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"

I expect it's a phase.. they'll get bored of it or they'll do something really stupid or embarrassing and never want to drink again.

Back in my day drinking in our 20s was to socialize and meet people. For us guys it was a chance "to pull". That doesn't really exist anymore.

People socialise online now,

Women do not want men approaching them in social setting anymore. They can go on Tinder and fawn over the hotties.

Men are more shy because of rejection and social media

It's expensive.

I'm in my 50s, away with friends this weekend and we've pretty much been drinking 24/7.

My sons, in their early 20s barely drink at all.

Well its true of my locals! Full of old men and people who live on benefits 🤷‍♀️

Drinks in pubs are so expensive now it's a wonder anyone can afford more than one. A night in a pub used to be fun, now you need a small mortgage.

I work in a supermarket and the majority of the alcohol is purchased by people 40 plus, and even more so by the 60 plus age group.

One of my friend's daughters got married recently. From all accounts most of the younger people there were absolutely hammered (mid to late 20's) so it doesn't sound like they're giving up drinking around these parts!

dole types on universal credit, and people on disability spending their allowances

My ds 16 and dd 19 definitely do drink. Vodka is the drink of choice. Before they go out, they pre-load at home so it is not so expensive to buy at a pub or bar. Dd is more sensible and does not get steaming drunk. Ds on the other hand has been known to overdo it, as have his friends. It is not every night and I don't think they go out just to binge drink.

I was also in my twenties during the 90's and thd pubs used to be rammed at the weekends and we were out 3/4 nights a week. Good times! But I think the culture has changed and a lot less young people drink these days and they don't go out as often like we used to do. But it was so much cheaper then.

I think culture has changed however I'm not confident it's for the better. Drugs are more common as they are cheaper than alcohol. Vaping in the young is as or more popular than smoking was in the generation above me. Mental health seems at an all time low.

Phones, camera and social media definitely have a role to play on why younger people don't drink as much. I'm certainly glad no one was filming my misspent youth.

Agree with pp about ID and prices. We'd go clubbing at gcse age with a fiver/tenner for the night. None of that is happening now.

No binge drinking is good. Being aware of how you appear constantly and not being able to afford pubs is rubbish.

Aren't they all getting ket off the dark web instead?

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

What a horrible person you are.

Tbf it's a lot harder for kids to get alcohol or go to pub these days. When I worked at McDonald's a lot of the young people were more into drugs. One young lad beat his girlfriend half to death on a lovely combination of them yay progress .

It used to be heaving in the town on a Friday night, sad that it's all gone now tbh. It was a right of passage to go on your first night out, send the oldest looking friend to order many half a ciders.

No

People are simply drinking at home

If they're going out, many are 'pre-loading' by drinking before they go out, so as not to spend so much at the pub

Antisocial behaviour, fuelled by alcohol is on the rise

Deaths due to alcohol are also on the rise

Me and my cousins span a 20 year age-gap. It's noticeable that the 10 of us over 33 drink alcohol and the 8 below don't drink at all. We're similar demographic, split of uni-goers, non-uni etc. Reasons are financial, health, pubs aren't as fun. Their social life is at coffee shops, spas, afternoon teas, gym, parkruns etc. Much more well-rounded and health-conscious. They never started drinking. I didn't even realise none drank for years, I thought they were just driving and didn't realise until we chatted.

The 'oldies' cousins are gradually moving towards this and drinking less and less (though not tee-total, i drink on average 3 glasses of wine a month I'd say when not pregnant). Our parents on the other hand come laden with alcohol to our meet-ups and drink huge amounts. We definitely look far younger than our parents did at our age.

young people are taking drugs at clubs though.

I work with teenagers and young adults, and I have noticed that hardly any of them drink. They even go out to clubs and just have one or two. If I'm out it's never the young adults that I see slurring or staggering, always the adults in their late 30's, 40's or above.

Work for one of the worlds largest brewers so feel like I have some knowledge of this market!

Drinking culture is changing, and the main alcohol consumers in the UK are 40+ men and women, whereas around 25% of gen z don't drink at all.

Pricing has obviously seriously affected pubs, alongside rising running costs, smoking ban and also culturally they just aren't becoming as relevant, modern consumers want an 'experience' which is where you see the rise in the likes of the 'activity' style venues, y'know the places where you can play shuffleboard, having gaming centers, or are 'hipster'. However, because these places are expensive people visit them less. Streaming/gaming services have also affected pubs; if you can see the latest blockbuster at home on netflix, get your dinner delivered via deliveroo and get your fave beer or wine from Tesco, why would you wanna go to the pub?

Anecdotally, one of the biggest brands for the brewer I work for that they are promoting is a 0% product, whereas 5 years ago in the industry there were next to no conversations on low/no alcohol.

This isn't me saying that people aren't drinking, but I do believe the culture is changing, and it is hitting the alcohol companies. 10 years ago my company would be flying people all over the world for trips, bonus' would be good and they would have a lot of money to invest in pubs - this has all changed and the purse strings are so tight they are nearly closed.

Yadnbu
My DS is 18 and had a party last week. Out of 25 only about 15 were drinking and none that much.
I can remember being that age and meeting a lad who didn't drink. We questioned him.as to why on earth not and he told us his dad had died from alcoholism. That was deemed an acceptable response but he was few and far between and even the squarest people at school would occasionally drink.
Our 4 barely ever drink. And I've never seen them drunk even though they do out a lot.

Drinking isn’t aspirational - it’s full of calories and will inhibit your workout, give you anxiety etc.

It’s so much safer not to drink.

Yes I agree there's been a shift, lots of young people don't drink let alone binge drink. As a PP said though drugs are a lot more prevalent which isn't good- so swings and roundabouts.

1980s sweet cider
2020s weed

I do think younger people as a whole don't drink as much alcohol as previous generations.

The way they drink is changing and only for the better. I think there will always be groups drinking cider in the park and clubbing but generally we are moving to a drink less and better quality. So the half pint of craft IPA that is £6 is forcing drinkers to slow down, drink less and appreciate it more. More cafe culture than drinking to get drunk. Pubs are evolving to facilitate this.

There's also more socialising at home because supermarket drinks are so much cheaper.

I think younger generations aren’t into drinking as much, they are more focused on health and well-being, and looking good for instagram! Pub culture in my town is very big though, with all ages

Thank you. This is interesting. I guess all industries are feeling the pinch right now…