To hate the drinking culture in the UK?

[newjerseyp]

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?

Sounds like you need a good, strong drink to lighten up 🤣🤣🤣🤣

It's interesting that many of you say it's an age thing. I find everyone drinks soooo much. I can't. I get a horrible headache so one glass of wine, a max of two is it for me. I haven't been a big drinker in years (not since university days really) but I used to share a bottle of wine with my husband. Now we have half a bottle.

On Friday I went to a wedding and had about 2.5 glasses of prosecco over the course of the day. That was it and I was chancing it, but I think the food must have soaked it up and I drank loads of water as well.

However, I see everyone else drinking bottles of wine (each, not even shared) and people really knock it back at work events as well. I am 50 but I have friends and colleagues from their 20s upwards.

I love it tbh . I love nothing better than a beet garden with mates, going out for my bday, having friends over for dinner and drinks. Now I've got kids I do it less and less but I bloody look forward to it when it's planned!

I hate how people think its purely a British thing though. Do you think that Europeans don't flock to beer gardens in the sun , don't drink bottles of wine at dinner parties, drink at birthdays etc? Of course they do . But only us brits are baaaad of course.

I hate how people think its purely a British thing though. Do you think that Europeans don't flock to beer gardens in the sun , don't drink bottles of wine at dinner parties, drink at birthdays etc? Of course they do . But only us brits are baaaad of course

they don't tend to go out trashing the place afterwards though - not as much, anyway.

I think it’s a much bigger problem amongst older age groups.
our two young people don’t drink and feel no need to justify their choice 🤷‍♀️

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.

Fully aware. If you do an online important you might get a lifestyle questionnaire. The one I filled in had 1-7 units then 8-14 and the above that, as I recall. It asked if you needed help with your consumption from the middle bracket! Thankfully, I fall within the lower bracket.

Doctor appointment. Auto correct fail!

It's no so much whether one chooses to drink or not, or chooses to drink to excess. I see the OPs issue with whether the promotion of drinking through the media, in casual reference in areas where alcohol is not the prime concern. The loud rise on volume when alcohol is mentioned, the tittering, the aggressive attitude projected by some.

after the last two years, if someone invited me for a weekend walk I think I’d come up with an excuse too 😂

I don’t like being around drunk people either, but I can’t bring myself to be annoyed by a glass of champagne at a graduation 💁So yes, I think you are being unreasonable to despair.

I think you need new friends.
I hardly drink anymore, although DH does.
I have been out for the eve to pub with friends where no one is drinking alcohol.
Friendship based around a shared hobby works well for not revolving round alcohol.

they don't tend to go out trashing the place afterwards though - not as much, anyway

haha, tell that to my parents. They live in an area of Spain quite popular with tourists (have lived there for 30 years). Over the past 2 years, as they’ve been having far fewer visitors from places like the U.K. and Germany, many of the villas/hotels etc have been frequented by young Spanish people instead. They’ve never had so much trouble with drunken behaviour/damage to property/fighting. They had to close the entire seafront for a few weeks as it was so bad.

Also come back from a campsite in rural France where we were the only English.
I was suprised by the groups of middle aged French men, who absolutely (staggering) hammered. It's not just the UK.

The OP isn't talking about that though. She's talking about the culture of alcohol for any event.

Also , I have seen plenty of drunken trashing/fighting by people from other countries. It isn't just Brits. I'm not disagreeing that Brits do this, just that others do too.

33yo. Been tee total for about 6 years. No one has ever made me feel awkward. No one really asks why I don't drink anymore. Yabu. Get friends that drink less.

That’s good! I think it happens more when you go teetotal after being part of a group of friends where drinking is a big part of their lives and celebrations. So alcohol is very much part of their culture. That’s when you get snarky comments about “why are you being so boring?” “Just have one- one won’t hurt!” Etc etc I do think that people who get angry when you won’t drink are very likely to have an alcohol problem themselves, whether they admit it or not. If you were truly content/happy with your drinking it wouldn’t bother you if others chose not to.

They don’t sound like very pleasant friends

Are there any statistics regarding antisocial behaviour and drinking?

I've not seen any. Other than a European wide survey of 7,000 people which means it's opinion based on perception. Meaning it may NOT reflect reality, but respondents are convinced its true. In that, Europeans believe the UK is the worst for alcohol related antisocial problems and the British seem to think that about themselves.

But this is NOT backed up by hard, empirical evidence.

What it DOES suggest is that 59% of people across Europe all felt alcohol related antisocial behaviour is an issue right across Europe.

So, your perception that Europeans aren't antisocial after a few too many is really an unsubstantiated perception given Europeans feel it's a problem in their own countries by their own admission.

Additionally, according to the WHO:,

"A country’s total per capita alcohol consumption is closely related to its prevalence of alcohol-related harm and alcohol dependence."

Meaning those European countries that drink more alcohol per litre than the UK tend to have higher rates of alcohol related deaths and alcoholism. Alcohol related harm also includes antisocial behaviour.

It really doesn't seem true that the UK is the most antisocial country in Europe when drunk.

The heaviest drinkers in the UK?

Scotland.

Highest alcohol related deaths in the UK?

Scotland.

YANBU. I was born this side of the millennium and do not see the fascination. People look at me pityingly when I’m not out drinking all the time.

I used to tolerate it well and would enjoy the occasional night out but as I’m getting older it makes me feel quite sick. I will have a sociable drink but don’t see why people do, in the way that they do. Me and my OH had a lemonade on a family holiday and my sister called us boring… I think so many people just think anything other than alcohol isn’t acceptable, which is sad and obviously worrying health wise

Gosh I think its masses better than it was.

I'm mid thirties. Lots of friends drink far less now. At any dinner party there are always several people just having one small glass or nothing, and lots of nice alcohol free drinks available.

Most of my friends have become a bit "my body is a temple" ish, lots doing loads of exercise, caffeine and alcohol free, low carb etc

Strange because I live in Spain and Spaniards drink all day however it's definitely not in the quantity that Brits drink

I have never yet seen a drink Spaniard and it's mortally embarrassing when the British tourists arrive

I find the obsession with wine at my WI group a quite annoying. But I can't stand the stuff. And would rather have a cup of tea!

Your friends sound quite juvenile OP. By your age I'd have expected people to be moderating themselves much more than you describe.

I suggest you look for more grown up friends. My friend group all drink in moderation of at all, and that's fine.

I don't have a problem with booze at all and wonder if you've fallen in with a crap crowd?

I saw many a drunk Spaniard when I lived in Madrid, and Valencia, and Barcelona 🤷🏻‍♀️

You'll find the Spanish consume pretty much the same quantity of alcohol as the UK does. The difference between them is negligible. Beer and spirits are more popular in Spain than wine as well.

Turkey - they consume the least amount of alcohol in Europe.

Most of my friends have become boring as fuck since having kids. I actually wish they'd drink more. 😂