THE DEMON DRINK

[john d]

There has been quite a bit of discussion over recent weeks about drinking, pubs, openning hours etc. I guess we, on this website must be a reasonable sample of the British Man-in-the-Street and it might be interesting for us to bare our souls as to how much alcohol we consume and how it affects us.
I wonder how often you go to the pub and how much you spend on alcohol in a week?
There has been some support for the new extended hours. Will this affect you personnally? For my part I'm amazed at the continuing scenes on TV of totally drunk men and women staggering around outside pubs. Any of you admit to this bingeing?
So,
How often do you go to the pub?
How much do you spend on alcohol per week?
How often do you get drunk?
Why? or is that a stupid question?

Any takers?

[elliej]

I did my bingeing aged 17-23 (every Saturday in pub with friends) Didn't drink in between cos I had to get up for work.
I got bored and embarrased of getting drunk. Also I'm older and more confident so don't need it, whereas I used to feel I did. Would rather have a couple and get giggly than fall over or start talking rubbish. I think a lot of teenagers go through that and most gradually drink less.
When I occasionally go to Manchester at night I stay sober enough to get home safely and keep a look out for trouble. Prefer to stay in, had harassment from drunk people and it puts me off going out.
Cheap alcohol (anything beginning with 'White'!) makes it easier for people to get more drink more often. Raising prices wouldn't stop anyone with a problem already, but might make it harder for kids to start drinking heavily.

Go to pub: twice a year
Spend per week: under £10
Get drunk: rarely
Why: to relax and de-stress

[annie]

I didn't start drinking till I was 26, due to the negative influence of an alcoholic father, but when I did I made up for it!

Difference was that when I drink heavily, I laugh a lot, get all gregarious and have a fab time. Dad got sour and confrontational.

Glad to say that I know how to have a good skinful and still in partial control

Prefer house parties to boozer pi**ups.

Go to pub: Twice a week
Spend?: £10-15 quid
Drunk?: Depends on the circumstances.
Why?: Because it's nice.

[Kita Mura]

I'm like a chocoholic - BUT FOR BOOZE!

Seriously though, I'll have a couple of glasses of wine some evenings, some evenings I'll have a few cups of tea, sometimes, although less regularly these days, I'll go out and end up drinking a little too much. I think I'm aware of my limits - it tends to be circumstances beyond my control that lead to excessive drinking on my part as I prefer not to have hangovers.

Don't forget that people who've clearly had too much aren't to be served. It's your happy hours and "£8 in all drinks free" nights that create the majority of the mayhem in town centres. You insist on responsible behaviour on the part of licenced premises and encourage more personal responsibility and you crack the nut, I think. There'll always be exceptions, those who'll never the learn, but the majority of us find our limit and shouldn't be treated like children because of the few who can't behave like adults.

Sort of forgot which thread I was on there. My heavier drinking days have taken their toll.

[Louise]

I think you need to be educated in how to drink. If you learn how to handle it in a safe environment you are more likely to be able to stay safe when you reach 18 and are let loose.

I had that experience from my parents. I would like to pass that on to my own daughter. I think all these very sweet pop-like drinks that are high alcohol and so easily knocked back are a menace.

My kids think they have never seen me drunk. They have but they didnt realise because I wasnt falling about all over the place and being sick.

[BROKENENGLISH]

I started drinking about 2 years ago when i was 14...half litres of vodka or jack dans but that was just because of the thrill of trying something new that, i thought, was harmless. That was only at weekends though. Nowadays i have a few drinks if i go to a pub or bar but its not really to help my confidence since im more accustomed to socialising without alcohhol now, i dont need it to be myself and to be outgoing. Id say the reason is for the buzz, basically. Plus it makes pop rock danceable.

[Louise]

I was slightly worried by that judge who said that a student who said she had been raped by a security guard directed the jury to acquit because she was drunk.

Be very careful out there

[annie]

lovely.......

[Chorlton'ed]

How often do you go to the pub? about once a week or fortnight
How much do you spend on alcohol per week? depends how much money i have but up to £30
How often do you get drunk? once a week or fortnight depending on whats goin on n money situation
Why? or is that a stupid question? coz its fun

[fiz67]

how often go to pub - once/twice a week
how much spent on alcohol per week - about £30
how often drunk - about twice a year
why? don't usually get drunk on purpose, but why drink? i love the taste and the way it makes me feel!
more often as i've got older i tend to drink whilst eating a meal in pub/restaurent so don't get so drunk or share a bottle of wine at home etc mainly at weekends though so am a "binge drinker" with working monday-friday - in my late teens and twentys getting drunk was the objective of the night and we had some cracking nights wouldn't want to deny any youngster the fun we had - as with everthing you need to experiment and find your "comfort zone" alcohol can make or break a night out sometimes but unless you've got steaming drunk a few times you'll never know you limit, however late a place stays open surely you can only drink so much before you fall over - pubs will be only open if people use them they won't pay to staff an empty pub.

[Louise]

I may be naive or unworldly or even a simpleton but...

Isnt that two sixteen year olds now saying they go to the pub and spend about 30 pounds a week on booze?

Are we giving you EMA to do this or are you getting the money from your parents?

And isnt it illegal for you to be buying alcohol in a pub at 16?

[digger]

And isnt it illegal for you to be buying alcohol in a pub at 16?

I'd like to point out that this is something that ID cards would nip in the bud. I'd LIKE to, but I don't have a bunker big enough to hide behind

How often do you go to the pub?
Once or twice a week

How much do you spend on alcohol per week?
Ah, well, now, that depends on (a) whether the round comes round more than once, and (b) whether you include spending in the supermarket as well as in the pub. In the pub, rarely more than £20 a week. At the supermarket, depends on which week the supply of gin, vodka, whisky, brandy, beer or cider runs out. Guess it averages out at about a tenner a week.

How often do you get drunk?
A couple of times a year, maybe.

Why?
Usually on an occasion where drinking time is greatly extended (aha! I hear you say...so 24 hour opening WILL mean you get drunk more often, BUT....) and it's a special do, like a Christmas outing or a party, usually in a private place. I've almost never got drunk in a pub. Twice ...errr...that I can remember Why do I get drunk then? Because there's no reason to stop, I'm enjoying myself, I'm not doing anyone any harm, I'm DEFINITELY not driving, and I'm not responsible to/for anyone but me. If any of the above are not true, then I stop long before I get to the point where I can't remember whether I ought to stop or not.

[dstigwood]

How often do you go to the pub?
Used to be 3-4 times a week. But temporarily it's 1-2 times because of job/education taking up free time.
How much do you spend on alcohol per week?
£30-£50
How often do you get drunk?
Whenever I go to the pub and usually a night at home.
Why? or is that a stupid question?
I'm more fun when i'm drunk.

As for 16 year olds drinking. I started going to the local pub/park to get drunk when I was 15 and it continued from there. Most 16 year olds do! I'm suprised this is such a shock to some of you. I thought practically everyone did when they were that age.

[IanDL]

How often do you go to the pub?
6 times a week.

How much do you spend on alcohol per week?
£100 - £150

How often do you get drunk?
2 - 3 times

Why? or is that a stupid question?
Usually when i'm in good company. If not, it gets me away from my pathetic job and the reality of modern life.

[Paula Pickle]

Not sure I believe you Ian. That's over £20 every time!
What do you do for relaxation on your day off - or can't you remember?
By the way, sad about Besty, wasn't it!