why do Irish people drink so much?

lufties · 06-12-2014 06:47PM

Venus In Furs wrote: »

Ah here.

typical dismissive bullying answer

Venus In Furs · 06-12-2014 06:48PM

lufties wrote: »

typical dismissive bullying answer

Just saying "Ah here" to "The group last night were in finance/accounting so it can be hard to relate to these types on an empathetic level"?

06-12-2014 06:53PM

Why does everything have to have a 'reason'? Does anyone else analyse themselves like we do?

And as for the generation x/y and accounting/finance generalisations flying around.....

Chancer3001 · 06-12-2014 06:59PM

lufties wrote: »

Well perhaps you are right, I like eating nice food, yoga and quality in general. The group last night were in finance/accounting so it can be hard to relate to these types on an empathetic level.

Oh my god I can see why they hated you coming on the night out

Venus In Furs · 06-12-2014 07:04PM

"People who aren't a certain way are narrowminded" is utterly bursting with irony. And to say it's "dismissive" to point this dismissiveness out?

I used to work in a newspaper and was sometimes based in editorial, sometimes based in advertising. The editorial crowd were into literature, alternative music, etc - like I would be. The most stuck-up, cliquey people I have ever encountered... even though I had a lot in common with them in terms of interests.
The advertising crowd were into Heat magazine and reality TV and all that shyte, and the nicest, friendliest, warmest group of people you could meet - so welcoming and inclusive.
Things aren't always as they seem. And the reverse can be the case too, but it's unwise to decide how people will be just based on what they're into/where they work.
And the thing about people who work in finance being uncultured bores - it's a stereotype, so it's based in reality to an extent, but it's utterly irrational to assume this is the case for everyone who works in finance. My brother is a tax consultant and into yoga, good food, literature, film, art etc.

lufties · 07-12-2014 01:09AM

Chancer3001 wrote: »

Oh my god I can see why they hated you coming on the night out

They didn't hate me haha, what gave you that idea? They were just boring and unfriendly bar one english girl who was lovely. .I went out tonight with 3 friends and had a great evening witj interesting chat.

Richard Hillman · 07-12-2014 01:10AM

I'm drunk right now

Sunnyisland · 07-12-2014 01:22AM

Richard Hillman wrote: »

I'm drunk right now

Post something funny...

Tarzana2 · 07-12-2014 01:27AM

Sand wrote: »

We don't really. France, Austria, Estonia and Germany all drink more per capita than the Irish do. Its just they don't go on and on and on about drinking and having the craic. Whereas we allow a drinks company to use the country as part of their brand identity.

I'd be interested in how that drink is consumed in those countries. In binge form like us or more spread out.

Sunnyisland · 07-12-2014 01:31AM

I think the Irish drink to much because because bottled water dident come widely commercialy available till the early 90,s, And by that time we were hooked on the other...

Diabhal Beag · 07-12-2014 01:45AM

Heavy drinking to me is untreated social anxiety. Can range from "need to drink to get the ride" to "can't handle being in a social situation without it". "The craic" is just a tinfoilesque cover for the main problem. People who can pace themselves is a different story.

Sunnyisland · 07-12-2014 02:01AM

I think a study of Guinness over the last hundred years would actually provide a great insight into questions of Irish drinking habits. If you go back 30+ years it was the case that if you were an Irish man you just drank Guinness, then consumption fell away, especially among young people, and over the last few years, thanks to good marketing, it has made a return among the young as something of a hipster drink.

The fact that the pub is considered the only social outlet is a huge factor in Irish people’s drinking. I think also colonialism played a part in getting the process started. If you look at other societies that suffered attempted exterminations by outside powers, such as Native Americans and Australian Aborigines, you will find a sad history of alcohol and other substance abuse. I think the Irish differ slightly from these societies in the way Irish people turned the alcoholism into a virtue and here is where we get to the kernel of the problem.

Over the last thirty years Irish identity has been hollowed out and degraded, whilst at the same time, the process of globalisation has offered a bland alternative western consumerist identity to replace it that hasn’t filled the void (this process was at its most intense during the past 15 years). This has meant, for young men especially, that their understanding of their place in the world has been destroyed, this then leads to a kind of ‘generalized’ depression which leads to excessive alcohol consumption.

