Drink

[miasmum]

Don't talk to me about people getting drunk, just don't

[Gal]

It's definitely a new era.....

Even my sensible Jen always ALWAYS attends 'pre-drinks' whenever she and her friends have a night out in town. Clubs cost a firtune to get into, and then the drinks inside are expensive, so they do a bit of drinking before they leave the house at midnight (usually) BUT once inside the club, they might only buy a couple of bottled lagers, or whatever, to keep costs down. During her years at Uni this practice happened a fair bit, now at the ripe old age of 24, she has 'done all that sort of thing' so isn't bothered about it. Also, whilst her crowd may have been drunk, I can't ever recall any of them having to be taken to hospital or anything like that

I hate being out of control, and hate even more the hangover next day.....so I don't overdo it, and never have, not even as a daft teenager. Oh I get merry at times but not to the passing out stage, or even not being able to remember stuff that happened, lol

[Workingman]

I worked with aircraft for many years and a drink during any shift was heavily frowned upon - it is something that has stayed with me whatever the work I was doing. Drinking was always for after work, long after work, once a meal was eaten and a shower and change of clothes.

This scheme of pre-loading appears to be a relatively new idea, but where it came from or when it started I have no idea. And the idea that a good time has not been had unless it cannot be remembered seems pretty stupid to me.

[Suff]

I guess it depends on the crowd. It has never been my scene at all. Yes I can get drunk but I don't ever set out to get there.

My brother reminisces about being in London in the late 70's early 80's and going out to get smashed and smoke opiated pot with cherry vanilla (as a hanger on I might add)....

I noticed the "preloading" going on in the mid 80's when I was stationed near Cambridge and we went there to drink. Nobody wanted to pay nightclub prices but everyone wanted to be in the night clubs. Personally I'd go for "Party Nights". All in price and drinks free all night.

Perhaps I'm cheap....

[pederito1]

Maybe livers are not what they used to be. Mine seems to have survived quite a lot of over imbibing in my youth.

[Cal]

I have to say that from my late teens I was married with 2 children and we had no money for socialising in pubs or the like. But on the rare occasions we could afford a sitter our limit was 2 rounds. Drink was not as readily available then - you could only buy from off licences or pubs. When the supermarkets started selling it that's when the idea of being able to drink lots caught on, you could put alcohol in with your shopping and drink cheaply at home. It took ages before I could bring myself to put a bottle of wine in with the shopping - it didn't feel right somehow. But I am convinced that this is how heavy drinking caught on - familiarity, ease of purchase, and lower prices. I have always liked to be in control so drinking a lot never appealed - my 2 drink rule no more than once a week, stayed with me until I gave up alcohol entirely about 8 years ago.

[Aggers]

Upon reflection, it has occurred to me that one of the main reasons for the increased drinking problem
is because the norm now is for there to be two wage earners in a family, whereas it used to be only one.

I read the other day that the numbers of men and women in employment are now about equal. It follows
that this has resulted in affluence, and has also caused the drinking habit, that was previously mainly the
preserve of men, to be taken up by women.

Whether this particular aspect of equality is a good thing or not is a matter of opinion. and I don't think I
want to pass comment on it, except to say I think that excessive intake of alcohol is a senseless activity,
whatever one's sex.

[cromwell]

In some repects it is a northern european thing. In southern europe the culture is different. The Italians don't see heavy drinking and getting blind drunk as being cool, they see it as being ugly.
Painting with a broad brush here but people don't seem as happy as they used to. Maybe they take drink to feel happier, even if it is just for a short while.

[Kaz]

No people definitely aren't as happy, in general, as they were when I was younger.......life is a lot more stressful

[Aggers]

No people definitely aren't as happy, in general, as they were when I was younger.......life is a lot more stressful

Yes, Kaz, that's another possible contributory cause of drinking in excess.