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[Atlantic] America Has a Drinking Problem
- Thread starter Maiden Voyage
- Start date
Soodanim
Gold Member
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but no one read all that
Maiden Voyage
Gold™ Member
Shame, it’s honestly a good read.
- Have a growing microbrewery culture, to the point where the country has more breweries than it’s ever had
- Lock down cities, force everyone to stay at home for essentially a year
- If you’re lucky, work from home; if not go on unemployment
- lack of outside social interaction and growing uncertainty about the future means growing stress
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- Lock down cities, force everyone to stay at home for essentially a year
- If you’re lucky, work from home; if not go on unemployment
- lack of outside social interaction and growing uncertainty about the future means growing stress
-
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Soodanim
Gold Member
Until I get round to reading the whole thing (it’s a long one), I’ll leave you some second hand information. For an idea of England’s pubs (and the building trade) as they’re mentioned in the article.
Pubs in England in the 70s/80s used to open at a certain time in the early afternoon. You could tell the time by certain people in the building trade, because you would get people who finished work to go to the pub like clockwork. Half 2 when it opened? There was at least one person walking in on time, never late. Then as the day went on, people finished their shifts and turned up at the pub. You even had the extra crafty ones that timed the end of their day to include travel time, so they got back home to the pub at 4. Even the boss would sometimes say “Come on lads, pub time” and that would be it. Especially on a Friday, because people got paid cash. Straight down the pub.
When my uncle died recently, because of Covid funerals were limited in numbers. As an alternative, the hearse drove by his local, where he was always known from. We went up this main road expecting to see a few people outside the pub, but along this whole street there were hundreds of people. Maybe 300 lined up. That’s because of how important pubs used to be to communities back then.
The pub culture is dying now, and pubs in the daytime are more for the die hard old school blokes who remember it or the pissheads that are always in there. For various reasons. The government made it more expensive to drink, and when they let alcohol serving establishments stay open longer they messed with everything. Add in the changing society of not wanting pubs to be the Wild West without the guns, and big chain businesses opening up branches that are nothing like local pubs, and you get a decline. Pubs in danger of closing are always in the news, and unfortunately there isn’t always a local community that thinks to band together to buy it.
Football still brings people down the pub though, and the ones that didn’t get unlucky (or just smart enough to have some TVs) are packed on a Saturday. Big chain bars (sometimes) have more TVs, though.
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M1chl
Currently Gif and Meme Champion
Yeah I guess that having alcohol to buy absolutely everywhere helps. Not only liquor store.
Ehh...hard alcohol is pretty fucking bad.
Jeeves
Member
I'm guessing some people are just more predisposed to alcohol addiction than others. Before I began drinking, I used to worry about falling into the clutches of addiction. Nowadays I'm no stranger to alcohol, and it can be fun for sure, but I have no desire to feel even mildly intoxicated all the time, or a significant minority of the time for that matter.
One or two beers a week is plenty for me, and I genuinely enjoy them for the taste. Only a couple times a year I might aim to get drunk for the fun novelty of it (with good company of course). And I make a point of never drinking if I'm in a bad mood.
One or two beers a week is plenty for me, and I genuinely enjoy them for the taste. Only a couple times a year I might aim to get drunk for the fun novelty of it (with good company of course). And I make a point of never drinking if I'm in a bad mood.
sunnysideup
Banned
alchohol is the greatest drug ever invented.
-Minsc-
Member
A long standing goal of mine has been to be confident, happy and social without resorting to the liquid bread. The older I get the more confident I am to be not fazed by jabs such as this.
The biggest takeaway I get is to not use alcohol as an antidepressant. One of the biggest hindrances to myself I'm coming to see is I used things like video games, internet forums, TV shows and pornography and masturbation in isolation. I just as easy could have turned to alcohol to fill the void.
Edit:
I read 99.9% of the article. More or less, you are right.
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Dontkidyourselfjimmy
Member
The beta was better than expected after being dissapointed with 4 & 5 they have really turned things around.
Go home, Jimmy, you’re drunk.
GHG
Member
If America has a Drinking problem, I wonder how they qualify Europe.
I was about to say... Just America? Go to any major city in the world on a weekend and there are drunk people everywhere at night.
darrylgorn
Member
Alcohol is the easiest way to get fat. Knowing that should be enough to moderate your consumption.
