Drinking at home alone...or drinking in pubs...

...so for 20 years I did the whole pub and party thing, last man drinking, crashing in the door at 5 and 6am, and loved it. Sneered at fellows drinking at home, thought it almost pointed to a problem.

In the past year, at the age of 41, I've kinda got the flea in the ear from the wife and went cold turkey. After years of burning the candle at both ends, just switched it off. Now haven't been out after midnight in over a year.

When I was doing the whole partying thing, thought drinking at home alone sounded depressing. Now wife and kid in bed, on 5th can, watching tv...and wondering why I spent so many years thinking this was so bad.

Have I just forgotten how good it was and become institutionalised?

rsh118

I was a bit of a lash head myself, then beers starting giving me headaches after one.

Then one night, cracked a bottle of some very nice beer, cold as the look in the nurses eye as she gives you the jab, and it was heaven.

Still have to drink about 2 litres of water not to end up with a head like a half eaten chip the next day though.

stampydmonkey

Why do it alone...gang of friends...posh beers and hours of messing and ****e talk...happy days. Always goes to ****e in a pub after anyway. Spending money for money's sake..queuing for entry....queuing for below par beer....queuing for a piss...struggling home...meh...give me a house and a load of beer and friends anyday. Always better if it's not your house too!!!

That_Guy

I do both but I make my own beer and usually have the lads over for some beers, pizza while watching the fights of a Saturday night. Almost prefer it to crowded expensive pubs.

Fox_In_Socks

Drinking at home alone-not for me, personally. I did a bit of it for a while, when watching TV series and it became a habit that needed to stop fairly sharply.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

Complete party animal. Every weekend I'd have been out. Didn't matter if I was off the next day, or if I was at work the next day, I'd worry about the next day that morning. My partner in crime, he was no better. A couple who rave together stays together, apparently.

When I was in college id be drinking most nights of the week and never got out of the pre drinking stage, to me that's one of the most enjoyable parts of a night out. Trip to the off licence, all the girls over, getting ready together, getting drum as we do so, being ready and sitting down to get drunk with everyone before getting a taxi.

I took a break from drinking for almost a year last year. I'm much calmer now, but still, run amuck when I get out. Most Sunday's I'll wake up still plastered. It's a bit worrying to be honest. I don't know how I manage to get so drunk that I'm still balls to the wall the following afternoon.

I love having a glass of wine at home, but like going out more.

Spanish Eyes

Depends on your age and ability to stay awake and keep talking really!

I cannot do pubs and noise now at all. Sorry all you youngers out there!, guarantee you will be me some day!

But there is nothing like getting into the pjs, heat on, good telly show or something, and a few beers or wines whatever.

At the end of the day I am not a paedophile, or a scumbag, or a ratbag criminal.

So what the feck.

OldMrBrennan83

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tomwaterford

Drinking at home is odd...

As if find I could easily go months on end without drinking and

then when I'd have like maybe two drinks at home I'd be pure raging to head out and then remember I live in the middle of nowhere and don't drink-drive

Squall Leonhart

tomwaterford wrote:

then when I'd have like maybe two drinks at home I'd be pure raging to head out and then remember I live in the middle of nowhere and don't drink-drive

This. Drinking at home whets an appetite for a bit of liveliness and atmosphere for me, and also live in middle of nowhere so it's not an option. So I limit home drinking to 1-2 bottles of beer or glass of wine.

YFlyer

There are three bottles of Corona Extra in the fridge downstairs. Just waiting for the two housemates spending the past few days moving their gear out.

LexieOnRale

LexieOnRale wrote: »

Complete party animal. Every weekend I'd have been out. Didn't matter if I was off the next day, or if I was at work the next day, I'd worry about the next day that morning. My partner in crime, he was no better. A couple who rave together stays together, apparently.

Actually that is particularly true in my case - we started going out in '91 and raved together during the days when acid house was near the end and rave and breakbeats were taking over. 92-95 was just nuts.

