What is it with drinking in the UK?

Sweetpeach, you've obviously hit on one of those topics that pushes a lot of buttons. Quite frankly, I'll be curious to see how I deal with the whole drinking issue. I drink, but not much and not often...mainly because I've reached an age where my body just doesn't tolerate large amounts of alcohol. I do, however, have many, many friends and family who...shall we say...drink large quantities...frequently.

I've never had to deal with alcohol issues in the workplace...most people I know will take a sick day rather than show up at work hungover. It'll be interesting to see how I handle that issue. Thank you for starting this very interesting thread. I believe that the more information I have coming over, the better I will deal with the differences.

Oops, postings while I was typing.

I've read recently they are now installing creches in clubs so that mothers can still go out and get pished without having to pay for a babysitter... yes, there's a demand for that kind of thing. There are many many cases of parents here going out to clubs and getting drunk while they leave their kids at home because they put their need for fun before their responsibilities.

Are they talking about just in the neighborhood pubs in villages and such where the only socialization at night consists of pubs? I can sort of see this happening. When I was quite young we lived in a very small town where the only place for adults to go at night was the local bowling alley. Most of our parents were in leagues so every Friday night we'd all troop over to the bowling alley...the adults to bowl and drink (I know, pretty scary to think of all of those drunks with 10-14 pound balls in their hands) and we kids would go to the child care center. Looking back, I now realize that when the bowling alley closed, they realeased all of these drunks on the road with children in their cars AND NO SEAT BELTS but it was a different time. It doesn't mean that I would do this now but my parents didn't think they were doing anything wrong then, nor did anyone else's parents. And, neither did the police, who never once arrested anyone! 

Are they talking about just in the neighborhood pubs in villages and such where the only socialization at night consists of pubs? I can sort of see this happening. When I was quite young we lived in a very small town where the only place for adults to go at night was the local bowling alley. Most of our parents were in leagues so every Friday night we'd all troop over to the bowling alley...the adults to bowl and drink (I know, pretty scary to think of all of those drunks with 10-14 pound balls in their hands) and we kids would go to the child care center. Looking back, I now realize that when the bowling alley closed, they realeased all of these drunks on the road with children in their cars AND NO SEAT BELTS but it was a different time. It doesn't mean that I would do this now but my parents didn't think they were doing anything wrong then, nor did anyone else's parents. And, neither did the police, who never once arrested anyone! 

LOL, in that case, I see it's a good idea... but I'm talking actual nightclubs in the city here. 

Just to add, I actually do appreciate the lax attitude toward drinking (god, I feel like I've said that word about a trillion times today... LOL) because you can just cut back and act silly without anyone looking at you like you're a disgrace. It's pretty liberating, not to mention really fun. When you revolve your whole life around your next binge, however, no matter what country you're in, that's bad news.

LOL, in that case, I see it's a good idea... but I'm talking actual nightclubs in the city here. 

Well, that's just not right! Sorry, but how are these people supposed to get home with the little ones? Just had this vision of the tube late on a Friday night with mom and dad passed out on the seat and little Suzie and little Johnny running wild on the train! Frightening!

Just to add, I actually do appreciate the lax attitude toward drinking (god, I feel like I've said that word about a trillion times today... LOL) because you can just cut back and act silly without anyone looking at you like you're a disgrace. It's pretty liberating, not to mention really fun. When you revolve your whole life around your next binge, however, no matter what country you're in, that's bad news.

So does this mean that after all I've posted today that I can now act silly (since I've had 3 glasses of wine) and that anything I say will be laughed at and taken with a grain of salt? Whew, thank god, I was really worried that the things I posted were going to be construed in a serious context!

So does this mean that after all I've posted today that I can now act silly (since I've had 3 glasses of wine) and that anything I say will be laughed at and taken with a grain of salt? Whew, thank god, I was really worried that the things I posted were going to be construed in a serious context!

   ?

Sorry, I think I need a drink now... what do you mean?

I'm curious about something. In some states in the US, if someone causes an accident or an injury because of their drinking, the person who served them the drink is partially liable for the damages.

Is there a similar rule in the UK?  Otherwise, what incentive is there to not serve a drink (and make money from it)  to someone who obviously has already had too much to drink?

I was being sarcastic Honey. I meant it in the context that now that I've had a few glasses of wine that everybody should laugh at what I've been posting all day long because I'm now enjoying the "culture" of the country. In other words, I'm being a pain in the ars* but deal with it because that's how things are here or in any other country of the world, including the US.

I was being sarcastic Honey. I meant it in the context that now that I've had a few glasses of wine that everybody should laugh at what I've been posting all day long because I'm now enjoying the "culture" of the country. In other words, I'm being a pain in the ars* but deal with it because that's how things are here or in any other country of the world, including the US.

Cheer up, canys_girl!

canys_girl: as long as those 3 drinks has wiped the coffee creamer breath I see no problem getting silly....


