Can someone explain 5am airport drinking?

[Prenoden]

I'm not asking this as a kill joy or teetotaler, I enjoy a drink on holiday as much as anyone but how are people able to stomach pints at 5am?

Been on holiday recently and could barely eat before flight yet everyone else had pints/ g&t etc. It wasn't even mid morning it was 5am

8 drinks a day easy, but thats not falling down drunk, acting up etc, just regularly spaced out throughout the day, because we are on holiday, with plenty of food to soak it up. Obviously if we go out and about we will have less, although probably have a beer or cocktail with lunch at least.

We rarely drink at home, only if we go out, but even then not massively. Holidays are just different - time to relax/unwind and just enjoy food and drink, as well as sights that you would not see at home, and that starts at the airport!

I am more confused by the shops at airports selling luggage / suitcases!

It's just a ritual isn't it- same as I have a glass of champagne on Christmas Day morning. Do I do it every day? No. Is it just a nice ritual I have? Yes.

I don't think the OP wanted to understand a specific airport, more a general question.

I did it when I was younger, probably wouldn’t now that I’m usually responsible for a child, and my bladder is considerably weaker.

Yes, that’s right. Everyone who has a drink at the airport is an alcoholic, obviously. Couldn’t be for any other reason at all

when I see the men lining up the beers I hoik up my judgey pants and mutter a silent prayer they are on a different flight. On arrival at my last holiday, a couple were so drunk they couldn’t find their passports, had trouble pushing the pushchair, would have no idea if their second toddler had wandered off, and were nearly denied entry to the country. No idea why they were allowed more alcohol on the flight.

Because a lot of British people are completely and utterly obsessed with alcohol and can’t do anything without alcohol being involved. I’ve been to kids dance shows where some of the dad’s have moaned that the midway refreshments don’t involve alcohol. Go to the carnival in town and people are guzzling pints at 11am. Basically, Britain is full of functioning alcoholics, and life isn’t complete unless you’ve got a pint of beer welded to your hand.

Yes, and I forgot the breakfast cava if we stay in a hotel. But like @DeltaAlphaDelta79 says, they're well spaced and we're never drunk or loud, it's just 'refreshment' in a hot climate. We don't drink much at home either, generally only one or two on Friday and Saturday nights.

Unnecessarily catty - agreed with your first line completely, but you sounds awful w. the 2nd one. That's a shame.

It's just holiday mode, not a sign that everyone is a functioning alcoholic.

When I go away with my friends we always have prosecco and pringles on the plane - even at 6am. It feels classier than a pint in Wetherspoons though I know its the same thing 😁

I think the logic for some, is that they’ve woken early, got up, ready, travelled a considerable distance to the airport, and it ‘feels’ like the afternoon. There’s not much about a departure lounge which makes it feel like 5am. I guess they’re kinda like vegas in that sense - time doesn’t exist.
Personally, it’s a bit keen for me. But to each their own. No judgement.

They've probably already been awake for 4 hours or more, they're excited and in holiday mood, they have money to spend and there is a bar open... At least it's better than trawling through all the perfumes, make-up and over-priced skin creams.

Airports have their own time zones. If I’m at the airport at 6am I’ve been up for 3 hours at that point, I’m not sure I could stomach a pint but I can usually manage a mimosa or a Bloody Mary.

Why is this thread making me fancy a large wine in a Spoons at Stansted airport 😳 Even a 5am one ….

ODFOD! And when you're over there, FO some more!
Could you clench your arse cheeks any more!

I am having a drink a 5 am at the airport because I am on my bloody holidays! And if you're judging me, I'll have another one! So stick that up your self righteous bottom!

And drinks on the plane are probably really expensive, so the 'get a few in before we board', seems like a good idea (to some).

My friends and I have a rule that you have to have an alcoholic beverage (usually a beer) at the airport no matter what time it is.

I confess that I have been one of those at 5am with a pint (usually Guinness as that is almost a complete breakfast). I also confess that I sometimes have to force it in, and it is only the one. I think it started as nobody has to drive from then on, but over the years, it has morphed into a tradition.

I don’t get it either. I was in a business lounge (so free booze and food) with my DS at Heathrow at 6am over the summer and the number of people going up to the bar ordering mojitos, beer, wine, champagne turned my stomach. I could barely drink my coffee I was so tired. How they were managing to drink alcohol I’ll never know.

And crucially, we are all now aware of that important distinction. No point being superior to someone unless everyone knows about it.

8 drinks a day on holiday is not unusual, nor would someone be drunk!

Lunch time - 2 cans of beer with a cheese toastie
Couple of cans in the afternoon round the pool
Glass of wine or G&T after a shower
2 glasses of wine with dinner
G&T back at the apartment
Other drinks drunk - loads of water as its bloody hot
Cup of tea

There 8 drinks done easily - not in the slightest bit drunk
That would be over 10 hours, less than one drink an hour

Absolutely!

I drink quite a lot with enthusiasm - MN would undoubtedly shriek with horror at my units - and I rarely drink at the airport. It makes me feel ill.

I fly a couple of times a month and having a glass of champagne or whatever and then it wearing off and needing to pee, getting tired and the distance to the gate and the standing around and the getting up and down to let people in to their seats on the plane and too hot then too cold and it’s just so not worth it.

I saw some men in suits drinking red wine at 7am at City airport the other week and felt ill just thinking about it!

On the other hand, holidaying with my mum and dad as a child, my dad would always have a pint first thing. Not a big drinker, not even a weekly drinker - never seen him drunk in my life and he would order a Guinness and love it.

Because they have been up since 3am
Its a special occasion
They aren't tired
They are excited
A drink symbolises the start of the holiday
They are sick of being judged by people like you
Its a novelty
Make them sleep on the plane