What is it with drinking in the UK?

I come from a part of the US with a strong drinking culture and it was hard to get used to having others judge you by your drinking habits when I left Louisiana. Americans need to remember that we come from a culture that has long disapproved of drinking (remember Prohibition?). Europeans have historically drunk spirits much more than North Americans...it had to do with an unsafe water supply way back hence the development of drinking spirits for hydration.

I think if one comes to work hungover, then they are paying a pretty high price for their night out...but then, they're paying the price, not me!

I think that part of the problem is breaking from the cultural and educational position that Americans have been indoctrinated to.  Being from the south and in the heart of the Bible Belt I live in an area of the US that still has "DRY COUNTIES".  In other words, the is NO SELLING of alcohol allowed.  In the state I live in, the areas that do allow forthe sell of alcohol are not allowed to sell on Sunday.  The town I live in is "Wet" but can not sell after 11:00p.m Mon-Sat. and there is no such thing as a pub, bar, night club etc.  So breaking from a lifetime of cultural indoctrination that the drink is "satens juice" is a lot to swallow for some.

My big boss, for example, never asks us to a lunch where there haven't been many bottles of wine present.  In fact, when it's time for our big Christmas lunch, she gives us all a half day so we can enjoy ourselves.

I selected the quote because it struck me that joy and celebrations is associated with the drink.  Culturally it is hard for me to comprehend why the two are so ingrained with one another.  As an individual who is educated in drug and alcohol counseling in the US the notion that drinking is so involved in the notion of having a good time is puzzling and a notion I have trouble understanding.  This would be a significant red flag that there was a potential for chemical dependency if being assessed by a person educated in the US. 
There would be many questions such as "Why can't you have a good time and alcohol not be a part of it"?  And when you say "enjoy ourselves" does that mean so you can go get smashed? 

The two cultures are vastly different when it comes to the ideas of alcohol consumption and dependency.  Not to say that one is right and one is wrong, you can't compare two cultures and say one is right and the other wrong, BUT there does appear to be some indication that there may be some denial factors and far to lax social acceptance of the abuse of alcohol inadvertently perpetuates unhealthy drinking habits in the UK while ridged social condemnation of social drinking leads to closed alcoholics. 
Just my view.

My friends here are afraid to be labeled alcoholics if they go out and get drunk on a regular basis - every weekend or even once a week they feel they are having too much. I disagree. I also was appalled that the drinking/driving is so well accepted and not really thought of as a big deal - I used to feel the same and have since opened my eyes to how serious it could be if I made an error while driving. I am still stateside and looking forward to the culture difference and acceptance that alcohol isn't that awful. I worked for the fed gov't and there are no laws on us having a drink at lunch. I did a few times. One margarita during a 1 hr lunch is no big deal. I was a bit tired, but NOT drunk. No different than going to bed late b/c you watched letterman or leno that night instead of going to bed on time.

I can say I am looking forward to having a drink at lunch or a nightcap without someone thinking I'm destined to become addicted.

hmm....I can read the non drinkers in these threads

When I lived in the US drinking was something secretive at mate's houses and like JMaster stated with a number of people possibly driving intoxicated home (most of the time I crashed at whoever friend's house it was. The drinking culture is different it's out in the open and unabashed. Compared to my UK mates I am a lightweight...although I take the piss here about drinking ..I hardly drink but I do enjoy a nice glass of beer, wine or spirits with a meal here and there. A nice nightcap doesn't go a miss in this household.

...having a drink for lunch isn't considered a road to becoming a candidate to selling Big Issues on the street corner. When co workers have pub gatherings after work I usually toddle along and have a coke. The pub is how people in the UK socialize/interact with each other ....if it doesn't affect performance it's a bit unfair for someone to look down on them because there is a different work culture. If it is a problem then contact occupational health or the immediate supervisor. I'd Rather have workmates that unwind and socialize from work stress by having a pint afterwork than coming into the office with an AK47 one day because someone nicked their crackers at lunch....

There is a more puritanical work ethic in the US than UK...*shrugs*

I never said I don't drink. In fact I can put some of the big boys to shame when it comes to knocking back the drinks. I've already stated that I don't mind the "one drink for lunch" concept. I don't look down on people who do drink...I'd be the biggest form of hypocrite if I did that. I'm all for people going to unwind and socialize by having a drink. What I'm not all for is people going to unwind and socialize on a Wednesday night, betting blottoed and then rolling into work the next day smelling of stale alchohol and complaining for the rest of the day about how bad they feel and that they can't concentrate on anything because their head hurts so bad. In my opinion that's irresponsible behavior. Can't they exercise just a bit of control and keep the hangover experiences for their days off?

hmm....I can read the non drinkers in these threads
 

Ok....here's a bit of a lesson for ya Smilie means :it's a joke.....


Like I said if it's a problem that affects the workplace bring it to the attention of Occupational health .. Are you currently working in the UK ?? Are office workers coming in with alcohol stink??..if it is then I'm pretty sure the work code of conduct can be brought up on that.

UK culture associate drink with joy and celebration as US associate food....different strokes for different folks *shrugs*

Well, the town I grew up in is nicknamed ''boozebday harbor'' and there is a definite drinking aspect to the atmosphere, especially in the summer, BUT I have to agree...it really is hard for me to make friends here, because even the women my age (I just turned 40) spend every weekend out drinking. Most want me to leave my husband at home and go out with them (leave him home to babysit, and then the next night I will stay home while he goes out with his mates to drink) and I find it so terribly unhealthy and boring.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a few glasses of wine or beer, it is just the ''getting pissed'' mentality that bothers me. (I am not being judgemental at all...just don't understand it.) I will be standing around the school yard waiting to pick up the kids from school and the topic is usually drinking. When supply teaching, the students talk about drinking (not different from the high school students in the US mind you, just a totally different feel to how zealous they are.