As excessive alcohol consumption (or having the craic) is seen as a hallmark of Irishness it is embraced by most young people (especially men) as the only aspect of their identity that is meaningfully Irish. This leads to a vicious circle of alcohol abuse: Irish identity is eroded so to compensate they drink, drinking then becomes all it is to be Irish, so they drink excessively to try to be Irish.

DivingDuck · 07-12-2014 02:45AM

I think it's because drinking provides a level of distance between a person and their actions, which is necessary in a culture where so much of what might be enjoyable is considered socially unacceptable. Doing these things sober makes you stand out for criticism, but doing them drunk gives you a free pass.

Why did you get off with that ugly bird last night?
Truth: I was randy and she was willing.
Excuse: Ah, sure, I was too banjaxed to see straight!

Why did you go home with that guy you just met?
Truth: I was attracted to him and wanted sex.
Excuse: OMG, I'm such a slut when I drink!

Why were you dancing like a mad eejit last night?
Truth: Dancing makes me feel alive.
Excuse: I was so mullered I don't even remember doing it!

Alcohol also relaxes inhibitions, so it allows people to navigate stressful situations (like dealing with the in-laws or unwinding from a difficult day at work) without having to do any psychological work to deal with the root problem. In the case where someone does happen to slip up in those situations after they're been drinking, they have a pre-made excuse as above.

At the end of the day it's just easier to accept that different people have different coping mechanisms and different ideas of fun and try to spend your time with people whose ideas line up better with your own.

IsaacWunder · 07-12-2014 03:42AM

All northern Europeans drink to excess.

We wear it as a badge of pride.

lufties · 07-12-2014 03:02PM

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

Heavy drinking to me is untreated social anxiety. Can range from "need to drink to get the ride" to "can't handle being in a social situation without it". "The craic" is just a tinfoilesque cover for the main problem. People who can pace themselves is a different story.

I went out with friends last night ice skating then had too very slowly paced drinks afterwards. Then when I got back to my locality I nipped into a local pub for last orders and had to quick pints. The reason was indeed anxiety, I started to criticise myself for perhaps being rude/taking the mick out of a girl I fancy.

On a personal level I think this sort of mentality has been conditioned in me since I was a child..'dont let the side down' , 'don't make a fool of yourself', 'behave'. This is inherant in irish parenting style and manifests itself later in the form of an internal voice criticising behaviour.. Hence alcohol is there to make that voice fade away temporarily.

smurgen · 07-12-2014 06:42PM

lufties wrote: »

I went out with friends last night ice skating then had too very slowly paced drinks afterwards. Then when I got back to my locality I nipped into a local pub for last orders and had to quick pints. The reason was indeed anxiety, I started to criticise myself for perhaps being rude/taking the mick out of a girl I fancy.

On a personal level I think this sort of mentality has been conditioned in me since I was a child..'dont let the side down' , 'don't make a fool of yourself', 'behave'. This is inherant in irish parenting style and manifests itself later in the form of an internal voice criticising behaviour.. Hence alcohol is there to make that voice fade away temporarily.

I used to be the same,just over analysis of yourself. It's a massive thing that will hold you back and make your judgment poorer if anything.accepting that you're not perfect and never will be is the greatest thing you can do.think about things rational.we're 7 billion people floating on a ball through space and we live for about 70 years or so.that little insult you may have made or that person who was a dick to you doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things.the sun will rise tomorrow and you'll be ready to make fresh mistakes all over again ! Drink to have fun,dint drink to kill your thoughts.

bee06 · 07-12-2014 06:55PM

lufties wrote: »

On a personal level I think this sort of mentality has been conditioned in me since I was a child..'dont let the side down' , 'don't make a fool of yourself', 'behave'. This is inherant in irish parenting style and manifests itself later in the form of an internal voice criticising behaviour.. Hence alcohol is there to make that voice fade away temporarily.