Superkewl
Member
Cyberpunkd
Member
In France we drink wine, so it doesn't count. It's a noble beverage given by Gods.
CrankyJay™
Member
Yeah yesterday was a bad day. Had 3 beers for the Bills game then hosted dinner with the in-laws and basically drank half a bottle of wine, maybe 2/3rds
Dontkidyourselfjimmy
Member
More worryingly I'm sober
MastAndo
Member
If that's a bad day, every Friday (or Saturday) is nightmarish for me.
I'm an American and I roll with a group where each of us definitely has their own varying degrees of drinking problems/reliance...but it's the glue that holds us together, as sad as that is to admit. Personally, I'm very fortunate that I physically just can't stomach anything stronger than what most would consider watered down/unmanly beer, so that's all I drink. It just ends up being a pretty large quantity after the night is through.
StreetsofBeige
Gold Member
I was thinking the same thing as some of you above. In European countries arent booze age minimums low and kids start drinking wine as teenagers? And wine has more alcohol %. Kids should be drunk and alcoholism should be rampant. And I think booze is cheap in Europe too, so everyone's house is probably stocked with booze. Yet I dont see crisis level issues.
If US has issues with alcoholism, it probably has to do with people acting like slobs chugging down cases of beer.
If US has issues with alcoholism, it probably has to do with people acting like slobs chugging down cases of beer.
CrankyJay™
Member
I’m American too. Just been thinking it’s not good to drink that much in one day.
ThatStupidLion
Member
i would say drinking heavily in america peters out once a family life begins or around 30-35. I know a lot of people that still party hard, but no where near the frequency or amount like it was during our 20s.
also, very noticeable for me at least is the difference of drinking culture/amounts between the Northeast and the Southeast.
also, very noticeable for me at least is the difference of drinking culture/amounts between the Northeast and the Southeast.
MastAndo
Member
Sure, it's definitely not good, but I suppose people's definition of a bad drinking day varies.
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Javthusiast
Banned
D
Deleted member 1159
Unconfirmed Member
I’d say this holds true for my social circle. We’ve all kinda just…stopped as we hit mid 30s and has kids. I’ve dropped about 30 pounds this year too, so it’s helped with that
SafeOrAlone
Banned
I don't drink much anymore. I suppose I could use the advantage. Drink on, everyone.
EverydayBeast
ChatGPT 0.1
There’s fun drinking than there’s relaxing drinking which is in Europe.
bronk
Banned
Nov 3rd was last time I drank. I had about 18 beers. I was probably binge drinking every two to three days. While still working and hitting gym everyday. I guess I was still functioning well but man this last time I'm just done. Havent had a sip and don't plan on having one for the foreseeable future. Feeling clear headed. I was spending so much damn money its crazy. Nothing wrong with a lil booze here and there but it became obvious to me it was a real problem.
Cyberpunkd
Member
I never met the kids you describe. If anything wine with teenagers is considered uncool and expensive. Most of them like flavored beer or (once they start uni) dilute vodka with orange juice.
ResilientBanana
Member
The Music Industry doesn't make this easier.
BigBeauford
Gold Member
Stopped drinking this year pretty much. Lost 25 lbs almost immediately and feel significantly healthier. Plus with weed and delta 8 becoming prevalent, alcohol is a much much less appealing vice
Maiden Voyage
Gold™ Member
Yep. Delta 8 is my go to nowadays. RIP alcohol.
Apeopleman
Member
Good luck with battle. Stay strong, reach out to friends and family for support (or here at Neo GAF if you feel comfortable)
Ballthyrm
Member
Coffee and Tea have the added advantage that you can be a total snob (Just like a wine !)
I haven't met a THC snob yet.
M1chl
Currently Gif and Meme Champion
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GeekyDad
Member
If America has a Drinking problem, I wonder how they qualify Europe.
"invest in alcohol..."
Got it!
DeepEnigma
Gold Member
Go home Europe, you're drunk.
If America has a Drinking problem, I wonder how they qualify Europe.
West Texas CEO
GAF's Nicest Lunch Thief and Nosiest Dildo Archeologist
@M1chl said:
I remember once you said that restaurants where you live charge more for water than they do for alcohol?
That's pretty savage.
Evil Calvin
Afraid of Boobs
That's technically any 'light' beer these days. Mostly water.
Evil Calvin
Afraid of Boobs
What is the average lifespan of the 'mates'? 40 years?