I don't think it's the fact that people post their observations it's the manner in which that is illustrated...

I go to Glastonbury with my toddler child I don't touch a drop of alcohol during that week nor drugs..but because magde from up the road knows that the people that go  get sh*tfaced she has the assumption that everyone in Glastonbury is a pot smoking veggie eating crustie...you can have a pretty good dry children friendly time there as well ...it's the opening up to different perspectives

the scenario about the women getting pissed and coming home to their children...what if their husband takes care of their child while they go out ? most of the mums that I go out with have relatives that take care of their children while they go out...most of the time we all share ONE bottle among 4-5 ladies...not every mother goes out on the pub crawl drenched of alcohol and vomit too wrecked to do their responsibilities. I'm just seeing that even though you say "I'm don't mind the drinking really I'm pretty loose about it" the first scenario that is typed is at the bottom end of the spectrum...


There are people that do the sh*tfaced till it's time to go to work routine and then some..and I have to deal with the aftermath of drunken yobos doing something stupid after a 10+ pints with mates at work (hospital) I'm not saying it's not out there.. I haven't read one that's denied that...


I get puzzles when people posts their insights and then get surprised when people want to put in their point's of view on their claims that *shock*horror* are different to their own..isn't that what a forum is about

oh well....Where's my Mojito

canys_girl: as long as those 3 drinks has wiped the coffee creamer breath I see no problem getting silly....


I don't think it's the fact that people post their observations it's the manner in which that is illustrated...

I go to Glastonbury with my toddler child I don't touch a drop of alcohol during that week nor drugs..but because magde from up the road knows that the people that go  get sh*tfaced she has the assumption that everyone in Glastonbury is a pot smoking veggie eating crustie...you can have a pretty good dry children friendly time there as well ...it's the opening up to different perspectives

the scenario about the women getting pissed and coming home to their children...what if their husband takes care of their child while they go out ? most of the mums that I go out with have relatives that take care of their children while they go out...most of the time we all share ONE bottle among 4-5 ladies...not every mother goes out on the pub crawl drenched of alcohol and vomit too wrecked to do their responsibilities. I'm just seeing that even though you say "I'm don't mind the drinking really I'm pretty loose about it" the first scenario that is typed in the bottom end of the spectrum...


There are people that do the sh*tfaced till it's time to go to work routine and then some..and I have to deal with the aftermath of drunken yobos doing something stupid after a 10+ pints with mates at work (hospital) I'm not saying it's not out there.. I haven't read one that's denied that...


I get puzzle when people posts their insights and then get surprised when people want to put in their point's of view on their claims that *shock*horror* are different to their own..isn't that what a forum is about

oh well....Where's my Mojito

Not once in this entire thread have I said anything about mothers going anywhere and having a good time while their husbands watch their children. For everybody's information, 5 months after my youngest child was born I went with 2 male friends of my ex across the border into Juarez' while he watched our two daughters. We had a great time, I got totally blottoed on Coronas and Mezcale, came home and slept the entire next 23 hours (rolled in at 6:30 am) while ex-hubby took care of said children. It was his idea and I had a great time! But I never had to get up and go to work or even function (please, would have been impossible) for the next day and a half.

What I'm surprised about is exactly what you said in your next to last sentence....why do some other on this forum get so shocked and horrified when others of us post opinions that are so different to theirs? So what if we don't exactly agree with every culture habit that exists here? Did we agree with every culture habit in the US? I highly doubt it. Why should we shut up on here? I expressed my opinion of my living conditions in Oklahoma, DC, Texas, and Georgia and I fully intend on doing the same where I'm living now........in the wonder city of Northampton in the spectacular domain of the United Kingdom.

Sweetpeach did and that's who I was adressing there in regards to the children scenario...whoa ...get a grip canys_girl

Edit to add the quote:

It's hard to believe that someone can go out drinking every night (and from the way it's described, it seems like they are usually drinking more than just a pint), come to work early in the morning the next day and function at their best. I too find it a bit childish for 40-ish women to talk about barfing the night before. I did all that when  was 14.

And what happens if they have small children? Do they have a child minder watching their kids when they come home staggering to the toilet? (This goes for men who drink as well; I'm not saying that women are the only ones responsible for caring for children, it's just that the people at my job who I was discussing happen to be women.)
 

I don't think it's the fact that people post their observations it's the manner in which that is illustrated...

Not pointed at anyone in particular (I promise!), but....

I like this quote by Sam Deep:  "Diplomacy is the art of telling someone to go to h*** in such a way that they look forward to the trip."  (Always thought that was Mark Twain that said that...but oh well....) 

wasn't Mark Twain that said : "Sometimes too much drink is barely enough."

wasn't Mark Twain that said : "Sometimes too much drink is barely enough."

Yep, I believe it was!  Love some of his observations.  Quite like Oscar Wilde as well!    (Work is the curse of the drinking classes...)