There you go again with a ridiculous generalisation of Irish parenting. Just because your parents were like this doesn't mean it is "Irish parenting style", my parents certainly weren't!

lufties · 07-12-2014 07:06PM

bee06 wrote: »

There you go again with a ridiculous generalisation of Irish parenting. Just because your parents were like this doesn't mean it is "Irish parenting style", my parents certainly weren't!

My therapist is half Irish and she(being a professional) was the one who suggested it. Maybe she's talking complete rubbish but I'd tend to side with her on this..

lufties · 07-12-2014 07:10PM

smurgen wrote: »

I used to be the same,just over analysis of yourself. It's a massive thing that will hold you back and make your judgment poorer if anything.accepting that you're not perfect and never will be is the greatest thing you can do.think about things rational.we're 7 billion people floating on a ball through space and we live for about 70 years or so.that little insult you may have made or that person who was a dick to you doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things.the sun will rise tomorrow and you'll be ready to make fresh mistakes all over again ! Drink to have fun,dint drink to kill your thoughts.

I know what you mean, but you know as well as I do that us humans have egos and like to think of ourselves as right, Just look at this thread for example. To be honest, I do accept that I make mistakes, when I made mistakes in Ireland I was bullied and abused for it. Glad I escaped a few years ago, Part of me wants to forget about Ireland altogether and part of me loves it.

dellas1979 · 07-12-2014 07:27PM

lufties wrote: »

These girls were all from dublin and certainly had notions of themselves

Totally confused. If that was the case, then its got nothing to do with alcohol. Or being Irish.

Its to do with the person being a jackass, in general. No matter where they are from.

Edit: I was in Amsterdam recently, and they are flamin bananas when they drink. Can I say all Dutch are loons when they drink? No, I havent met X million of them. I am annoyed you are pinning this on all Irish. Like its an Irish thing. Just on this Island.

What am getting from your posts, is that youre the type of person who will judge an entire nationality on a person/few people.

(PS: I was out last night, and didnt drink)

PPS: Do you not think those girls mightve picked up on your pissy attitude?

Observing them like David flamin Attenborough in a pub.

smurgen · 07-12-2014 07:42PM

lufties wrote: »

I know what you mean, but you know as well as I do that us humans have egos and like to think of ourselves as right, Just look at this thread for example. To be honest, I do accept that I make mistakes, when I made mistakes in Ireland I was bullied and abused for it. Glad I escaped a few years ago, Part of me wants to forget about Ireland altogether and part of me loves it.

Well i've travelled and live in a few different places and let me tell you the Irish are clique but if you're in real trouble they'll help you out like no other.also Irish people have a sense of life and divilement about them that I haven't seen from most other nationalities.don't get hung up on the past and let it cloud your views of others.take each person as you find them-a piece of advice given to me by my dad that has stood to me big time.

lufties · 07-12-2014 07:48PM

dellas1979 wrote: »

Totally confused. If that was the case, then its got nothing to do with alcohol. Or being Irish.

Its to do with the person being a jackass, in general. No matter where they are from.

What am getting from your posts, is that youre the type of person who will judge an entire nationality on a person/few people.

(PS: I was out last night, and didnt drink)

PPS: Do you not think those girls mightve picked up on your pissy attitude?

Observing them like David flamin Attenborough in a pub.

Not at all, I spoke to my friend the next day and he said the only friendly one was the english one. My point is that these girls were just out to get pissed and had big egos(even though none were attractive).. The english girl was very attractive and friendly, the rest seemed insecure and unconfident.

You don't have to be david attenborough to have an interest in human behaviour.

lufties · 07-12-2014 07:53PM

smurgen wrote: »

Well i've travelled and live in a few different places and let me tell you the Irish are clique but if you're in real trouble they'll help you out like no other.also Irish people have a sense of life and divilement about them that I haven't seen from most other nationalities.don't get hung up on the past and let it cloud your views of others.take each person as you find them-a piece of advice given to me by my dad that has stood to me big time.

Yes I always do take people as I find them..always...But being human I pick up on negativity. I've lived in 6 countries and had mostly Irish friends, didn't find them cliquey at all.

dellas1979 · 07-12-2014 07:56PM

lufties wrote: »

Not at all, I spoke to my friend the next day and he said the only friendly one was the english one. My point is that these girls were just out to get pissed and had big egos(even though none were attractive).. The english girl was very attractive and friendly, the rest seemed insecure and unconfident.

