Why do British people drink so early in the day?
Replies
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Now I COMPLETELY understand why my european counterparts are so set on when their work day ends... I would be too if I knew happy hour was around the corner. Truthfully if the state I lived in had happy hour I would engage in it pretty regularly probably, its a good way to decompress, socialize with friends, and network.
Besides, not everyone who works full time is married with kids, I'm not and 99.9% of my friends aren't, so theres nothing wrong with going to have a few drinks (or more) after work, and my work clothes are a heck of a lot cuter/nicer than my weekend clothes, so I would be ok going to get drinks in them. And public transportation to get you home safely instead of driving...
I think I need to move to Europe.
You mean "the UK"? Or any of the countries where this is the habit? I think Germany might have that and the huge portions of food?
Only move to Iceland if you want to drink late into the night.. or Norway if you want a really short workday and drink late in the evening.. or Denmark if you want to drink the whole day (disclaimer: that isnt true anymore since they implemented laws that forbid it.. thankfully)..
Europe is not the same all over, there are huge differences between the south, north, east, and west.. not to mention within each of those quarters.0 -
I don't know, but sometimes in college I drank during class. So whatever, who cares.0
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When I want to eat at a pub when touristing in the UK I have to make sure I go super early or all the pubs are filled with drunk people.. what's up with that?
Why do you just go straight to the pub? Shouldnt you go home first? Change clothes, say hi to the family.. you know, normal stuff!
You must have lead a very sheltered life.......
The Pommies don't have a monopoly on this, it's common pretty much throughout the world; and it's not just people living in large urban centres either......
soooooo Iceland isnt part of the world? I guess we are so small that we dont count.. Norway though, they must have a say in this!0 -
because they have kids.0
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it's because their portions of food are so small. i know this is a universal truth, because i asked a friend from the UK and that's the answer she gave me just before she had to leave for a dentist's appointment to fix her crooked teeth.
:laugh:
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it's because their portions of food are so small. i know this is a universal truth, because i asked a friend from the UK and that's the answer she gave me just before she had to leave for a dentist's appointment to fix her crooked teeth.
:laugh:
On the plus side the dental treatment was free0 -
What??? What part of America do you people live in that there is no Happy Hour and bars don't open until late?
This. Bars here open at ten a.m. and there's always a happy hour!
And yes, I live in the US.0 -
Bit of a sweeping statement that0
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WHY NOT?0
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You obviously haven't been to Ireland or Scotland.
I'm wondering if they've ever been to America. Or I must have just lucked out and live in the fun section of America.
That's at the corner of Maple and 53rd, right?
It's every corner in my town.0 -
I did not know this... now I have a reason to put visiting London on my bucket list! :laugh:0
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it's because their portions of food are so small. i know this is a universal truth,
Yeah, definitely this too.0 -
Drinking immediately after work happens in the USA too I imagine. Making sweeping statements about us Brits not going home and not seeing our kids is offensive. I often defend the American people when I hear derogatory comments from British people, however, individuals like you make me wonder why. I suggest you climb down from your pompous high horse and get real.
Thank you for this. :flowerforyou:
We cought one! :noway:
ETA: Grats on being the first Brit to be offended by the statement.. Though I guess it is easier to be offended at a wall of text than a grinning face. Not sure why it is relevant that you defend Americans.. seeing as I am not one.
Considering that page one is almost all people in on the joke/experiment, and this is the first post of page 2, I think the argument that people in any country don't like to be stereotyped or have people ask, "Where's the sense in that??" is gaining some merit.
Hmm perhaps the mathematical formula to how many people will be offended will have the pagenr in it.. the third page has more people offended.. though as of yet noone is seriously calling me a xeno..wahtsitcalled? or a racist.. so.. there's that.. :laugh:0 -
Why do you just go straight to the pub? Shouldnt you go home first?
No idea. The idea of going home first then returning to join work colleagues does seem... odd.
:drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker:0 -
When I want to eat at a pub when touristing in the UK I have to make sure I go super early or all the pubs are filled with drunk people.. what's up with that?
Why do you just go straight to the pub? Shouldnt you go home first? Change clothes, say hi to the family.. you know, normal stuff!
You must have lead a very sheltered life.......
The Pommies don't have a monopoly on this, it's common pretty much throughout the world; and it's not just people living in large urban centres either......
soooooo Iceland isnt part of the world? I guess we are so small that we dont count.. Norway though, they must have a say in this!
LOL I must confess I'm not familiar with the drinking habits of Icelanders but the Norwegians I know are a thirsty lot! (and it would be a pretty safe bet this doesn't happen in most Arabic countries either)0 -
Drinking immediately after work happens in the USA too I imagine. Making sweeping statements about us Brits not going home and not seeing our kids is offensive. I often defend the American people when I hear derogatory comments from British people, however, individuals like you make me wonder why. I suggest you climb down from your pompous high horse and get real.
Crikey. You sound really bothered! *buys you a pint to help you relax* 0 -
I did no know this... now I have a reason to put visiting London on my bucket list! :laugh:
Other reasons include: randomly chatting to people cause they are polite like that, and to visit the Underground.. honestly I am in love with that.. I dont know why.. and Cambdentown (spelling?) ..and just.. London.0 -
OK, I'll play this game!
Several reasons I think.
Firstly, there are a lot of pubs in cities, especially London. Up until recently (using a UK time frame), i.e. about late 19th century, it wasn't safe to drink the water in cities, so everyone drank ale, or beer.
