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?

enjoy! It’s absolutely pissing down here, depressing as hell. Yesterday was gorgeous!

I have never worried about fashion in anything and not about to start now although having said that I can't tolerate as much as I used to and not red wine at all.

Priorities change. I used to go out and drink loads, I’d power through my hangover the next day and even go into work after getting in in the early hours.
I can’t do that now, I get horrendous handovers and I’m a teacher so drinking in the week would be completely off the cards. The night is drinking isn’t worth the next day anymore. Don’t get me wrong I’ll drink at occasions, weddings, birthdays etc but I have to plan the next day being a completely right off!

Totally agree with this. Everyone in my social circle no longer drinks any more. Various reasons including- it makes them tired/anxious, some overdid it during lockdown and it worried them, puts weight on (which is harder to lose in your 40s), they get horrendous hangovers now, no longer chasing the buzz because its more meals out and chatting than pulling all nighters at a club etc

So many reasons but its definitely a pattern I have noticed and I think its good- going out on the lash is great fun in your 20s but its a bit sad in your 40s.

I think it's definitely a trend. Hardly anyone I know drinks at lunchtime anymore and nights out aren't the booze fests they used to be. Lots of reasons for it, including cost, and people preferring to go out for a meal rather than sit in a pub all night. The young definitely drink less, but in previous times we didn't have phones and social media for constant stimulation, and I think there are more drugs around these days than when I was young.

I still love a glass or two of wine of an evening, and I believe it does no harm, and possibly some good, but I would rather sip it slowly at home and savour it, rather than trying to keep up with rounds like I used to. If I'm out I'm more likely to have an AF beer or mocktail.

For the PP who works for a booze company - I think quality over quantity is the way forward. People will pay more for something special.

The last MNer who called me a fantasist received an invitation to come and visit. They never responded - which was a shame, they actually seemed quite interesting and a woman who’d achieved some cool stuff, and we might have been friends. There are MNers who live in my locale and who have accidentally seen me in the flesh whilst out running on our local river path, or at our local WI meets, or who have identified my stupid (very chavvy) car in the Sainsbury’s car park, and can confirm I’m just as awesome as I claim to be online 😁 You’re - genuinely - very welcome to come and find out whether I’m comfortable in my own skin. PM me if so.

I got fed up of hangovers and rubbish sleep so I quit once and for all a few years ago. I'm in my fifties.

Two friends have followed suit but the rest are still boozy.

I'm in my late thirties and I don't drink anymore. I've never been a lover of wine - when I was younger, I drank to get drunk, and its decidedly no longer worth it for that. Plus as for other people, I'm busier now and have more responsibilties, I don't want to waste a weekend morning being hungover.

I honestly don't care. You seem to think you're very impressive. I don't. Anyway, I'm too busy, I need to take my unicorn to the vet.

I haven’t drunk much since being pregnant with my kids in quick succession meant quite a long time dry if you include two lots of breast feeding . Now menopausal and I only drink on holiday or birthdays . It just wasn’t worth the impact it had on poor sleep during peri or the hangover . I’m old enough now to admit that there isn’t much alcohol I actually like so why bother wasting the money on the drink or the taxi . I would say though that most of my friends still drink regularly .

I don't want to waste a weekend morning being hungover

Same here. In my 20s I'd go out until 4am and go to work the next day. These days, a hangover takes the entire day to shift and its depressing wasting a weekend entire day on the sofa feeling like crap

Fantasist 😂It's someone enjoying a sunny day, a couple of glasses of wine and goes for a run or whatever. It's pretty ordinary stuff.

Why is that boastful or unbelievable? It's not exactly claiming to be tenth in line to the throne and an Olympic swimmer.

MN is so weird sometimes.

Time is short. I have to take the magic carpet in for a service, so can appreciate the constraints.

I quit drinking at 40. I’d already noticed in my 30s that my tolerance was poor. I also never really liked alcohol in all honesty. Hangovers and children are a terrible mix. Not worth feeling like shit the next day.

I’m very middle class and there is definitely still a lot of drinking. So much so that I’m bored to tears by any social event.

I don’t drink anymore because I’m an alcoholic, and I fit your demographic. Definitely I know people who are significantly reducing alcohol consumption or cutting it out all together. I think it has less to do with class, maybe a bit to do with age, but a lot to do with lockdown and post-lockdown increases in problematic drinking.

I think boozy nights out are on a downward trend. It’s pretty rare now that I’m woken up by hammered people walking home from the pub at midnight. But a lot is down to age and there being more things to entertain us now than alcohol fuelled nights. Even as older people, there are a lot of photos taken so I don’t want to look as leathered as I used to. I assume younger people are drinking less as they don’t want to be caught out on camera and then on social media for ever with their head down the pub toilet.
I’m in two minds about it really. On the one hand, it’s good that people are taking better care of their health and not wasting money. But on the other hand I look back to my getting absolutely twatted days with great fondness. From swigging cider underage at the park, through alcopops and cocktails, £1 student pints on a Tuesday night, it’s definitely played a major part in my growing up and developing friendships.

I've cut back quite a bit in recent years simply due to the cost. I wouldn't consider myself to be a low earner, but I can't bring myself to pay the outrageous prices they now charge in some places. At a theatre recently I was charged £12 for a glass of terrible wine, and a pint can cost nearly £8.

'Alcohol reduced evenings'

If only..

I'm often the only one at the table not getting trashed and it's beyond tedious. People bang on and repeat themselves. They'd be mortified if they could see themselves.

My circle is middle class early 40s and all
drink like fish 🤷🏻‍♀️

It’s a mix of age and also it is no longer socially acceptable to be drunk. It was ok when we were younger.

Good for you for two years!

Great news that things are moving more and more towards AF

Interesting that you say that booze is going to be the next fags - I've thought that for a long time.

I gave up drinking two and a half years ago. It had become a problem for me.
I lost a family member and a friend to alcoholism. Two girlfriends don't bother with me anymore because I refused to pay for their drinks. When I was bladdered I was very generous! A bottle of wine? just warming up!
Tbh I don't go out so much but I'm happy. My DH. DS and DD don't drink so no issues at home. They are relieved.
Lots of lawyers and medics drink. And some long distance runners run to shake off the alcohol.
My DD is gen Z and only a couple of her friends drink. It's definitely not the norm anymore.
There is an active thread on alcohol support if anyone needs some help.

I’m working class and don’t drink.

To be honest, I'd be really happy if alcohol became the new cigarette. As in, still more or less accessible, but not part of daily culture. I too dislike spending time with people who drink too much; and I tend to make an excuse and leave early. By then they are too smashed to care or notice.

Not in my social circle, we all love a G&T and a few glasses of wine.