just Britain. Younger people today are way more health conscious and a lot would rather play sports etc than get wasted.

My teen DC and their mates think getting drunk is a bit sad and and 'old' thing to do.

Also, the younger generation are very SM savvy and are well aware that pics or videos of them getting pissed will not do them any favours on uni or job applications.

I did find some interesting information and it ties in with that I've seen.

I don't actually think young people are binge drinking at home really. I pop in the coop on the way home from work nearly everyday. It's always blokes my age or older picking up a crate of beer or wine.

https://alcoholchange.org.uk/alcohol-facts/fact-sheets/drinking-trends-in-the-uk

"While youth drinking has been falling steadily, consumption among older people has not changed at the same rate. People aged 55-64 are more likely than anyone else to drink at higher risk levels"

More drinking at home, less in pubs. When meeting socially I tend to use coffee shops. That is a cultural shift, there are several in my small town and there were none when I was a teen.

I feel the tide is turning actually. I’m also early 40s and binge drank my way through the late 90s and 00s. Less so in my 30s when I had kids. More recently I’m liking being drunk less and less, though having a bit of a hard time reconciling that as I’m definitely more laid back, confident, fun, funnier after a couple of drinks and have never drunk at home unless entertaining.

Many of my friends are going off drinking too; and where I live there is a promenade / park type place which is lovely of an evening in the summer. Plenty of young adults around but none seem blathered. It would’ve been carnage in my day. Now they are playing uno.

They are all full here on weekends, all ages

I think a lot of younger people are choosing weed over alcohol.

Possibly because it's much cheaper and because most pubs/clubs are very strict about seeing photo ID.

I'm in my 50s and when I was 15 or 16 we'd all go to the pub and simply lie to the Landlord or bring someone else's birth certificate.

But having said that, the 'hipster' type pubs are still heaving in town on a weekend.

I'm late 40s. Love pubs and if I had the choice would spend 3 or 4 nights a week in one, like I did 25-30 years ago. But I don't, and the biggest reason is cost.

If you look at the demographic in pubs now, yes it's older people because they are the only ones that can afford it. When I first started drinking on a Fri/Sat night the boozers would get busier and busier...by 9pm they would be rammed. And a right mix of ages. Now they're half empty at that time because the majority have gone in earlier, had dinner and a glass of merlot and gone home. Thinking about it, my local subtly discourages people popping in for just beer by laying out the tables with cutlery, menus and wine glasses. It's where they make their money I guess.

I really hope that you are right. My sister is currently terminally ill with end stage liver failure. I feel that the younger generations are more clued up about health...largely because of social media and wanting to look good, but it can only be a good thing.

One has just opened here as well actually.. It's semi-busy on the weekend but the drinks are very expensive.. think £6 for one of those craft IPA pints.

It'll be gone by next year.

I kind of agree with you OP, I'm in my late 30's now, and have as good as given up drinking, as have most of my friends my age. When we were young drinking was a huge part of our lives, and pubs and bars were always packed out at weekends, not so much the case now.

I have recently gone back to working in an office, and I have two much young colleagues, both in their very early 20's and they're both tee total and from what they say this is very very common.

I think it’s because drugs are cheaper and alcohol so expensive. Or they drink at home.

I would t say it is at all, people are just drinking cheaper alcohol at home and I would think in larger quantities and more frequently.
Not sure what the younger age group are doing but I would think it involves more drugs than we did when we were younger

My 19 year old never drinks. I think he got drunk once when he turned 17. He might have the odd bottle. I think this new generation dont drink to get smashed.

Personally my sicail life died over covid. I have not had one drink out with a single friend since and that's not my choice. Agoraphobia and lack of spare cash I guess by friends. I can't see myself ever having a night out again which makes me feel sad. But because life has changed post covid I definitely don't drink very much. Can't ever imagine being drunk again.

I think alcohol is less popular amongst young people, there are more into wellness.

There's a lovely brunch spot near me & I would often go at 7am with my baby as I was awake with nothing better to do. I would be so surprised by the younger people in there at the same time as me, or jogging, or queuing for a green smoothie. At that age myself & friends would be still sleeping after raving for hours, we'd stir late morning & be in the greasy spoon at noon.

some down and out dole types on universal credit, and people on disability spending their allowances.

This tells me a great deal about you. Not them. It's almost as if you've deliberately used inflammatory language because you're on the wind up. I almost hope that's the case and that you're not just an ignorant bigot.

I do feel for the youngsters who are very health conscious & scared about "incriminating" photos, it's good to let your hair down a bit & go a bit wild. Far better to do it in your early 20s than later on in life.

Kids aren't brought up going out, like we were. Going to the pub/local club from 16 was the norm. And before us, men went to the pub after work and after tea and women just put up with k it.
I think a lot of dying pubs are because women don't accept their partners spending their shares time in pubs anymore, so fewer men go. It's alsp bloody expensive to go to a pub and pay for a babysitter. It's cheaper to drink at home with your mates. And yes, young people are more about the drugs than alcohol. Ironic, as they're a bit po faced about us oldies getting drunk, but don't give a shit about the provenance of their drugs.

I also think my area is a bit behind. Kids are still getting drunk in parks and throwing stones at cars round here.