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Irelands drinking culture and why is not drinking stigmatised?

Relax brah

Drinking is often seen as part of Irish life and culture. We have pubs on every corner, and many activities are centred around drinking.

The fact is, because drinking is so widely accepted, it can make not drinking seem strange.

There is also a presumed connection between sober people and those who have had issues with alcohol. Some people assume that if you choose not to drink, then that is because you have a problem.

This is certainly not always the case. Individuals may have many sorts of motivations for choosing to distance themselves from alcohol. There is also often a connection between non-drinkers in drinking populations and mental health difficulties. As we de-stigmatise and normalise caring for our mental health, we also increase acceptance of those who choose not to drink, whatever their reasoning.

As someone in his mid 30’s who decided to stop drinking alcohol last year. I do in alot of cases feel like an outsider, you always get people giving you sh*t or being “no craic.”

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Wanderer78

...dont worry, we ve moved onto horsing copious amounts of coke into us also, tis all good!

pgj2015

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120462088#Comment_120462088

MDMA usually.

I know it is but if taken in moderation its likely the better choice than taking MDMA.

Mullinabreena

I had been drifting away from drink for a good few years just drinking less and less. I think my last drink was around Christmas 2019 maybe before it I can't really remember. I'd say I could count on two hands at most the amount of times I drank in the previous two years leading up to it. I was getting quite good at athletics at the time and was drinking was getting in the way. Years ago I'd never miss a weekend and that was Friday and Saturday night full on and the odd Sunday. Covid probably was the nail in the coffin as I'd have no interest in drinking at home. I had good times when drinking, no regrets but I don't think I'll ever go back drinking. I've a family now and would prefer to spend time with them not dying or tired. I'd get up at 6am on a Sunday now go for a run before anyone wakes up and then spend the rest of the day doing stuff with the family. Life is good.

WesternZulu

I'm in my 30's and drink nowhere near to the same extent as I did in my 20s.

The novelty wears off being pissed and the hangovers are just not worth it. The hangovers are actually the main reason I've cut down. When you've responsibilities beyond yourself you can't spend all Sunday in bed.

I was out last night for a few drinks with friends in a rural town in the West and the place was dead. I don't think that we as a country drink nearly as much as we did. Ten years ago the same town would have been hopping on the Sunday of a Bank Holiday.

prunudo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120462807#Comment_120462807

Agreed, the pub trade is dying on what would have been traditional busy weekends, I don't think we have as big a problem with alcohol as some concerned experts think. Doesn't stop them getting air time and forcing their opinions and ideas on us though.

gameoverdude

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120462088#Comment_120462088

Actually it's a poison.

ancapailldorcha

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120462858#Comment_120462858

The pub trade has had this coming for a long time. They'll get no sympathy from me.

o1s1n

For the 'I don't want to drink anymore because hangovers are terrible/can't spend Sundays in bed' crowd - have you never tried moderating how much you consume on a night out? It doesn't have to be skulling 10 pints and death the next morning.

I'd usually have friends over most Saturdays from maybe 7pm to 12am, drink a few bottles of wine between us, then up at 9am the next day without a hangover.

Would only get hangovers after mad nights out which I'm not into at all anymore. There are ways of enjoying yourself with alcohol without suffering the next day.

live4tkd

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058291719/irelands-drinking-culture-and-why-is-not-drinking-stigmatised

I drink a few pints but the culture definitely has changed. Good luck to those who are non drinkers. I would have seen that stigmatization a fair few years ago now. Not so much anymore the culture I believe the culture has changed with the advent of 0.0% drinks (a good thing tbh), more drink at home, more pubs turning to food, post covid not as many gong out anymore. I don`t see as many younger people out in pubs unless special occasions.

[Deleted User]

I had a friend say to me once that Ireland had two types of people alcoholics and abstaining alcoholics. Ireland has a massively high number of people who are tee-total - but most of those people used to drink heavily until some critical point in their lives made them stop (maybe just family responsibilities took over). Also, the reason you don't see the alchoholics out and about anymore is because they can't afford to be out so they drink at home.

However watching my grown up kids and their friends and I see a definate change of culture away from heavy drinking - which is great for them in so many ways. I like tyo go out and drink but for me I realized about a decade ago that the fun quickly leaves the building after the third or fourth pint.

Tony EH

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120464507#Comment_120464507

While all that may have had some factor, the biggest impact on people going out for drinks has simply been the cost of doing it. A pint of Guinness will set you back 7 Euro in some places in town nowadays. That's an astonishing price to pay for something like that and I'm not talking about tourist trap kips like Temple Bar either. I, myself, have cut down my drinking in town because of this and I tend to stick to a couple of locals which offer tipple at a more respectable cost.

But it will get to a price point where I'll just tap out completely. And, in a way, I'm kinda hoping that publicans do push it too far and people stop altogether. At least then the price might be brought down to a reasonable level.

That's probably just wishful thinking though.

live4tkd

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120464574#Comment_120464574

Would agree to a point but the pub culture has changed since the early 2000s in a big way too I feel. Drink at home, possibly drugs, younger people do not tend to got to rural pubs as much now unless there is an occasion. Absolutely price definitely has not helped either. Also some have not returned to going to the pub post Covid.

