Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To hate the drinking culture in the UK?

187 replies

newjerseyp · 25/04/2022 12:42

I despair of the drinking culture in the UK. Everything revolves around alcohol. I go to a dinner party - alcohol first, food plus alcohol, dessert plus alcohol, then more alcohol to finish. Sunny day? Let's go to a beer garden! Catch up with friends? Let's meet for a drink (usually alcohol). BBQs I see more people drinking alcohol than actually eating. Alcohol is used to celebrate (birthdays, graduations etc) and commiserate (funerals). It's very hard to avoid. Every occasion I go to I instantly get asked, 'are you having a drink?'

Yesterday (Sunday) about 75 percent of my friends were hungover. I was trying to make plans to go out a walk and most of the replies were 'had too much to drink last night'. Of course you could go to these things and just not drink but then you have to explain yourself and the temptation is there and it's also boring being surrounded by tipsy/drunk people when sober.

Alcohol is second to cigarettes as the biggest killer, even before illegal drugs yet it is so normalised and glamourised in society and there doesn't seem to be much incentive outlined by the government to change this.

AIBU to just hate it?

OP posts:
Rosehugger · 25/04/2022 15:39

I found the opposite since having a family and particularly once DDs started school. When I went out with other mums I knew most people would be driving and no-one ever wanted to stay out late or have more than a couple of drinks. Most people I'm friends with are really into their health and don't drink very much at all, or are can't take more than a couple of glasses of wine in a sitting, even with food.

The only people I know who are serious drinkers is a few people I know through work.

BrightOrangeOrange · 25/04/2022 15:47

newjerseyp

I do think it would help you if you looked to meet different people. You can't change how people want to live their life. Are you single? I do think at a certain age you can't expect Friends to just drop everything and go for a walk on a Sunday when you ask them - hangover or no hangover. Many people like to chill on a Sunday if they've had a busy week or visit family etc.

BrightOrangeOrange · 25/04/2022 15:51

newjerseyp · 25/04/2022 13:38

@BrightOrangeOrange your post in itself is defensive 🤣

Putting a laughing emoji emoji is childish and doesn't make you right.

I'm not being defensive. I often drive when we go out, sometimes I have a drink. I also walk a lot in the countryside.

I think there are bigger issues here.

balalake · 25/04/2022 15:55

I regularly have a sauna. In conversation the last time I went, I remarked that it is nice to have a social activity that does not involve alcohol or large amounts of food.

Agree with you 100%, especially as too many people do not know their limits.

Wouldyabeguilty · 25/04/2022 16:06

Used to love it..and partake.

Absolutely abhor it now.

Original poster
newjerseyp · 25/04/2022 16:07

@BrightOrangeOrange But you are being defensive. You are putting the blame on me; there’s a problem with me, not the normalisation of alcohol in society which is quite clearly prevalent.

OP posts:
ClaireEclair · 25/04/2022 16:10

I agree completely and I regret my youth where I used to get blind drunk because I didn’t want to look like a square. Then the Sunday’s were a wash out. I only have two drinks every few weeks or so now (usually with a meal) and never binge anymore. I hate the lairy drunks. It’s so embarrassing on holiday .

ClaireEclair · 25/04/2022 16:12

I would say though that it’s not as big with young people these days! My little cousins who are all in their late 20s early 30s don’t drink at all. They hate it. Their friends are similar too. My nieces who are 16 and 14 have no interest either and think we’re idiots for having a drink.

BrightOrangeOrange · 25/04/2022 16:13

newjerseyp · 25/04/2022 16:07

@BrightOrangeOrange But you are being defensive. You are putting the blame on me; there’s a problem with me, not the normalisation of alcohol in society which is quite clearly prevalent.

There is nothing wrong with you. I also don't like being around really drunk people as it makes me nervous. My Friends do like a drink sometimes though in moderation.

You need to make some new Friends though as the Friends you have are making you annoyed and you don't enjoy their company when they choose to have a drink at BBQ's etc.

There are many people that don't drink.

oakleaffy · 25/04/2022 16:16

Never liked booze...and can't bear what alcohol does to some people.
I have so little tolerance for it that even half a shandy makes my head spin and arms and shoulders ache.
It's a strange feeling.

CounsellorTroi · 25/04/2022 16:17

Tbh if there was such a thing as alcohol free wine that was indistinguishable in taste from alcoholic wine I would buy it. I am not that bothered about the effects, just the taste.