In major cities like London, it's common to leave work and stop off with your work-mates for a pint (or a bottle of lager, glass of wine) to relax before everyone heads off to their home towns, which are often a good hour away by train.
Therefore, the pubs are busier between 5 and 7, than they are later on.
Once you're home, you don't want to go out again! My OH probably goes out from work about once a month, it's not that common when you get to a 'certain age'!
I'm not sure about the 'drunk' thing. That's usually the domain of the younger crowd who go out on a Friday/Saturday night to clubs and bars rather than pubs.
They will then drink until they can no longer stand, then they crawl in the gutter to the nearest A&E department. :sick:
But during the fantastic summer we've just had, it would have been great to sit on a wall outside an old traditional pub with a glass of beer, drinking in the atmosphere. Sadly, I'm the one at home with the kids!
btw - "England was the land of plenty and they had to support their pubs." I think he was having you on with this comment!
A huge number of pubs have shut in the last decade - mostly out-of-town ones, and I don't think anyone sees our country as a 'land of plenty' any more...
Nail on the head I'd say... I'm hailing from Canada and we do the same. Get of work and head to the pub with co-workers or a friend, then home. Who wants to go home and then back out again?? When I get home, I"m there to stay. Also, the young College kids are everywhere and the places get loud and rowdy later. As for going home to family first, well my husband either meets me out, or is out with his own buds for a bit after work. Thankfully we don't have kids.0 -
Drinking immediately after work happens in the USA too I imagine. Making sweeping statements about us Brits not going home and not seeing our kids is offensive. I often defend the American people when I hear derogatory comments from British people, however, individuals like you make me wonder why. I suggest you climb down from your pompous high horse and get real.
PMSL. Spot the person that hasn't read the first thread.0 -
Because they are smarter than us.0
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When I want to eat at a pub when touristing in the UK I have to make sure I go super early or all the pubs are filled with drunk people.. what's up with that?
Why do you just go straight to the pub? Shouldnt you go home first? Change clothes, say hi to the family.. you know, normal stuff!
You must have lead a very sheltered life.......
The Pommies don't have a monopoly on this, it's common pretty much throughout the world; and it's not just people living in large urban centres either......
soooooo Iceland isnt part of the world? I guess we are so small that we dont count.. Norway though, they must have a say in this!
LOL I must confess I'm not familiar with the drinking habits of Icelanders but the Norwegians I know are a thirsty lot! (and it would be a pretty safe bet this doesn't happen in most Arabic countries either)
They are thirsty, that is true! Just not right after work.. or perhaps I have been at boring workplaces.. :P They all just want to go out for a hike or some other sport right after work!
I have heard about some pretty heavy drinking parties in Iran.. but those would be in private houses since.. you know.. law..0 -
I think it depends on what part of the US you're coming from - the bars in DC are usually full around 5pm for "Happy Hour." Living in the UK, I didn't see people drinking excessively much earlier than that. And if it's a weekend in DC, people are drinking around 11am. Mimosas and bloody marys all the way.
It is much more acceptable throughout Europe to have a glass of wine or a pint with lunch, which is personally a practice I think should be brought over. :-)0 -
I say we settle this discussion over a pint0
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I used to work in a pub in the uk. We opened at 10am and people came in straight away. What you have to remember is that some of these people (not all) it is the only human contact they get a day. Same reason the pub opened twice on Christmas Day instead of once0
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Other reasons include: randomly chatting to people cause they are polite like that,
They must have been tourists.
PS http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camden_Town0 -
Will join the debate when I've finished my drink , sobered up and picked the kids up from school...hic0
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I did no know this... now I have a reason to put visiting London on my bucket list! :laugh:
Other reasons include: randomly chatting to people cause they are polite like that, and to visit the Underground.. honestly I am in love with that.. I dont know why.. and Cambdentown (spelling?) ..and just.. London.
Carnaby Street is worth a visit as well if you are in the area but agree about the underground, I used to just love travelling on the underground just for the sake of it when I was younger.
Not during rush hour though0 -
It really does depend where you are, as a company we go out twice a year after work, one to celebrate our annual achievements and one for Christmas. In our area the pub is dying out. Yet visiting my brother in York was an eye opener for me, everyone, young, old, babies, grandmas and the cousins all go to the same place day in day out and alcohol is a way of life. Fair enough it is not for all to get drunk but the pub is a family social place in York. London it is more about the business person off for a drink after work and can get very busy quickly. I would visit Wiltshire and Hampshire next time you are over. We have great places to eat great retreats and wonderful picturesque places to visit. If you do go back to the capital have a look on line for places like Gourmet Burgers and Zizzi restaurants. These will provide you a nice sit down meal with the choice of a beverage and most towns have them now x avoid Weatherspoons and Yates after 17:00 hours most days as they do grub in a pub and it attracts a lot of flies....
Replies like this makes me happy to have made the thread.. I am genuinely interested to hear how people see things differently and experience things differently.
Also, thanks for the pointers.. Will definately keep them in mind!
You are welcome, please email me if you would like to know anything before coming to visit us again. xxx I will send you a friend request.0 -
You make it sounds like a bad thing :drinker:0 -
first off, loving the generalisation
I didn't know I drank for a start- thanks for enlightening me P:
second, you were in a pub... where people go to drink socially... and you were surprised to see people drink... yes.
third, it's not unacceptable to have a glass of wine, or what ever you like, at lunch, in fact its the same in many European countries- its almost unusual not to.
fourth, I think we do have a bit of an issue with alcohol in this country; the idea that you need to get plastered to have a good time- so on that front yeah I can see where you're coming from.0
This discussion has been closed.
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