Is it cheaper to drink over here?

I say, no, not really.

It would take a minimum of three shots to make a decent NYC-sized drink, and that's bringing you up  to around 5.50 quid -just over 10 bucks. In a divey bar in New York (the eqivalent of a pub), that would be maybe $5-7, throw on another dollar for a tip.

And forget a coctail. That just doesn't really exist. Assembling your own gin and tonic will add another 2 bucks to the total.

Nope, unless it's beer at happy hour in a small town (2.50 for a pint here in suffolk between 6-7 PM) there is no deal for boozers over here.

What's it cost where you live?

And wouldn't you kill for a marguerita?

I've never been to NYC, and i'm not likely to ever be drinking in the US again, so i dont really care.   

It's cheap for me to drink anywhere!     Well, pretty much, anyway.  I'm a cheap date...it doesn't take much at all to get me tipsy.  I never really paid attention to how much I spent in either country, to be honest, since the cost is always pretty minimal for me.

And no, I wouldn't kill for a margarita.  I've never had one....

And forget a coctail. That just doesn't really exist.

Oh I'd say they exist- some of the best cocktails I've ever had were at a pub in Edinburgh   (Not cheap though at 4 quid a pop!)

4 quid is cheap!
I saw cocktails on a menu in Edinburgh that were £8.95!

I think it depends.  I don't like beer that much, and only really drink liquor/cocktails.  Those seem to be expensive both in England and the US.  I have to admit a slight taste preference for the UK cocktails though. 

Oh honey I hear you! It's taken awhile but Belfast has gone from the days when a Bloody Mary meant the bartender sticking a glass with a finger of vodka in it, a small bottle of tomato juice and some white pepper on the bar (the ultimate in DIY?) to finally having a decent choice of a number of bars that have full cocktail menus. Prices aren't that bad and of course better during happy hour. Still haven't had a proper magarita yet but I have hope!!

 

I think comparing $$$ to £££ would give me a bigger headache than any frou frou cocktail.

Well I'm a beer drinking girl... and I think it's not that much more expensive.  Let's see....

Most cans over here are 440ml and some 500ml (they're bigger).  We usually get a 18-pack of Carling at Spar for £10.00.  To put it in dollars (since that was the OP question)...That's 7920 ml of beer for rougly $18? so roughly 0.227¢ per ml of beer.  Many places like Netto or Bargain Booze I've seen beer even cheaper in 24-packs. 

In the US, I used to buy 24 pack of 354.88ml cans of Miller Lite (12 oz) for prob around $14.99 with tax (6%) and 10¢ on each can for deposit that's $18.29 for 8517 ml so roughly 0.212¢ per ml of beer.  And because I'm either lazy or whatever, the cans don't always go back to the store to get the deposit back (more time and energy to take them back although it's good for the environment, I know).  Plus I think most states have higher than 6% sales tax... such as New York where many places have sales tax over 8%.

So really, it's about the same price I'd say.  Anyway, if it were more expensive I'd still be paying for it.

***Edited to add - just thought that since VAT is added on beer over here, the actual cost of the beer itself (minus tax) would be cheaper than in the US.  I think? 

Nope, unless it's beer at happy hour in a small town (2.50 for a pint here in suffolk between 6-7 PM) there is no deal for boozers over here.

What's it cost where you live?

Oh I didn't see your question!

Where I live in Michigan it's 1.50 a pint (yes a real pint) for Miller Lite NOT during happy hour.  At Michigan State University it used to be (last year) 1.75 for a pint of Labatt's Light or $4 for pictcher!  LOL we used to all just get the pitchers and drink out of those... really classy!!!    Did the trink though!

I think comparing $$$ to £££ would give me a bigger headache than any frou frou cocktail.

Ditto!  Some stuff is cheaper, some stuff is more expensive...but if you're constantly converting it in your head, I think you'll eventually go mad.  And like I said before, this especially doesn't matter to me, since it's cheap for me to get drunk pretty much everywhere because I do it so infrequently.   

I'd say it's cheaper because I do most of my drinking at home now -- or at friends' houses within walking distance. People don't drink and drive in the UK (at least nobody I knows would ever do that), so you don't have the US-type culture of going out for drinks as much. At least, I don't. I do go to pubs once in a while, but in the US I used to drive to bars or clubs a couple of times a week to meet up with friends for drinks. I'd never do that here! So, yes, I save a fortune!

....there is some solace to be found within the "house double" category of two pours of some bottom-rung rot gut for the price of a shot and half. 'OK if you're mixing.

But in New York, the Bartender will be buying you a drink every third or fourth one. Over here, if your mother died and it was your birthday, your bartender is still not giving anything away. And then there is the ruinous (but very social) practice of getting caught into buying rounds. Maybe you didn't want to buy 6 drinks on that particular night -but you will.

Make way for the expert....

 

There are some EXCELLENT cocktail bars in London.  My personal favourite would be the Cinnamon Club in Westminster, where marguerita's are far too mainstream (although they do make them)...the cucumber martini is amazing.

Also good is the bar of the Charlotte Street Hotel, or the Fifth Floor Bar in Harvey Nicols.

Yes, cocktails can be expensive in some places....these three bars are *very* swanky, and you are probably talking £8 each, though you are probably getting a treble of vodka for that.  There are plenty of places where you can get cheaper ones...Smollenky's is rather fun, and is almost a New York bar in London.

As for the bartender's buying you drinks, does this really happen?  I couldn't imagine doing that for my customers when i worked in pubs.  It would have cost a fortune.  If a barman earns something like £6 per hour, that's two, maybe three drinks...how could he afford to give his earnings back to the customers in this way?  Bar staff in England don't get tips, so they only have their wage to go on..maybe that's the difference.

I am really a beer girl.  I live in London.  I am self employed and as my business is relatively new I am not taking a massive salary yet.  I can still afford to get pissed several times a week though!

Melvinx..how long have you been here?  And why keep making these sweeping criticisms?  Yes, it's expensive, but it's not *that* bad.

Besides, there's always Weatherspoon's!!!

Vicky

But in New York, the Bartender will be buying you a drink every third or fourth one.

I wish I knew where in NY you went for your drinks!!