My wife bailed on the whole partying thing in the late 00s, our mid 30s. I clung on for 5 or 6 more years. Then baby came along. And now I've quit it...and joined the ranks of the buy a 6 pack stay at home type.

Always thought it sounded depressing. But now I'm in it...it's fine. So just wondering was I wrong all along and I overrated my nights out...or have I become middle aged and boring and am I overrating my nights in...

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

Meh as long as you're happy I wouldn't worry about it being boring.
If you weren't enjoying it itd be a different story

end of the road

i like the odd 1 at home myself. the odd time i will have a good few but these days i do like a clear head. i used to like the whole going out to a club or pub and drinking, but now the expence, and the fact music is getting ****ter by the day, means i'm no longer really bothered. i can drink at home for a lot cheeper, listen to the music i want to listen to, what's not to like.

I like both. I'd have a bottle or two of beer at home when I'm watching my stories. Drinking in the pub is my preference though. I like having a bit of craic with randomers and a dance if there's live music. I'm just in fron the pub actually. Didn't drink much but my friend and I know how to have a good time.

That's what it's all about really. Enjoy life. If it works for you then keep doing it.

YFlyer

Having my Coronas now. Bloody two housemates staying in their new place tonight yet have another load of washing going at the moment.

Heckler

No problem drinking at home. Love drinking alone.

Heckler

Pop on a good movie or a good book. Sorted.

KERSPLAT!

I would very rarely drink at home alone, once or twice a year tops but if the lads are around I've no problem staying in for cans watching a fight, game of poker or whatever.

I prefer the pub tbh. Usually meet up with a good crowd of friends and have the craic

I'm sure as I get older that might change though!

XR3i

all alone is all we all are

PTH2009

I like having a few drinks and listening to my ipod/spotify etc.

It's more about the social aspects in going to pubs than the drinking to me

I'm beyond the whole 'wahey student life bolexe'. Alcohol is a big problem with third level students in Ireland

Heckler

XR3i wrote: »

all alone is all we all are

what else should i be ? All apologies ?

res ipsa

XR3i wrote: »

all alone is all we all are

Allmost nirvanic.

Heckler

almost.

Its "all in all is all we are"

res ipsa

Heckler wrote: »

almost

There is an extra all in the OP.
Thats why its allmost.
Not almost.

Irish_rat

Don't drink anymore but I'd be lying if I didn't say my social life has taken a nose drive. You just cannot beat the pub, you meet new people, score and have the best fun with your friends.

Of course if you're married and kids are popping out then I think there is really no need at all for that! There should be no need to be going to the pub every week.

6541

Drinking at home alone as I post this, in fact couldn't wait to get home from the pub and have a quiet few beers and a smoke of the auld Mary Jane !

Airyfairy12

I think its fine to have a few drinks on your own at home, if you just enjoy having a drink. If youre drinking alone out of loneliness or some other emotional issue then thats when its a problem. Personally I cant drink alone, I end up getting really depressed and then wake up with a hangover, waste of alcohol. So I only drink if its a social thing.

Heckler

6541 wrote: »

Drinking at home alone as I post this, in fact couldn't wait to get home from the pub and have a quiet few beers and a smoke of the auld Mary Jane !

Yup . Love social drinks but sometimes nothing better than off home and having a beer or a smoke or whatever.

B.A._Baracus

There is nothing wrong with having a few beers at home as long as you don't make a habit of it (says the man who did make a habit of it)

But it can actually be quite fun. Working a hard long week and all you want to do is binge watch a show (even movies, even a video game) all while having a few.

But..., and I am sorry to be blunt on this one, see all those people who say "drinking at home is sad" ? ... get a reality check. Everyone unwinds differently.
It's not like you are sitting on a chair in the corner, drinking by yourself. With only your thoughts. This aint 1985 with RTE going off-air at 12am, with no VHS player. The whole idea of "drinking alone is sad" doesn't quite hold much value these days as our fathers said.

I could crack open a few beers and watch season 2 of Daredevil tomorrow night if I, or anyone else, should choose. It's not sad.