Original poster
newjerseyp · 25/04/2022 16:18

@BrightOrangeOrange yeah, fair enough.

OP posts:
brianixon · 25/04/2022 16:31

In a number of jobs the lunchtime drinking has stopped. Builders and Construction for instance. Similarly City of London types. The broker taking clients for a 2 hour lunch and 90% of the bill was alcohol. Drinking and driving much reduced.
A long way to go but change is happening.

Cheshiresun · 25/04/2022 16:54

Depends on the company you keep, a drinking culture certainly isn't part of my social life or circle. I'm teetotal more than 99.9% of the time, so are my family and friends, in fact I only know a few others who'd be drinking if we meet for a social event. Whether or not we're driving it'd usually be Coke or J2O all around, but that's probably part of why we keep company, subconsciously, we enjoy similar things.

So, no I don't recognise alcohol being a big thing in the UK from my life!

Giraffesandbottom · 25/04/2022 16:57

YANBU I absolutely hate it and I have small children and find it shocking how many people with small children drink/how much

Giraffesandbottom · 25/04/2022 17:11

The 'mom needs wine' culture is so rotten and toxic. I can't believe most people don't look past the surface

this

Neverreturntoathread · 25/04/2022 17:13

Agree OP. I once lived in a country where sale of alcohol was banned and it was great. No drunks passed out on the street, no pools of wee etc, and there was other actual fun stuff to do that doesn’t damage the body.

HeArInGhandsgirl11 · 25/04/2022 17:21

YANBU- however I love a good drink. I associate socialising with having a drink.
BBQ-drink
Meal-drink

Ect ect

ReadtheReviews · 25/04/2022 18:09

Make some more mature friends? Being hungover is a thing for teens and early twenties. After that it's just a bit sad they're drinking to get really drunk.

hihellohihello · 25/04/2022 18:10

I do think there is a balance to be had, though. Drinking is not illegal and I do enjoy some alcoholic drinks. I just make sure I don't have too much and am happy to moderate and drink non alcoholic drinks too. It does worry me when people start going overboard and getting very judgmental of others though - when they drink within healthy limits.

hihellohihello · 25/04/2022 18:10

I do think there is a balance to be had, though. Drinking is not illegal and I do enjoy some alcoholic drinks. I just make sure I don't have too much and am happy to moderate and drink non alcoholic drinks too. It does worry me when people start going overboard and getting very judgmental of others though - when they drink within healthy limits.

PierresPotato · 25/04/2022 18:12

Be aware the healthy limits are being revised downwards. Which is sad for me as I am quite partial to a number of alcoholic drinks.

PaperTyger · 25/04/2022 18:25

I think a major issue is the way we eat food and drink or go to a pub and drink and the only food on offer is crisps and pork scratch?

In Italy or Spain you could order absolutely delicious and booze soaking ... little tid bits... delicious bite's.

Why oh why oh why can't we do this!
Why have we got as far as crisps??

worraliberty · 25/04/2022 18:29

With the rising cost of alcohol, the closure of so many pubs, needing to produce photo ID if you're under 25 etc, I think the drinking culture is slower to start with teenagers.

Their 'tipple' of choice mostly seems to be weed (around here anyway), probably for the reasons listed above.

TheNinny · 25/04/2022 18:44

I’m 36, and rarely buy alcohol for myself now as it’s an easy thing to cut out that saves quite a lot. Growing up there was a huge emphasis on getting wasted that I managed to resist as I was a bit of a goody goody lol. I think the generations after me started to drink less and the trend has continued. With the cost increases I begrudge spending a tenner or there abouts to get a headache and have bad skin for the next few days ( I get big under the skin pimples when I do drink lots suddenly). I will drink on the rare occasion I’m out with friends without DD and not driving etc. and I’m looking forward to some sunny cocktails on holiday. But I view it as a treat. I don’t ‘love’ the taste of most drinks so I don’t really miss it. Fizzy juice is my poison on choice though and probably just as likely to kill me long term. Most of friends are older, in their 40’s and all drink at weekends as during the week. My younger cousins rarely drink though one does like wine but I think enjoys the culture/social thing about the tasting tours etc. Both my parents have never been drinkers at all due to religious views mainly but my mum still passed away from cancer at 60 so not drinking is not guarantee for a healthy life.

Swipe left for the next trending thread