Aibu to suggest alcohol is out of fashion in middle class circles?

[Coffeeandacupcake]

Just an observation, out for dinner with friends last Saturday night. We got taxis in, we always had a booze fest but now my friends have either cut out alcohol completely or stuck to one glass of wine or gin & tonic! Is alcohol going out of fashion in over 40, middle class circles or is it just my friends?

I'd suggest it's more middle-aged than middle class circles.

Oh don't be so po faced! Every day...yes. A one off..... fine.

Neither of my adult children really drink either
I dint think its just over 40s

I wouldn't know about middle class as I'm upper... 😂 but cutting out alcohol is one of the best decisions I ever made.

Alcohol is full of sugar and sugar is the devil's invention. That's apart from all the other stuff like hangovers, impaired mental function, poor sleep, weight gain, procrastination......

I’m not sure of my ‘social class’ but drinking certainly is not out of fashion in my circles. All aged over 55 and still drinking like fish on a weekend. We’ve noticed a lack of younger people (18 - 30) in our local pubs.

Drinking at home on a nice afternoon sounds fabulous. Alone or not

I drink less now because it affects me more negatively, I get worse hangovers, and it's harder for me now to keep my weight stable than when I was younger.

I also had some bad experiences which mean I'm very careful to never have more than two drinks when out with colleagues or people I don't know well.

I haven't seen any changes, but I have never hung about with really heavy drinkers. I also am not affected by alcohol more than I was when young, but I don't binge drink.

Maybe the drinking level dips in middle age then springs back! My DM and her group of friends (all late 60s/early 70s, some work, some retired) are very sociable together, and there is most often a lot of alcohol consumed. They could drink me under the table any day of the week!

A lot more MC people are into sport, running marathons etc seem to be all the rage.
Personally I used to love a few drinks but once I managed to get my body looking good.... Didn't want to waste empty calories on alcohol.

Also it's expensive in bars/restaurants! The days of £1 pints are long gone.£6 for a glass of crap wine? No thanks

Possibly. I’d disagree, but not enough to be pulsed to argue about it. And quite honestly, I’m fine with it. I hold down a senior level six figure 9-5 and smash it. I’ll go for a 10km run later this afternoon and complete it within 42 minutes. I function far better than a lot of other people, and mark myself 98/100 for happiness and life satisfaction. When that begins to change, I’ll reevaluate the situation. Until then, I’m happy with the status quo.

Not here darling. I have 700 (approx) wines in my cellar and about to drink a 2006 bottle of champagne with our son who got his A Level results today. Chin chin! 🍾

I think drinking is falling out of favour as people see the impacts it has on the body and mind over time. The fact that early 20s are apparently drinking less might be having a knock on effect on their parents as well.
I used to attend AA, mainly as a support to a friend, and the majority of people in groups across my area were late 30s plus. Usually more late 40s or older.
Not sure about whether it's affecting middle class more than others. But addiction is more detrimental to people in lower incomes and also often harder to get out of if you're struggling in other ways.

I'm very similar...but I wfh in Cheshire and have dogs milling round, rather than ducks! Cheers to being unfashionable!

I am in my 30s - but noticed similar, pregnancy, breastfeeding and cosleeping has meant a lot of us spent a few years not able to drink much and now have noticed it makes us feel rough (lost our tolerance). I also know a lot of people who cut down due to anxiety.

Please can I be your new best friend??

I love beer/wine/gin as much as I always have, and generally drink alcohol every day, but now I'm old if I have more than one glass it just makes me very sleepy.

When I was younger (in my 20s/30s/early 40s) I would regularly get absolutely hammered with workmates. There were no mobile phones around then to record anything embarrassing. I doubt I'd drink that much with people from work now, even if I could.

I want to be you!
Although I don't like running I prefer climbing.
But once you get used to being fit the desire for other things that might ruin it reduces.
I also don't crave sweets and fried food anymore.

I think some people are better at handling it maybe even when I drank lots I got tipsy quickly. Husband has always been a big drinker.

I'm not made for it

It's pretty even in our closest friends. Some of us still drink to excess, enjoy it and make no excuse about it, others swear they cant possibly drink more than one or two without being so so poorly so they dont. Each to their own, we're still friends!

I go out and have a couple but I'm 58 and it's not a great look at 58 to be slurring and wobbling around. My mate was on sparkling water - bit disappointing but I guess the shape of things to come 😩

Certainly not in my experience.

I may not be middle class anymore but some of my friends and family still very much are and they drink more than me.

I have switched to non alcoholic beer (IPAs in particular), and feel much better for it. I'm in my mid 40s and just decided I was drinking too much and wasn't doing myself and my future health any favours. I'll still drink, but probably just the odd one on at a social event.

I think some people get more health concious in their 40s. But most people I know are still drinking loads, especially when out. I'm not why you feel drinking g+t is cutting down/ not drinking though! I often drink g+t over wine when out as wine makes me sleepy.

I think it’s s couple of things - unwanted empty calories, poor sleep, dying the next day and not wanting to be unable to drive the next day until mid afternoon!

Not all affects everyone, it’s the driving one for me, especially as Scotland had such a low blood alcohol threshold it’s not worth the hassle the next day.

Everyone drinking like fish in the East Midlands 🤷‍♀️ 30s/40s. I drink more regularly now than I ever did in teens/20s !

Cheers 🥂

Gratuitous photo of my Assistants. May have to complain to HR: they are very lazy, slightly stinky, and keep on hassling me for snacks.