You don't have to be david attenborough to have an interest in human behaviour.

You are missing my point. Seeing as you are interested in human behaviour, why dont you have an analysis of your own.

You are pinning an entire nationality down. Not to mention the other irrelevant stuff like how unattractive they were (to you). This is your ego talking. Its like this has hurt your ego. You were offended by them, some how, and it would be far more interesting, for you, to find out why. Rather than launch a passive aggressive attack on a nationality.

"and had mostly Irish friends": Seriously? If they knew what you were saying about them/their culture behind their backs, I wouldnt think they'd be as accommodating. So, now we know you are fake too. Other countries drink too mate!

lufties · 07-12-2014 08:15PM

dellas1979 wrote: »

You are missing my point. Seeing as you are interested in human behaviour, why dont you have an analysis of your own.

You are pinning an entire nationality down. Not to mention the other irrelevant stuff like how unattractive they were (to you). This is your ego talking. Its like this has hurt your ego. You were offended by them, some how, and it would be far more interesting, for you, to find out why. Rather than launch a passive aggressive attack on a nationality.

"and had mostly Irish friends": Seriously? If they knew what you were saying about them/their culture behind their backs, I wouldnt think they'd be as accommodating. So, now we know you are fake too. Other countries drink too mate!

WTF are you on about, I'm Irish myself!! I never slated any nationality. I ask a simple question why Irish drink so much, I do too sometimes. These girls weren't attractive to me or my mates. Yes I was disappointed because I came out to enjoy meeting new people and they weren't either welcoming nor interesting.

The reason I started this thread was to find out why we drink so much collectively, My personal opinion is due to a repression of emotions, I started getting therapy recently and its changed my life, being ok with being myself and being open with people rather than being in fear of being ridiculed or left out.

dellas1979 · 07-12-2014 08:39PM

lufties wrote: »

WTF are you on about, I'm Irish myself!! I never slated any nationality. I ask a simple question why Irish drink so much, I do too sometimes. These girls weren't attractive to me or my mates. Yes I was disappointed because I came out to enjoy meeting new people and they weren't either welcoming nor interesting.

The reason I started this thread was to find out why we drink so much collectively, My personal opinion is due to a repression of emotions, I started getting therapy recently and its changed my life, being ok with being myself and being open with people rather than being in fear of being ridiculed or left out.

Are you f'ing kidding me? You are just a mixed bag of contradictory strangeness.

Why wasnt your question "Do people drink to suppress their emotions?" Answer is YES. You just came on and said "(All) Irish people drink too much, why". Havent you answered your own nonsensical question then?

You are blaming those "Irish" girls for your own insecurities and your own behaviour. They must be wrong. Not you. Of course. And can I add about the English girl, your mate told you that. Of course, did you even talk to her to form your own opinion like?

/Im off this thread is a pile of horsepoo.

lufties · 07-12-2014 08:44PM

dellas1979 wrote: »

Are you f'ing kidding me? You are just a mixed bag of contradictory strangeness.

Why wasnt your question "Do people drink to suppress their emotions?" Answer is YES. You just came on and said "(All) Irish people drink too much, why". Havent you answered your own nonsensical question then?

You are blaming those "Irish" girls for your own insecurities and your own behaviour. They must be wrong. Not you. Of course. And can I add about the English girl, your mate told you that. Of course, did you even talk to her to form your own opinion like?

/Im off this thread is a pile of horsepoo.

thank **** for that...byeeee!!

dellas1979 · 07-12-2014 08:50PM

Youre a d*ck.

No wonder noone wanted to talk to you.

lufties · 07-12-2014 08:52PM

dellas1979 wrote: »

Youre a d*ck.

No wonder noone wanted to talk to you.

Okay..byeeeee

dellas1979 · 07-12-2014 08:53PM

lufties wrote: »

Okay..byeeeee

At least you agree youre a d*ck.

why do Irish people drink so much?

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