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Original poster

Can someone explain 5am airport drinking?

409 replies

Prenoden · 04/09/2025 06:52

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

OP posts:
Starlight1984 · 04/09/2025 09:47

Franpie · 04/09/2025 09:30

Absolutely not judging. More like marvelling at their ability to drink alcohol at that time. I had also been up 3 hours. What’s this 3 hour rule? Do people normally fancy a drink 3 hours after waking? I’ve been up 3 hours now, still couldn’t stomach a cocktail or large glass of red right now!

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🙄It's not a "3 hour rule". Most people don't have a drink 3 hours after they wake up. But then again for 99% of the year, we're in work / running errands / walking dogs / dropping kids off etc etc. Holidays are a break from the norm which is why it is exciting to have a drink or two at the airport - because you would never normally be doing it!

Isaweirdo · 04/09/2025 09:47

It’s a no from me but DH has to have a pint at the airport no matter the time. He’s not a heavy drinker but he claims that airport pint is tradition. His friends all send a picture of their pint to their GC if they’re at the airport even if it’s 5am.

Bjorkdidit · 04/09/2025 09:48

I'll have one with you @Lanzarotelady. I'm going to Playa Blanca for a solo break in a spa hotel in November and I cannot wait.

Kevinbaconsrealwife · 04/09/2025 09:49

countrygirl99 · 04/09/2025 06:59

Unlikely at Luton

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😊

Notsurewheretostarthere · 04/09/2025 09:50

LhudeSingCuccu · 04/09/2025 07:09

I guess these people have been up for hours. I’ll have a breakfast champagne or mimosa at Heathrow, it’s tradition!

Me too. Eggs and pink champagne at the Fortnum champagne bar in terminal 5.

It started our well deserved mini break off perfectly.

Lanzarotelady · 04/09/2025 09:50

Bjorkdidit · 04/09/2025 09:48

I'll have one with you @Lanzarotelady. I'm going to Playa Blanca for a solo break in a spa hotel in November and I cannot wait.

I am tempted to have one now haha - got 3 weeks worth of clothes to put away from our recent holiday haha
Might have a glass of wine and a bacon butty to put me in the mood!

Lanzarotelady · 04/09/2025 09:51

Notsurewheretostarthere · 04/09/2025 09:50

Me too. Eggs and pink champagne at the Fortnum champagne bar in terminal 5.

It started our well deserved mini break off perfectly.

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I want that now! Bugger my bacon butty and a glass of rose- I am telling Mr Lanzarote I want eggs and pink champers - now that is posh!

Kerrylass · 04/09/2025 09:54

Because that drink at the airport is the hardest earned drink of the year and is my absolute bliss. When i take that 1st sip im on holidays and life is good 😎

JFDIYOLO · 04/09/2025 09:55

Self medicating fear of flying.
Bravado in front of their mates.
The novelty - because they can.
The holiday has started - and British abroad behaviour starts HERE.
They're in transit and their body thinks it's evening.
They're alcoholic.

GameOfJones · 04/09/2025 09:58

I imagine it's tradition for some people. Something they don't normally do and symbolises that they are out of the usual routine and the holiday has begun.

I love a drink although haven't done the 5am airport drinking myself....but I don't see it as being any different to having a Bucks Fizz with my breakfast on Christmas morning which loads of people do!

I was in a Wetherspoons this week for breakfast at 9am however and there were absolutely tonnes of men in there having pints with their Full English. A lot of them seemed to be workmen in high vis jackets or elderly men on their own and that did scream "alcoholics."

mrlistersgelfbride · 04/09/2025 09:58

I can’t do it . I feel sick at that time and if I have not had much sleep too.
After 10am would be fine. Partner has always done it.

Notsurewheretostarthere · 04/09/2025 09:59

Lanzarotelady · 04/09/2025 09:51

I want that now! Bugger my bacon butty and a glass of rose- I am telling Mr Lanzarote I want eggs and pink champers - now that is posh!

Edited
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Really really expensive though!! I was celebrating the first holiday after a lot of surgery so it seemed justifiable!

Coffeeishot · 04/09/2025 10:02

mrlistersgelfbride · 04/09/2025 09:58

I can’t do it . I feel sick at that time and if I have not had much sleep too.
After 10am would be fine. Partner has always done it.

Yeah i never feel great early in the morning I think that's probably why I couldn't face a drink.

notimagain · 04/09/2025 10:02

I was in a Wetherspoons this week for breakfast at 9am however and there were absolutely tonnes of men in there having pints with their Full English. A lot of them seemed to be workmen in high vis jackets or elderly men on their own and that did scream "alcoholics."

Perish the thought but it's just possible the high vis jacket wearers might be night shift workers having a bit of downtime at the end of a long shift.

Not everyone works day shifts and is therefore on the way to work at 9am.

Coffeeishot · 04/09/2025 10:03

Notsurewheretostarthere · 04/09/2025 09:59

Really really expensive though!! I was celebrating the first holiday after a lot of surgery so it seemed justifiable!

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Bet it felt like a real treat though🥂

dimsiaradcymraeg · 04/09/2025 10:04

Hate flying, a glass of fizz helps me relax.

Parky04 · 04/09/2025 10:06

A fry up and a pint at 5am before a flight is part of the holiday!

Notsurewheretostarthere · 04/09/2025 10:07

Coffeeishot · 04/09/2025 10:03

Bet it felt like a real treat though🥂

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Completely. I still had stitches though so I took my ibuprofen with the champagne 😁

Lanzarotelady · 04/09/2025 10:09

Notsurewheretostarthere · 04/09/2025 10:07

Completely. I still had stitches though so I took my ibuprofen with the champagne 😁

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Medication and champagne! The pearl clutchers will be up in arms!

Notsurewheretostarthere · 04/09/2025 10:10

Lanzarotelady · 04/09/2025 10:09

Medication and champagne! The pearl clutchers will be up in arms!

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😂 It was only one glass though.

Coffeeishot · 04/09/2025 10:20

Alcohol and ibuprofen mix fine you could have had another 😀

MrsDoubtfire1 · 04/09/2025 10:22

I was on a long ferry crossing years ago. It was 6 a.m. and I had been sick all night on the rough crossing. There were people eating a full English. Turned my stomach.

whitewineandsun · 04/09/2025 10:23

InOverMyHead84 · 04/09/2025 06:59

Holiday mode, sometimes people will have been up for many hours just to get to the airport and through check on. The holiday now begins.

This plus airports are shit. We have to be there so early. I get it.

Megifer · 04/09/2025 10:25

I dont like flying so whether its 4am or 11pm, I WILL get very tipsy at the airport!!

Tink3rbell30 · 04/09/2025 10:25

Gross, don't know how they don't feel queasy.

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