Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think sitting in a pub drinking on your own for 5 hours is an abnormal thing to do

63 replies

aisoft · 12/05/2013 20:44

Me and DP went shopping today and popped into Walkabout at about about 3:45 to get some food before going home. My little brother was in there drinking on his own and he had several empty pint glasses on his table. I asked him about this and he said he'd come down to watch the football at 1, he's a Spurs fan and his team were playing at 1:30 but then he was staying on to watch the next game which kicked off at 4, this means he would have been there nearly 5 hours drinking alone incessantly. I think this is very strange thing to do but DP thinks its no big deal as he's just relaxing on a Sunday and I'm being a nag and a busybody.

OP posts:
Thumbtack · 12/05/2013 20:47

We run a pub and this is totally normal my bread and butter Grin

nevergoogle · 12/05/2013 20:47

but he would only have been on his own for half an hour before other fans turned up?

Thumbtack · 12/05/2013 20:48

Whoops cross out fail Blush

TWinklyLittleStar · 12/05/2013 20:48

Not weird if there's sport.

bigTillyMint · 12/05/2013 20:48

I don't think it's at all unusual. Loads of blokes do this on the weekend.

usualsuspect · 12/05/2013 20:49

Lots of people like to watch football in a pub with other fans

Sounds normal to me.

kinkyfuckery · 12/05/2013 20:50

Not weird at all. I've worked in many pubs over years and most of our best business is the male solo drinkers who stop in for a pint and stay for hours.

Thumbtack · 12/05/2013 20:50

We get lads that turn up on their own, way before the match. Sometimes it's to get a good seat before the crowd, others just treat it like a social club..

redbunnyfruitcake · 12/05/2013 20:52

I guess some people like the pub environment more than others so it's not really that strange. It may not be what you or I would like to do with our time but maybe he doesn't have any other interests. I would be worried if he was doing this most days or during all his spare time as drinking for 5 hours straight can't be good for anyone but if he is nursing 2 or 3 pints during this time while watching football it can't be that bad.

I'm guessing you feel sad that he doesn't have more of a life but like I said before maybe he is happy. Unless you notice obvious signs of a problem it may be best to let him be.

LaurieFairyCake · 12/05/2013 20:52

Totally normal. I'd bloody love it and I don't even like football much. How lovely to have a free afternoon and have a few pints.

I've sat in a tea shop all afternoon reading a book with the waitrose bringing me lunch, then tea and cake, then a fresh pot if tea.

It was bloody lovely. Best tenner ever spent.

Lj8893 · 12/05/2013 20:52

When I was younger, single and a big socialite I would quite often go into a pub on my own and stay there on my own, but I would know full well I would see lots of people I knew or could chat to etc. even just the bar staff!

LaurieFairyCake · 12/05/2013 20:52

That's waitress not waitrose Grin

Original poster
aisoft · 12/05/2013 20:54

It just seems so odd to me for a 19yo to sit in a pub alone for 5 hours whilst steaming through the pints. I get that he would go to watch his own team as he doesn't have sky in his shared house but to stay beyond that seems really weird.

OP posts:
OHforDUCKScake · 12/05/2013 20:55

I was all ready to say it was odd until you said football was involved.

I think its probably quite common.

ShatnersBassoon · 12/05/2013 20:55

Normal for loads of people. I'd love to have the freedom to do that some weekends.

SgtTJCalhoun · 12/05/2013 20:56

It's not abnormal at all. I used to think that too when I was in my early twenties. Now I think it's more odd not to be able to be on your own, to have to have someone with you. I don't often go to the pub alone as I don't really like alcohol. I do eat out alone though and always go to the cinema alone. Prefer it in fact.

nevergoogle · 12/05/2013 20:57

but there was two games to watch.

Bowlersarm · 12/05/2013 21:00

Probably much nicer for him to sit amongst other fans and watch the footie than being home by himself drinking?

Thumbtack · 12/05/2013 21:00

Maybe he fancies the lusty bar wench ?? Seriously though it does happen.

OrangeLily · 12/05/2013 21:00

It's a lot more normal than you think. Having worked in pubs there are a lot of people who do this.

I will happily sit for a few hours in a pub alone as long as I have something to do. Normally reading a book but I have been known to plan things like essays too.

LynetteScavo · 12/05/2013 21:02

Yes, but I bet a few people he knew dropped in for him to chat to...like you for example.

Better than sitting home alone watching something you're not really interested in.

WafflyVersatile · 12/05/2013 21:02

Normal, not necessarily health long-term. Grin

Would it be odd if he stayed out of sight in his flat all sunday watching the football and drinking cans from the shop?

Scheherezade · 12/05/2013 21:03

If it was the match this eve then it was a big big game in football history, definitely one any football fan will have wanted to watch.

squeakytoy · 12/05/2013 21:04

I cant see anything unusual in it. He could have sat in his house, drinking a few cans, but he preferred to sit in the pub, where he might meet people to chat to...

ilovesooty · 12/05/2013 21:07

I do it myself when I'm on holiday. It doesn't seem abnormal to me.