The flying mouse

When I did drink I never drank at home, always made it to my local bar, it never personally appealed to me,always needed company around me.

chrissb8

Like to drink a beer or two at home. I found that as a result of drinking at home I paced myself when I was out. I'd be sitting there and through 3 beers and a bit tipsy and thought "wow I drink about 5 or 6 in this time it took to drink these 3 no wonder I'm getting smashed when I'm out".

esforum

Deleted User wrote: »

...so for 20 years I did the whole pub and party thing, last man drinking, crashing in the door at 5 and 6am, and loved it. Sneered at fellows drinking at home, thought it almost pointed to a problem.

In the past year, at the age of 41, I've kinda got the flea in the ear from the wife and went cold turkey. After years of burning the candle at both ends, just switched it off. Now haven't been out after midnight in over a year.

When I was doing the whole partying thing, thought drinking at home alone sounded depressing. Now wife and kid in bed, on 5th can, watching tv...and wondering why I spent so many years thinking this was so bad.

Have I just forgotten how good it was and become institutionalised?

I think you have a problem. Why are you sitting up into the late hours drinking alone? By all means have a beer and relax but you are painting a pretty bad picture of yourself considering you were crashing in the door at 5am while your wife and child were already asleep.

Elessar

Honestly I prefer drinking alone. In the last few weeks I've turned down two invites to head out with friends/workmates for drinks to have a drink at home alone. I wonder is it a problem but I just prefer it. I'm lazy like that and bullsh*t small talk is I find very tiring and takes a lot out of me. I can get drunk at home in my own peace and quiet. I can't understand others who head out all the time on the lash, it costs a fortune and you end up with the same end result. Plus if I'm at home I can head to bed early. I'm not against going out with friends or anything, I still do it, but I'd much rather stay in the comfort of my own home and watch a good movie/browse the internet. Sometimes I wish I was more social, but I'm just kind of lazy like that.

esforum

esforum wrote: »

I think you have a problem. Why are you sitting up into the late hours drinking alone? By all means have a beer and relax but you are painting a pretty bad picture of yourself considering you were crashing in the door at 5am while your wife and child were already asleep.

I wouldn't categorise 6 cans one night a week a problem.

But I appreciate it's all relative. And subjective.

Crashing in the door at 5am was uncontrolled drinking, I think a few cans before midnight at home is controlled particularly relative to the 15 or 20 years that went before...but again it's subjective and everyone will have different perspectives.

NeverWaining

I'm more likely to have a few at home rather than in the pub these days but I think that in general it's definitely an age thing. A lot of friends would be the same now too. But good God we had some good times in the pubs. We could not wait to get in the door of the pub at the weekend and the place would be full of friends and none of us could be happier.
I'd hear some looking back and giving out about it now - going out was crap, a waste of money and it took them so long to learn. But they certainly weren't giving out about it back then! It's an age thing. We're all getting on a bit. We don't have the energy we used to, can't drink like we used to and can't recover like we used to. It all becomes less appealing over time but they were good times.

Richard Hillman

Drinking at home alone by a mile. If I am drinking at home it would usually take about 5-6 hours to get through 5-6 cans. I would rarely make the 6th can and would go to bed slightly drunk.

If I was in the pub, I would drink 5-6 pints in about 3-4 hours and would go home pissed. Plus I would be about €20 extra out of pocket.

I much prefer staying at home, in my sweatpants, a couple of cheap beers, some salted snacks and sport on tv. The Pub is a pain in the arse.

FalconGirl

I like to mix it up. Can decide I want to really let the hair down and go mad on the drink one weekend with friends out and about or can go weeks on end without touching a drop. The odd night like last night I had 2 glasses of wine to unwind watching tv after a tough week of work and that will be me for the weekend. No harm in it at all. Everyone is different and my requirements change every weekend between lots, some or no alcohol at all.

I don't mind drinking at home and would have a few cans etc from time to time alone or sometimes call to friends for heavy nights of beer and spirits (I always keep a big stock of spirits in the house).