Mullinabreena

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120464449#Comment_120464449

Towards the end of my drinking days I'd only have two pints any night, a big night was four pints and that was rare. The less you drink the less your body can tolerate it. I enjoy myself fine without alcohol and I'm just as social with or without it. Sleeping in until 9am on Sunday seems excessive to me but each to their own. I'd have my long run done, shower, breakfast and kids up ready for the day ahead by then. Even after a few glasses of wine you'd be risking it getting in a car the next morning if you wanted to head off with the family for the day. I get it that some people feel they need a few drinks to unwind or socialise, that's totally fine too its just some people move on and don't bother with it as they are more comfortable in themselves.

Tony EH

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120464652#Comment_120464652

There were plenty of drugs knocking around before 2000. 🙂

But, yeah, drinking at home and people not returning post Covid are a thing. But let's look at that. Drinking 8 Guinness at home will cost you around 15 Euro. That's won't even cover 3 pints in a lot of pubs today. And post Covid a lot of publicans took the piss and upped their prices to make back their losses. So, again, we're back to cost being the issue.

Put simply, if 8 pints in town cost 15 Euro, there'd be a lot more people going to the boozer.

o1s1n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120464668#Comment_120464668

You had me nodding in agreement until your heavily barbed last line.

'Need' a few drinks'? 'more comfortable in themselves?' would you ever get over yourself.

o1s1n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120464574#Comment_120464574

I was in Portugal over the weekend and a glass of wine in a beach bar on the resort I was staying was 1.50.

I bought one thinking it was going to be crap but it was absolutely gorgeous. Far nicer than the standard of wine you'd be getting here in a lot of bars. Was able to get a full bottle of it for 8 euro.

Pints for 2.50, cocktails for 4.50. I know their economy isn't exactly Ireland but it did put things in perspective here. I'd say the next 7 euro pint of Guinness in Dublin is going to kill me!

Tony EH

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120464803#Comment_120464803

Thanks for that Oisin, you just made my day a lot worse. 😡

😋

SEPT 23 1989

Camera phones and social media have ruined the drinking culture for younger people

one mistake and it goes worldwide

Overheal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120464449#Comment_120464449

A few bottles of wine between a few friends is a bottle each that’s not moderation ;)

gameoverdude

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120464986#Comment_120464986

Could be 3 bottles between 18 friends...

Relax brah

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120464911#Comment_120464911

I was in a very well known bar the weekend on Dawson street, ordered a round of drinks and a Heineken 0.0 for myself, this well dressed 50+ year old man standing beside me said “only fäggots drink non-alcoholic drinks.”

I wish I had my camera phone out for that! lol

o1s1n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120464869#Comment_120464869

Haha, apologies! Off to the Ryanair site you go!

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120464986#Comment_120464986

One man's moderation is another man's crazy night I suppose! I'd easily drink a bottle of wine on a Saturday and have no hangover on Sunday morning.

Tony EH

@o1s1n

Haha, apologies! Off to the Ryanair site you go!

Probably cheaper to get a Ryanair flight to Portugal and have a few pints there then come straight home afterwards than going into town.

@gameoverdude

Could be 3 bottles between 18 friends...

Wars have been started over less.

gameoverdude

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120465439#Comment_120465439

Have a work meeting now so I can relate. Just one word!

Overheal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120465033#Comment_120465033

could be 18 bottles between 3 friends too.

One man's moderation is another man's crazy night I suppose! I'd easily drink a bottle of wine on a Saturday and have no hangover on Sunday morning.

Guess I was right ;)

Nah I got tired of hangovers, and it's harder to do in the states where they're so bad about motor culture, can't get anywhere from home if you don't drive yourselves. Me and the OH were tired of only one of us having a drink out, felt pointless. Just haven't done it in years, thanks Covid.

gameoverdude

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120465888#Comment_120465888

Aren't you great.

Gatling

The missus recently reminded me that I was spending an average 400 pw on sessions when we first met, couldn't get a hangover if I tried,then around my mid to late 30s that suddenly changed,from no hangovers to hangovers from hell that would last 48 hours,now it's the odd ten pint session in Prague when I'm there and when at home a nice bottle of red or a decent whisky,

But nights out are definitely different being more sober than in my early years of drinking,

Not a fan of this 00 nonsense wouldn't touch it out or at home ,If you don't want to drink don't have it ,why the need to drink alcohol free versions of beers or Spirits just to fit in ,

[Deleted User]

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120466278#Comment_120466278

Not a fan of this 00 nonsense wouldn't touch it out or at home ,If you don't want to drink don't have it ,why the need to drink alcohol free versions of beers or Spirits just to fit in ,

I was at an event a few weeks ago where I was not drinking.

I had a few "minerals" but after a few decided to have a Heniken 00.

It was a nice change from the fizzy stuff.

WesternZulu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120466278#Comment_120466278

The zero pints are great for breaking up the drinking. You can have a few pints and have one or two before going back on the alcoholic pints again.

Alternatively you'd have a fizzy drink gone in no time. Non-alcoholic drinks aren't a sudden change to the palate either and are of course hydrating so help with any hangover the day after.

They're a brilliant addition to pubs even if they are ridiculously priced.

[Deleted User]

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120466278#Comment_120466278

Fewer things in life confuse me more than the whole drinking 0% alcohol stuff.