Drinkers in Spoons

[TheDaringOliveNewt]

I'm away and at spoons having breakfast.

Every single table apart from mine has pints going, at 8.30.

Aibu thinking it's weird?

is what?

So in conclusion- some early drinkers are shift workers, some just fancy a single pint in the morning and some are alcoholics.

It is important we know so we can judge appropriately.

This thread has reminded me of the fairly fancy hotel I stayed at for work in Cologne last year. Part of the very extensive breakfast buffet was a bottle of Kolsch or glass of Reisling.

Not sure how human contact when you are getting pissed by yourself

There’s a bar by my work (not a chain place, a proper little boozer) which has shifted opening hours - really early opening but then shuts mid afternoon. When I pass it on my way in about 8am it’s always busy and I assume it’s people coming off shifts at places like the harbour.

@Itsmetheflamingo sorry I meant the conclusion of the article. Piorly timed joke!

Because you're an alcoholic, but if you go out for booze first thing, you can pretend you're a "social drinker" coz you're in a pub...

Oh, right. So all those you saw were drinking early and solo? They were using apps to order and spoke to no-one? Despite going to Spoons frequently in the morning none recognised anyone else? They all stayed resolutely apart? Chinny reckon.

Actually, my spiritual role model is Carrie Nation. The methodists are a bit laissez-faire for my tastes.

Why not Susan B Anthony?

Anyone who is worked in retail or similar knows how many people come into public shops/ cafes etc everyday just to get some human contact. And That human contact might only be someone saying “table 31 here’s your cider”

Do you know they were getting pissed?

If for example they're alcoholics, they'll have a super high alcohol tolerance so they won't be getting pissed on a few pints of beer.

Either way, there are some very lonely people around, especially since the closure of so many community halls.

A little empathy and understanding can go a lot further than judging the lives of people you have no clue about.

Try Oxford on May day. Every pub serving alcohol and most people have been drinking since the night before.

I judge them for their poor choices, for being selfish, for leading destructive lives that damage not just themselves but everyone unfortunate enough to be in their lives. That do?

How can you tell they aren’t shift workers? There are all sorts of shift workers, hotels staff, cleaners, supermarkets, police / fire / medical, emergency engineers, call centre importers, drivers. They might not be with their colleagues but like others have said fancy a pint or several to wind down at the end of their shift.

And in the same way we might go to the pub at 4 and not leave until 11 or later they might be settling in for a few hours from 8am until mid afternoon! Then get some sleep for next shift!

For many people, human contact just means being around other people - a change of scenery, getting out of the house, listening to other people and interacting with the staff.

I'm not a big people person but there's something nice about being around other people, even if I'm just having a coffee after a dog walk on my own.

@Gloriia this sounds like you have some real pain and trauma around disordered drinking- a parent maybe? I'm sorry if so.

This post has all the emotional intelligence of a squashed snail.

I'm embarrassed for you.

Because I admire Nation. Did you know she used her own house to provide refuge to women fleeing abusive husbands?

You've just said retail so yes supermarkets are ideal and are now open for extended hours. Some 24hrs. There are plenty of places to go for 'human contact'. Getting pissed at 8.30 is not necessary in the quest for human contact.
Or maybe get a dog. Dog walking is a very sociable pass time and cheaper than booze.

Don't be embarrassed. You asked me why I judge alcoholics so I explained.

It’s not about you deciding where they should best get human contact, they get to decide. You seem like a very controlling person?

Someone once told me that a little empathy and understanding can go a lot further than judging the lives of people you have no clue about...

I really don’t think old Teddy and Davey from the navy want to hang around in ASDA. And I doubt a dog would play cards, offer a view on the football or be willing to buy a drink with its winnings from the 2.30 at York.

I have no problem judging nastiness.