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 think it's age. I'm seeing the same in the WC pubs I drink in. It started for me through the menopause. A lot of my friends (now 55+) have had cancer scares, other health issues and then there's the COL. People are nursing drinks more and being more conscious of needing to be healthier longer. I'd say later retirement probably affects the WC more because we had jobs that didn't have pensions for so long, especially women. I think driving means less drinking for gen z. I don't see them holding back on holidays.

My PiL are gently pickled most of the time, I think. They're both approaching 90 and share a bottle of Beaujolais at lunchtime, and move on to a G&T early evening, followed by more wine.

It's hard to say anything at this point, tbh. They're happy.

I don't find that it's completely off the menu but find most of the time people are just having 'one or two'. I find that it makes me feel a bit rubbish and I am not enjoying it much anymore. There's the odd occasion where it goes down very nicely but that's not often. I've even been toying with the idea of abstinence...

The results are interesting when they do random drug testing. Suspensions range from the cleaner to the top.

I know several people who have given up drinking for health reasons. I only drink occasionally now too for the same reason. I think alcohol will eventually go the same way as smoking as more and more evidence is pointing to the harm it causes even in moderate amounts.

I believe that the consumption of alcohol and our drinking habits have undergone significant changes. Nightclubs are on the decline, and traditional pubs are vanishing. Both of us a practically tea total.

I wish I could drink more in a way as I love a glass of wine or two! Do you not feel like shit the next day though?

seems quite binary to me in mid life - my friends either don’t drink at all, or drink at every opportunity!

I have never been much of a drinker and as I got older its dwindled to zero. I never really liked the idea of getting drunk and the associated loss of control or autonomy. my vice is savoury snacks so any empty calories I avoid by not drinking are found by bloody pringles 😱

Yep- I live in a popular touristy clubbing town and the amount of nightclubs here has easily dropped by 50% in the last 20 years or so. Many of them are now boarded up or have become coffee shops. People just arent going out to clubs getting smashed like they used to.

I've also noticed that on instagram its much more about health and fitness for the younger generation than photos of people falling about drunk which we used to do in the 90s/00s.

I dont drink any more. I simply no longer enjoy it, even a couple of glasses of wine affects my sleep and makes me feel weirdly lethargic and depressed the next day. It got to the point I asked myself why I am even doing this if it makes me feel so rubbish and I feel so much happier and healthier without it.

Naa, people still love alcohol, but they are incredibly tight these days, not tight as in drunk, but stingy af.

Yeah I think you are right. Most of my friends don't drink.

Not out of fashion just nobody is able for it, finds it worth the stomach issues/ hangover or can afford it!!! Give me a cup of tea and a laugh in someone’s house over an overpriced night out any day!!!

I’m almost 46 and peri and concerned about my blood pressure so have massively cut down and considering stopping altogether (though we have just had a cocktail cabinet installed so probably not the best idea!)

i also find my sleep is crap and it often gives me the trots the next day

quite a lot of my friends also seem to be drinking so much less

I think this sums it up sadly.

I am 58 and am observing friends go one way or the other.

Went to the theatre with friends and their friends - acquaintances to me. Pre-show dinner (bad idea, made me sleepy in a stuffy theatre). One bottle of wine between 5 of us (group of 7 - other two had non-alcoholic beer). Later came up to my rooms (I had an upgrade at hotel and had a two bed suite to myself) with non-alcoholic lager, 2 prosecco and a bottle of red wine between 7, so fine, except one bottle of prosecco is non-alc and I don't drink non-alcoholic lager as it gives me a headache and I don't like lager anyway (Real Ale person) but no matter so long as long as I get some alcohol. Everyone was very abstemious hence the non-alc (my late DH would be turning in his grave!) and the second (alcoholic) bottle of prosecco was not opened, my suggestion that we have it falling on deaf ears as everyone had had enough. So I think you are right, alcohol is out of fashion with the m/c (these all in lates sixties early 70s so not just 40-somethings doing this). Being w/c I thought they were all nuts! We'd had a good evening so why end it so early?

I don’t think it is as black and white as that as if you read about the blue zone diets in some countries the wine is fine to drink; it is the quality that’s important and other stuff that you do.

I have noticed it but I think it will be momentary and then the fashion will change again to drinking.

Hanniel

I love the sound of your parents in their 90's. Why cut back when you're that age.

All I can hope is that through the menopause I get to drink again and can enjoy Beaujolais at lunchtime and a gin the evening

I think it is more acceptable to not drink. My ds says that his year at college dont drink the way we used to - some do, but it isnt as across the board as it generally used to be. I havent drank in over 10 years, since my 20s for various reasons. But I find now that people accept me not drinking, whereas 10 years ago people would try and push me to drink, to the point it would be uncomfortable to keep declining (I always did though, any discomfort was firmly in their court!)

Running 10K after a bottle of wine ? are you actually insane ? No matter how clever or rich you are that is mental witth a capital M.

I’ve definitely almost cut it out, I’m peri and refuse to succumb to putting on weight.
I work in financial services where it’s become less acceptable to drink as much, although that’s not always adhered to!

Agreed - drinking alcohol certainly isn't fashionable to under 25s.
Class has nothing to do with it.

😂😂 This post made me chuckle!

If they are ‘middle class’ or ‘upper middle class’ they probably just snort loads of coke and turn into an insufferable bore at their weekly dinner party

Imagine saying something that wildly twattish about 'the working class.'