Do we hide behind drink??

Robsweezie

an uncle of mine once turned down an invite to a family thing purely on the basis that there wouldn't be any alcohol.... this got me thinking that as a people, do we hide behind drink far too much to mask our shortcomings? are we that lacking in social skills that we use drink as an enabler?

the dark phantom

Yes.

Venus In Furs

It might not be anything deeper than just really enjoying feeling inebriated.

Molester Stallone II

Robsweezie wrote: »

an uncle of mine once turned down an invite to a family thing purely on the basis that there wouldn't be any alcohol.... this got me thinking that as a people, do we hide behind drink far too much to mask our shortcomings? are we that lacking in social skills that we use drink as an enabler?

No, but if I'm going to be stuck in a hall with my boring family for 8 hours against my will, listening to a crap band blast out Garth Brooks greatest hits;
the least you could do is let me have just 1 fckin pint!

Yes. Big family gatherings fill me with dread and fear.

Unless there's drink, then it's all good......:)

brummytom

I use drink as an excuse for everything bad I ever say, but I also use it for any excuse to go out. I don't really like talking to people sober. And yes, I'm drunk now.

Honey Monster

It's true OP. I use it as a crutch to get me through social situations.

Few drinks always settle my nerves and imo make me and everyone else around more tolerable.

GerB40

If you watch Americans, Canadians or British people speak in interviews or in front of large crowds they're more often than not fairly comfortable doing so. Watching Irish people in the same situations can make for very uncomfortable viewing. Of course there are exceptions but on the whole we're actually quite a shy, introverted nation. That is, of course, without drink. So in my opinion, we do tend to hide behind drink too much. The 'charming Irish drunk' mask is beginning to slip, showing us to be a very insecure group of people..

I admire/envy people who are confident and outgoing without drinking.

braddun

Do we hide behind a bush

B.A._Baracus

Robsweezie wrote: »

an uncle of mine once turned down an invite to a family thing purely on the basis that there wouldn't be any alcohol.... this got me thinking that as a people, do we hide behind drink far too much to mask our shortcomings? are we that lacking in social skills that we use drink as an enabler?

Well to be honest,
i have never been in a situation where I heard another say they wont go to an event because 'no drink was being served' - But it sounds like an excuse not to go to something and in previous experiences I have heard quite a few.

So there is "hiding behind drink" which I totally get what you are saying... then there is people making their excuses.

TheLastMohican

braddun wrote: »

Do we hide behind a bush

Blackbush?

https://img.thewhiskyexchange.com/900/irish_bus2.jpg

Tombi!

It's less of "hiding behind" and more of a "not used to without". Drink culture in Ireland is beyond insane.
I'm well aware plenty of people in the country don't drink or can easily go on a night out, have a few and be fine. But it's unbelievable at how much the drink culture here is "go get really drunk and you'll have a great time".

ShooterSF

GerB40 wrote: »

If you watch Americans, Canadians or British people speak in interviews or in front of large crowds they're more often than not fairly comfortable doing so. Watching Irish people in the same situations can make for very uncomfortable viewing. Of course there are exceptions but on the whole we're actually quite a shy, introverted nation. That is, of course, without drink. So in my opinion, we do tend to hide behind drink too much. The 'charming Irish drunk' mask is beginning to slip, showing us to be a very insecure group of people..

I admire/envy people who are confident and outgoing without drinking.

I can't speak for the rest of them but you can be fairly confident that Canadian is either high or on a buzz I thought we drank in excess but some nights I have to pass on shots or I'd be on the floor and that's whilst we're working!!

Minderbinder

Our social inadequacies are because we're too honest and we're not very good at faking enthusiasm and that sort of thing. I've lived in three foreign countries to date and they all drink like mad and claim to be the best at it.

crybaby

your uncle sounds like a bit of a dick

GerB40

ShooterSF wrote: »

I can't speak for the rest of them but you can be fairly confident that Canadian is either high or on a buzz I thought we drank in excess but some nights I have to pass on shots or I'd be on the floor and that's whilst we're working!!

I do realise it's dangerous to start making generalisations but I was referring more to the built in confidence I've seen in Canadians rather any sort of drinking culture. I suppose the point of my original post is that Irish people need to drink, far more than they want to. The thought of going out sober will often be questioned or even met with suspicion. In Ireland, if a drink is turned down there has to be a 'real' reason, not wanting to drink usually isn't reason enough.

And that is the culture we have in this country. It's a sad fact that the majority of 18 - 35 year olds do hide behind drink but it's an ailment that feeds on itself. You're in good form? Celebrate with a drink. You're pissed off? A drink will cheer you up. Bored on a Tuesday night? Shur a pint or two will do no harm.

As for answers, I have none. This whole thing is far beyond me. But we've shown the world we're more than happy to live up to that particular stereotype and I think at some level, we know it's not right..

civis_liberalis

Robsweezie wrote: »

an uncle of mine once turned down an invite to a family thing purely on the basis that there wouldn't be any alcohol....

I'm (seriously) trying to think of what kind of family thing in Ireland wouldn't involve drink and an intervention is the only thing I can think of so far.

Gannicus

Robsweezie wrote: »

an uncle of mine once turned down an invite to a family thing purely on the basis that there wouldn't be any alcohol.... this got me thinking that as a people, do we hide behind drink far too much to mask our shortcomings? are we that lacking in social skills that we use drink as an enabler?

