penguinsix

Sort of a spin off (s/o) from the http://britishexpats.com/forum/usa-5...merica-843132/ thread.

Do you find yourself drinking alcohol more or less in the USA vs. the "binge culture and no-go city centers of the UK" as revealed by the Daily Mirror? Was wondering if culturally or through peer pressure or the fact you have to drive everywhere you find yourself inclined to drink less here.

AZ_Alba

Less as I cut alcohol out 7 years ago

sir_eccles

You can get huge jugs of scotch in Costco, just saying...

markonline1

I've cut down big time. But part of that is having a pregnant wife that can't drink, so I drink less in sympathy with her.

BubbleChog

I drink less; predominantly because my husband is teetotal for health reasons so I certainly don't drink as much at home.

I have noticed that people drunk driving is much more common here. Probably because EVERYTHING in ATL is 30 minutes drive away. It apparently doesn't matter where you are in town or where you are going. EVERYONE involved will be 30 minutes away and will probably all drive in their own car.

Pulaski

Thursday nights after work in London are now just a distant memory. ..... Though thinking back, they often were on Friday mornings back then too.

ChocolateBabz

We were over our pub/club days before we moved so haven't noticed a difference. The ocassional beer or bottle of wine. Houston has virtually no public transport so you can't go out and get home easily so we seldom even have a bottle of wine with a meal.

The dude will have his licence soon though so we may ramp up our act and become raging alkies

GeoffM

FIFY


Unfortunately I drink more - it's more stressful working for yourself than being an employee! But 90% is at home: it's been months since I was at a bar so the only other place I drink out at is a restaurant. Fortunately wifey can drive and rarely drinks! Just beer and white wine, nothing stronger.

Sally Redux

I was drinking more. Sort of steady, depressed-type drinking.

Hotscot

Tell me about it...emergencies every day..

I find it too easy to drink loadsa wine in the evening. Also being in the high desert can make one thirsty.

Enjoy a Manhattan at the weekend too...

Was actually surprised last year when doc said my liver was fine...

sir_eccles

That awkward moment in the dr's office when they ask you how much you drink. "Oh you know, socially with dinner that sort of thing".

MarylandNed

I drink much less now than I did when I was younger but it's hard to attribute any changes to just being in the US vs the UK. There are other factors. For example, I'm older now, have 4 kids and loads of responsibilities so I just don't have as much free time on my hands as I did in the UK. I do like a beer and the odd glass of wine but I tend to drink at home now rather than go out. If I drink at home, I tend to have a beer or two whereas if I go out to a bar, I would likely have more.

I do suspect that I would drink more if I was living in the UK. I know I'd be going to football matches and there's always the pre-match and post-match pints. Also there's more of a pub culture in the UK. For example, things like darts, snooker, quiz nights, bingo etc at the local pub or club. Also I used to frequently go for pub lunches during the work week in the UK or for drinks with co-workers after work. I now work at home so that cuts out that temptation. I've never had alcohol at lunch time in the US whereas it was a regular occurrence in the UK (we'd frequently conduct meetings in pubs there).

Sally Redux

Snap...one glass with dinner...


well a bottle is made of glass

Hotscot

But there's only three glasses, and a wee bit, in a bottle. Too easy...

GeoffM

Yep, just the one glass.....