Is the tide finally turning on the British drinking culture?

[Moonpig82]

I’ve not drank in 6 months and I don’t miss it!

Article from the BBC today about Pryzm nightclubs but one of the factors surrounding their closure is how young people are spending their money and time differently, alongside the lack of interest in drinking.

When I was a student it was all about the £1 shots, VodBull, sessions before we went out! 🤢

Our poor livers! Really hope drinking is really not a thing at all when my DC are older.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68295306

I'm not sure it's making them less happy though. I know the data says so but to be honest we've got online surveys, all teens have access to computers and phones they can use to vote and better data collection. I am fairly sure there were a lot of MH issues in 90's that weren't addressed because of lack of access, fear of being found out by a teacher or parent if you tried, lack of awareness, fear of being called mental etc. Boys are starting to have MH issues now because they are being targeted in the same way girls were in the 90's by big businesses. You think of the drinking and pressure from Super Model culture, men on TV and radio openly being sexist and some comedy that just wouldn't be allowed these days. I think as parents we are not happy to normalise the same things, are better on the whole at talking to teens and therefore they don't all want to go out and get off their faces in an awkward room with other awkward teens to try to make out they "had fun". I think it's progress.

Well, yes - all the ones that mentioned that their DC are either at university or ones who stated the ages of their DC are around that age.

I think you are spot on about the 50+ bracket and I don't think it's ageism to say so. I'm nearly 52 now and have recently quit drinking when I realised I probably was a functioning alcoholic. I'd got to the point where my tolerance was so high that drinking a bottle of wine in an evening had little effect and every social occasion resulted in binge-drinking like I was still a 20something immersed in the ladette culture of the Nineties. Some of my friends are still drinking to that extent and seem put out that I'm no longer, but a couple of others, like me, have also quit. I don't want to be getting hammered into my sixties! I can't think of anything sadder, frankly.

I feel ashamed that my teen has seen me drinking, especially because my dad was a big drinker and I hated it growing up. It's largely because of my teen telling me how much it bothered them that I found the impetus to quit. They have said they never want to even try alcohol, let alone drink regularly.

There's definitely a downward trend in drinking, particularly amongst the middle classes, I think.

Being tee-total is definitely not seen as a weird thing, like it was back in the day.

I'm not tee-total, but easily could be if required. DH doesn't drink - never has. I shared a bottle of wine with my mum over Christmas, over 2 days. I haven't had an alcoholic drink since.

I tend to drink a bit more in the summer. A Pimms or G&T in the garden on a warm summers evening is delightful. But my overall consumption is still well less than 10 drinks a year. Probably closer to 5.