100% without a doubt, the vast majority of people hide behind the gargle in this country. Every time I try to arrange something with my close group of friends it turns into "we'll grab a bag of cans for the journey" or "we can stop somewhere along the way and get the pints in".

In the summer just gone I put forward to the lads that we try see a sight/tourist attraction in all the 32 counties. We could do it over the weekends see some places and have a laugh. The first response was "why don't we have a pint in every county?". Next thing I know I have 4 lads saying we should have a pint in every county under the assumption that I was driving them to all of these pubs. Needless to say that I was not entertaining the idea and it was canned.

Now I do like the odd drink but maybe once a month I'l have 3 or 4 pints/cans tops, but the lads seem to drink literally every time I see them and I see them about 3 times a week. I'm not talking a beer or two I'm talking 6-8 cans and/or spirits too. Now they don't annoy me about not drinking but they can't seem to survive any social setting without booze.

I blame the system we grew up in. As kids we're thought by adults drinking is taboo and then when we hit mid teens we're bombarded by peer pressure and then the world of booze is unleashed onto us at 18 and we go mad because we have no prior experience bar looking at drunk adults and more recently, these moronic shows like 'Jersey Shores' and 'Geordie Shores'.

The only way to move forward is for this and/or the next generation that booze is not "the big evil" and when done responsibly it can be used as part of your enjoyment not the precursor to having fun. Even then I think it may be too late.

GerB40 wrote: »

But we've shown the world we're more than happy to live up to that particular stereotype and I think at some level, we know it's not right..

The funny thing is I know people who regularly drink to excess that take exception to that stereotype, and when you tell them they are that stereotype the get all indignant with you.


Apologies for droning on an on

No I'm not small enough

DoYouEvenLift

Well from a young age we involve drink in most social events so it kind of becomes the norm to need drink. It's so bad that people automatically assume that people who aren't drinking on a night out will be boring and sh!t craic. It's also funny how striking up conversations with strangers is a totally alien concept for a lot of people these days but that's not limited to Ireland

anncoates

Sometimes you need a drink to face a social situation because of the people you have to endure at it rather than any else.

Gannicus

anncoates wrote: »

Sometimes you need a drink to face a social situation because of the people you have to endure at it rather than any else.

That has nothing to do with the people and everything to do with you.

Its like going to something you don't want to go to. You automatically think you won't enjoy it and as a result most of the time you won't.

Picasso100

What a load of ****.
I ve lived outside Ireland now for the last 8 years. America first, then Australia.
Met a lot of different nationalities, a long the way. Aussies, Americans, Canadians, British, German, Swedish (just the ones I can think of the top of my head) drink just as much if not more.
Irish tend to show off a bit at first (trying to show how big drinkers they are) but once they settle down they drink considerably less especially compared to Aussies.
Currently work in the mines in Australia, full of Irish who go to the gym every night and never enter the pub on site. Pub full of Aussies every night.

One more point just look at the pubs in Ireland ( ****ing deserted compared to over here) and don't give me the lack of money **** cause it was much the same during boom. Walk into any pub here in the middle of week at 3 or 4pm and it will be pretty busy.

Irish talk a lot about how much they drink, but in reality it's a myth!

anncoates

Gannicus wrote: »

That has nothing to do with the people and everything to do with you.

Its like going to something you don't want to go to. You automatically think you won't enjoy it and as a result most of the time you won't.

I think it does need to be assessed on the situation in question.

If you simply can't face the situation without alcohol, that's worrying.

If the thing is more related to the people, for example, the stipulation re: no alcohol is foregrounded in the invitation, as in to a slightly judgmental extent, maybe it could be different.

ShooterSF

GerB40 wrote: »

I do realise it's dangerous to start making generalisations but I was referring more to the built in confidence I've seen in Canadians rather any sort of drinking culture. I suppose the point of my original post is that Irish people need to drink, far more than they want to. The thought of going out sober will often be questioned or even met with suspicion. In Ireland, if a drink is turned down there has to be a 'real' reason, not wanting to drink usually isn't reason enough.

And that is the culture we have in this country. It's a sad fact that the majority of 18 - 35 year olds do hide behind drink but it's an ailment that feeds on itself. You're in good form? Celebrate with a drink. You're pissed off? A drink will cheer you up. Bored on a Tuesday night? Shur a pint or two will do no harm.

As for answers, I have none. This whole thing is far beyond me. But we've shown the world we're more than happy to live up to that particular stereotype and I think at some level, we know it's not right..

Well if someone I'm going out to a pub with when we are on a session isn't drinking I'll think it is a little odd but only because I wouldn't want to do it. Ive met up with people who have been out drinking and I was sober and they drove me nuts But having a few friends over to play board or video games or a meal and I wouldn't bat an eyelid, hell half of those times I wouldn't take a drink myself.

Then again Ive also learned not to drink when in bad form which some of never learn.

My point was that the average Canadians, Aussies, English (and heck, the czechs) would drink just as heavy as the average Irish from my experience. Hell, I get more abuse off the Canadians here than I would from friends back home if I don't want a drink and as I said that's my customers when Im working!

keithclancy

ShooterSF wrote: »

Well if someone I'm going out to a pub with when we are on a session isn't drinking I'll think it is a little odd but only because I wouldn't want to do it.

Desinated Dessie ... woooooooo

dmc17

Yes, I saw someone on the street yesterday who I didn't fancy bumping into. Luckily there was a Guinness lorry parked on the street, so I hid behind that until they were out of sight.