But still into my 30's I prefer drinking in pubs and most of my drinking is in pubs. I'd hit the pub at last once most weeks for a good scelp of beer. The thought of not seeing the inside of a pub for weeks at a time and only drinking at home is fairly depressing to me.

Bongalongherb

Same here. I used to be partying all the time all over Dublin city going to every pub/nightclub until I started to get the bouncer-bounce. It got to a stage that no matter where I went even copper face toilet I was refused entry and this was when I was dressed very well and only had 2 pints in me.

Got so frustrated with the refusals and then the ass-holes in these places always starting fights that I went with the drinking at home thing... best thing I ever done, with no **** annoying me and I can enjoy myself much better. A get together once a week or so is great without the bouncers and ass-holes. Burp, my apologies.

Yes indeed, just starting my weekend right now with a few lovely chilled beers in the fridge from last night and also making love to this joint.

res ipsa

Heckler wrote: »

almost.

Its "all in all is all we are"

Sneaky edit there Heckler!

esforum

Deleted User wrote: »

I wouldn't categorise 6 cans one night a week a problem.

But I appreciate it's all relative. And subjective.

Crashing in the door at 5am was uncontrolled drinking, I think a few cans before midnight at home is controlled particularly relative to the 15 or 20 years that went before...but again it's subjective and everyone will have different perspectives.

No, I wouldnt be too concerned myself but the doctor would, its classed as binge drinking isnt it?

It was more the image of your wife and child in bed and you arriving home pissed as a fart at 5am on a regular basis that concerned me,

_Kaiser_

I do neither..

15/20 years ago I would have been out most weekends or during the week (shift work), but these days my friends are all married/settled and living all over the country so getting people together is tough.

Foe me drinking was about the socialising - I still have 6 bottles of Bulmers in the fridge that I bought for last year's Champions League final

esforum

esforum wrote: »

No, I wouldnt be too concerned myself but the doctor would, its classed as binge drinking isnt it?

It was more the image of your wife and child in bed and you arriving home pissed as a fart at 5am on a regular basis that concerned me,

I don't think so. I would associate binge drinking with drinking to get drunk, uncontrolled drinking whether at home or in a pub.

Again, it's all very subjective, but I wouldn't put a 6 pack of beer in that category.

The 5am stuff stopped pretty soon after baby arrived. After years of giving me all the space I wanted, that's when my wife drew the line.

fussyonion

I prefer drinking at home but my other half prefers to go out.
I do compromise, though, and we do go out now and again.
I always enjoy myself, especially if there's some music on; I have my few pints and get a bit tipsy, but never drunk, but I always get a massive hangover the next morning.

If I stay at home, I'd go through a bottle of wine over a few hours....once in a blue moon, if I've finished the wine I might have one or two cans, and some crisps or nuts, watch a bit of telly or watch something on my tablet...
I never get a hangover if I've been drinking at home.

I just like being at home, but now and again it is nice to be out and socialising

esforum

Deleted User wrote: »

I don't think so. I would associate binge drinking with drinking to get drunk, uncontrolled drinking whether at home or in a pub.

Again, it's all very subjective, but I wouldn't put a 6 pack of beer in that category.

The 5am stuff stopped pretty soon after baby arrived. After years of giving me all the space I wanted, that's when my wife drew the line.

yeah, not having a go at you conor, the health professional class it as binging. I dont have an issue with it.

you have grown up since the 5am days, good for you.

Alf Veedersane

Apples and oranges.

I prefer the whole social aspect of being out in a pub with friends - I only bother my hole if its good friends. I tend to drink less/not at all lately when I go ou though.

But I also enjoy a cider at home if it's a nice one.

OldMrBrennan83

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Eutow

Nothing wrong with having a few beers or whatever at home. I drink at home and drink at the pub. Having good quality beers at home, beers you can't get at a typical pub is done regularly by me. I really don't care if people think it's weird, same as going to the pub by yourself to have a few to watch a game or whatever.

FizzleSticks

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OldMrBrennan83

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