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?

We still drink- late 50’s. A glass of wine with dinner but wouldn’t drink for the sake of drinking. What is surprising though, is that neither of my uni stage dc drink at all. They hate the taste of it and it is not unusual in their friendship groups. We have had big parties at home and have never had even one vomiter.

I think the other trend seems to be away from quantity and more on quality. People I know would rather spend a decent amount having two or three good quality craft beers from small breweries or a good scotch than having an absolute skin full of any fizzy lager, wine, or cheap cocktail going.

I'm another one with a wine cellar and have a circle of wine friends. We're more mindful than people would think with most of us having 4-5 nights a week alcohol free. The wines in my collection are precious jewels to me, opening a bottle is a considered decision. I'm fully aware of my unit/calorie consumption and won't waste units/calories.
My non-wine friends are either teetotal, very occasional drinkers or more towards weekend binges. Alcohol consumption has definitely dropped off 40+ and the 20 somethings I know are much more into fitness. They're unimpressed by 40+ colleagues getting wasted at conferences which they see as an embarrassment and certainly not behaviour to emulate.

I prefer a glass or two at lunch rather than at dinner (unless I'm eating out). I also drink a lot of water. My friends still get shit-faced regularly though 😆

I'm early 50s and in the last few years a few of the big drinkers in my social circle are now emerging as alcoholics.

Two of these people have become street homeless as a result. Its too late for my brother. Massive stroke at 64 - now lives in a nursing home.

whilst I was never a big drinker it has made me more conscious of what I do drink.

I think in Middle Class circles, cocaine is the preference

I agree with this

Agreed. Definitely in my circles. Im the only one that doesn't in a very wide circle

None of my friends use cocaine. Many of them have in the past but it's viewed negatively now and seen as a bit rough, more something for flash loud lads out on the town. Nobody wants to be associated with the hellscape of production and distribution.

And of course not wine friends....Wrecking your sense of smell intentionally would be insane.

I didn’t think any of my friends used it, until I walked into the kitchen and my friend was having a sneaky line. She's a 50 something year old Chartered Accountant. You'd be very surprised at the number of people who do it.

I'm well aware of how ubiquitous usage is but I do also know my friends very well, vices and all.

Yes, thankfully we're following the example of the 24 to 29 year olds and cutting out alcohol, choosing low or 0% alcohol options. About time too. Liver disease massively on the rise in 35 to 55 year olds. I am the daughter of an alcoholic parent.

This has really got me thinking. I have a brother in his 50s, he’s had an alcohol problem for as long as I can remember. We tend to leave alone now as he mainly cut contact and hated us saying could he try to stop/slow down so he avoids us and lives far away.
He can be rude and temperamental and says some awful things (when drunk). But this post has made me want to try again with him. Thank you.

I certainly don’t and wouldn’t want to drink enough to make me squiffy but the odd glass or 3 of a decent wine or a couple of g&t’s is both doable & very enjoyable. How each person tolerates alcohol varies.

Me and DH rarely drink. I get horrendous hangovers from looking at a bottle of anything nowadays. We have kids that do sports of a weekend and we live in the Lakes and go out a lot so it’s such a waste of a day or a bloody long one if we are rough. I hate hangovers.

It’s too expensive to drink a lot now when out socially. I only drink now if I see my side of the family who all have a few drinks at home or out. my DH hardly drinks and it feels a bit sad drinking on my own at home.
Plus the hangovers- not worth it !

@SoHotandPregnant88 maybe the others are correct but “we work harder”? - you weren’t there and as a professional I would suggest you don’t make generalised assumptions you can’t back up! I junior careered with chartered accountants and lawyers and the hours were horrific. Not always, but often. There was less (as in perhaps 5%) care or attention to the needs of staff. This was the 90s/00s.

@Ladyofthepond

That is really interesting. I'm not sure I agree that alcohol may eventually go the same way as a cigarettes, although I think that excessive consumption should.

I think it will take a long, long time though.

I've been AF for about 18 months now. I'm in my 50s and got bored with the 'wine oclock'/drinking bottles of wine is cool, culture'.

I've become quite the expert on AF beers! And all the bars and restaurants in my South East commuter village now have many AF options - some of them are even good!

I think it’s more about poor sleep and recovery time being different from bygone years, than class. I still love wine, but I drink much less now that I’m 45.

I was obviously ahead of the game, but the reason I significantly cut back on alcohol 13 or so years ago (late 20s) was that I had really got into running and the high I got from a long Sunday morning run was bigger than the high I got from drinking.

I then just got out of the habit of drinking and even though two young children has put paid to regular running, the after-effects of drinking still do not appeal in the slightest (I maybe drink once or twice a year now). In fact having children means I relish any good-quality sleep I can get!!

There are no benefits to drinking and it can cause so much pain and suffering, I'm glad it seems to have lost its appeal a bit (have also heard that young people also don't seem to drink as much now).

Oh, the sleep, @ImagineImagine

You're so right. Alcohol just DESTROYS sleep quality, especially as you get older.

One of my best friends has awful sleep problems. She runs and does yoga, and is religious about organic food only and 'what she puts in her body'. still has two or three glasses of wine most nights and more if we're out.

Doesn't think that has any impact at on sleep at all 🙈

A bit off topic but what qualifies someone to be middle class in the UK? I've been living here for a long time but I am not very sure. I've gathered that it is not someone with an average UK salary of around 35K? But is it money, education, upbringing?

Please please please show your coke sniffing friends this video. Ask them to go back to a nice organic glass of plonk. 🍷

I am late 40’s and 1-2 glasses does me now. I guess you get to that age, though maybe some don’t