The drinking culture is definitely a problem here and anti-social behaviour is going to continue to get worse because of it.

see I'm not a drinker and when I get invited to go out with the others...I have one drink and cokes the rest of the time. Then after I've done one or two pub ventures I suggest something else ( a gig , a movie , a trip to the theatre ) and the same group of girls are just as happy doing my thing as they would have getting pissed at a pub.

OK, I just started my first (temp) job here, and it seems that the people here go out drinking in the evening at least a few times during the week, if not every night. I'm used to people getting together after work on a Friday and going out for some drinks, but not during the week, when they have full-time jobs, unless it was to celebrate a special occasion, like a birthday.

People also talk openly at work about being hung over, the same way I would talk about the pollen count bothering my allergies. I can't imagine anyone at work in the US admitting to being hung over from drinking the evening before.  Depending on their work performance, coming to work hung over alot might even be grounds for dismissal.

This old chestnut again! 
Many newcomers to the UK find this shocking or puzzling, but it's just the way things are here.  And i wouldnt want to see it changed.  It's a part of the British culture & lifestyle that i really enjoy.
We unfortunately do not have a pub near enough to my office, but my boss has various bottles of booze in the filing cabinet, and she is not averse to breaking it out once in awhile, to share with all of us in the team!  She's a wee star! 

As an individual who is educated in drug and alcohol counseling in the US the notion that drinking is so involved in the notion of having a good time is puzzling and a notion I have trouble understanding.  This would be a significant red flag that there was a potential for chemical dependency if being assessed by a person educated in the US. 
There would be many questions such as "Why can't you have a good time and alcohol not be a part of it"?  And when you say "enjoy ourselves" does that mean so you can go get smashed? 

There is a difference between saying 'I have fun when I go out drinking' and saying 'I have to drink to have fun'...particularly when you are looking at alcohol dependence.  I am part of a cricket team and a hockey team - we have drinks after our games or training.  Do I have to drink?  No, sometimes I don't.  Do I sometimes drink?  Yes.  Do I have fun both times?  Yes.  It's just that sometimes the drink is part of the fun.  And I think that is how some people think about it.  Are there people who may be dependent?  Of course...just as there are in the US.  But to have fun while drinking doesn't mean that you have a problem, necessarily!

I selected the quote because it struck me that joy and celebrations is associated with the drink.  Culturally it is hard for me to comprehend why the two are so ingrained with one another.  As an individual who is educated in drug and alcohol counseling in the US the notion that drinking is so involved in the notion of having a good time is puzzling and a notion I have trouble understanding.  This would be a significant red flag that there was a potential for chemical dependency if being assessed by a person educated in the US. 
There would be many questions such as "Why can't you have a good time and alcohol not be a part of it"?  And when you say "enjoy ourselves" does that mean so you can go get smashed? 

That's not it at all.  Anyone who's lived here for any length of time and made efforts to really understand the culture can see that.  It's just there - at lunch, at celebrations.  If you want it, fine.  If you don't, that's fine as well.  No one really cares if you don't feel you need it to have a good time.  

At our last Xmas lunch, I had two glasses of wine, then left to go do some shopping w/the rest of our half day off.  Others chose to stay and make merry.  Everyone just said, 'Bye!  Have fun!' , not 'Why aren't you drinking more?'  

Most people here don't spend time analysing other peoples' habits, something I find incredibly liberating after life in the States.  

Yes, I was born and educated in the US.  But I'm not there anymore.  I chose to come here and live here.  So I try my best not to judge my adopted culture.  It is what it is, work colleagues w/the odd hangover, pints and lunch and all.  

Ok....here's a bit of a lesson for ya Smilie means :it's a joke.....

Alicia, you're going native here and assuming that everyone has a sense of humour    .

what i do like here,

when i go out drinking with colleagues there is no pressure to stay until the wee hours of dawn like at my old company in the US.  I used to get ragged on if i wanted to leave at 10!

Here i can go for a pint, say goodbye at 7 and be home before 8 and still be in my colleague's good graces.

UK culture associate drink with joy and celebration as US associate food....different strokes for different folks *shrugs*

Quite right.  Good point.

Alicia, you're going native here and assuming that everyone has a sense of humour

foolish I know...
<smacks hand>

On a sunny day, my boss and I get the same look in our eyes about 12.30 or so - "pub lunch day"!

We go somewhere with a nice beer garden, nosh on chips or nachos and have a pint or two in the sunshine.  And then we go back to work and get just as much done as if we had simply eaten M&S sarnies at our respective desks.

On a sunny day, my boss and I get the same look in our eyes about 12.30 or so - "pub lunch day"!

We go somewhere with a nice beer garden, nosh on chips or nachos and have a pint or two in the sunshine.  And then we go back to work and get just as much done as if we had simply eaten M&S sarnies at our respective desks.

But you probably don't feel nearly as self-righteous as if you'd stayed chained to your desk and allowed yourself a whole ten minutes to gobble that sarnie, whilst answering emails or performing some other work-related task at the same time  .