Lack of Hydration...is it me?

I don't know that they are less hydrated either but over in NI anyway, they seem to LOVE milk with their meals. I can't think of anything more vile.

I don't think british people are less hydrated on the whole than Americans, but they don't seem to drink much with meals at all.

You have a point there Andrea. When we are having lunch or dinner at my in-laws they don't usually have a drink at the table.

We may have had tea or water before hand so I always bring my glass into the dinning room with me. I am used to having a full drink at least sitting there when I have lunch or dinner.

I've had a similar experience to Andrea.  DH, the in-laws, and quite a few of our friends don't drink very much with their meals.  They do drink after the meals or sometimes before the meals.  And when we are visiting, tea or coffee always seem to be readily available and offered. 

I personally always drank loads of soda or water or whatever with my meals, and no one has really said much to me about it.

Ditto. I always have to ask for a drink when I eat at British homes. Unless it's wine, there's almost never a drink on the table. Unfortunately I simply cannot eat a meal without a drink. And when at the IL's, I always have to get the drink myself or I'll end up with a thimble-sized glass!

triple that.  when i go to the inlaws- i get a pint of water before i sit down to dinner.  sometimes they'll be drinking tea with their "tea".  i find that strange as well.

Dh has ordered cups of tea or coffee at McDonalds!! I'd get it if it were breakfast, but with a Quarter Pounder???!!

Again, seems like my experience is different.  My in-laws have always put squash or juice and water on the table with meals, and wine if it's dinner.

I always have to get the drink myself or I'll end up with a thimble-sized glass!

Same here.  The first time I asked for water with a meal I got a tiny child sized cup.  It was only a mouthful.  Now I just get the biggest glass there is and get it myself. 

Again, seems like my experience is different.  My in-laws have always put squash or juice and water on the table with meals, and wine if it's dinner.

You're not alone... but with our family it's the younger generation that do this, while the older ones do the tea after the meal. 

I'll end up with a thimble-sized glass!

LOL! This made me laugh. Actually at my IL's even their wine glasses are in minature.

Dh has ordered cups of tea or coffee at McDonalds!! I'd get it if it were breakfast, but with a Quarter Pounder???!!

I do this.  I like their coffee.  If I take the kids to Micky D's, I have the coffee with my meal.

I really don't like fizzy drinks or fruit juice.

I've really only noticed the difference in restaurants (which my British husband complains about more than I do).  We've always had a drink with food when I've eaten in a British home, and in my home, I'm always the one who take hours after the meal to finish a drink.  I should really drink more because I get very moody if I don't drink enough, but I don't like water and find it hard to force myself to drink it.

Again, seems like my experience is different.  My in-laws have always put squash or juice and water on the table with meals, and wine if it's dinner.

Same here, we always have water at everyones house I go to. This is the first I am hearing of this opinion. I guess I hang out with well hydrated people! Perhaps its just an old fashioned thing.

At all the restaurants we ate at in the US on this trip, the servers always started by bringing us each full glasses of water, and in a few cases, pitchers as well, while we were looking at our menus.  I was so happy. 

Both places I have worked here have water coolers in the office & people fill up their cups again & again all day.  (As well as drinking tea, coffee, juice, squash, etc)  But I have noticed some Brits don't tend to drink as much with their meals.  My in-laws always put something out - water, wine, or a soft drink as to everyone's personal preferences, but Steve isn't at all bothered if he doesn't have anything to drink with his meals so I've found I often don't either now.  But I will get myself something if I really want it, to go with my meal..