Drinking- post lockdown
Discussion
Has anyone else massively changed drinking habits in the wake of lockdown?
I was having a conversation with a colleague recently, both of us realising we basically no longer drink. Not an active lifestyle choice, and I still enjoy it when it happens, but I’ve gone from drinking every weekend ( and a couple of beers in front of the tv after work on a weekday when I felt like it) to next to nothing, kind of by accident. I’ve had the same 5 bottles of ale in the Booze cupboard all year.
Anyone else experiencing this, or is it just me?
I was having a conversation with a colleague recently, both of us realising we basically no longer drink. Not an active lifestyle choice, and I still enjoy it when it happens, but I’ve gone from drinking every weekend ( and a couple of beers in front of the tv after work on a weekday when I felt like it) to next to nothing, kind of by accident. I’ve had the same 5 bottles of ale in the Booze cupboard all year.
Anyone else experiencing this, or is it just me?
Due to working from home during lockdown I was finding I was having a few beers every single night, so for the first time in my life I've had to watch how much I drink. That said, while I have almost entirely stopped mid-week drinking I have still been having more than a few at the weekend. And going to a stag do this weekend so I guess I'll get my average back up.
Having a 10 month old and being down in this here London where most locals are Young's or Geronimo pubs, I'm certainly drinking less! Even the Young's Original is over a fiver a pint now. Fortunately my love of Mahou doesn't translate outside of Madrid - as that's over £6 a pint like the Beavertown stuff.
Some nights I'll have one whilst cooking though.
Some nights I'll have one whilst cooking though.
I originally attributed it to the pubs being shut/ a pain to visit.
I’ve never been a heavy drinker at home really, a couple beers would be my natural stop point, but on a night out, I could quite easily get totally hammered. Seem to have had a shift now, to the point I will quite often volunteer to drive rather than drink.
I recently went on a stag do. A few years ago that would have been a 40 unit weekend without trying to hard, I think I drank maybe 10.
It’s interesting there are a few others in the same boat coming out of the woodwork.
I’ve never been a heavy drinker at home really, a couple beers would be my natural stop point, but on a night out, I could quite easily get totally hammered. Seem to have had a shift now, to the point I will quite often volunteer to drive rather than drink.
I recently went on a stag do. A few years ago that would have been a 40 unit weekend without trying to hard, I think I drank maybe 10.
It’s interesting there are a few others in the same boat coming out of the woodwork.
Yes and no for me.
Yes, my drinking has increased, mainly as I bought a couple of those Pinter things and have a freshly brewed load every weekend.
But I also started regular exercise. Prior to lockdown I'd gone up to about 100Kg, and had a very sedentary lifestyle (was a desk job anyway). So decided to lose at least 20Kg. That involved a bit of calorie counting and daily 30 minutes on the rower/exercise bike. Got to the right weight over 7 months, and have stayed at the right weight, and still do the daily exercise.
Yes, my drinking has increased, mainly as I bought a couple of those Pinter things and have a freshly brewed load every weekend.
But I also started regular exercise. Prior to lockdown I'd gone up to about 100Kg, and had a very sedentary lifestyle (was a desk job anyway). So decided to lose at least 20Kg. That involved a bit of calorie counting and daily 30 minutes on the rower/exercise bike. Got to the right weight over 7 months, and have stayed at the right weight, and still do the daily exercise.
Yep, near as dammit zero.
I got into bad habits (for me) of at least one beverage a night while working from home. I then "accidentally" had a few nights off and realised that mornings had been so much easier! Pretty much dropped it straight away after that.
I now occasionally (once a fortnight, maybe less?) have a single medium glass of wine or beer bottle at home, then might have two pints on the rare occasions I go to a pub (if I'm not driving, which I usually am). Mostly I find I just don't fancy it, unless I'm in classic trigger cases of dinner time on a Friday night or in a pub.
Bonusses of more money and more time as an effective(-ish!) human being!
I got into bad habits (for me) of at least one beverage a night while working from home. I then "accidentally" had a few nights off and realised that mornings had been so much easier! Pretty much dropped it straight away after that.
I now occasionally (once a fortnight, maybe less?) have a single medium glass of wine or beer bottle at home, then might have two pints on the rare occasions I go to a pub (if I'm not driving, which I usually am). Mostly I find I just don't fancy it, unless I'm in classic trigger cases of dinner time on a Friday night or in a pub.
Bonusses of more money and more time as an effective(-ish!) human being!
I used to have a bottle of beer a night while watching TV but really since I had Covid in early July (when I started drinking more due to quarantine and boredom) I have given up drinking at home completely and I rarely go out anywhere which involves drinking either, I'm not anti drinking, I was away a couple of weeks ago with some mates and drank daily then on holiday but as day to day I don't drink anymore.
I went to the pub last Friday after work and had 5 pints over about 3 hours, and felt absolutely dreadful the next day… Did the whole ‘never drinking again’ thing 
I’m a lightweight these days.
My drinking habits fluctuate quite a bit. I go through phases where I pretty much ‘forget’ about drinking for 2 or 3 weeks, or more. It isn’t a conscious decision, I just don’t seem to have time, or I’m busy, or whatever. But then I will go through a period where I will enjoy a glass of wine or a spirit most evenings.
I enjoy drinking more when I have time to enjoy it such as in a restaurant on a weekend.
I drank a lot more during the first lockdown quite simply because I was bored and had nowhere I had to go to. Then I got bored of drinking and stopped for a while.
I totally get the above. I haven’t been ‘drunk’ for years. I embarrassed myself slightly at a friends barbecue party about 10 years ago simply by being drunk and thinking I was funny, and I know it sounds daft but I’ve never forgotten it.
If I now feel I’m getting merry or more lively than usual after a few drinks, I tend to stop with the alcohol and move onto soft drinks.
I’m a lightweight these days.
My drinking habits fluctuate quite a bit. I go through phases where I pretty much ‘forget’ about drinking for 2 or 3 weeks, or more. It isn’t a conscious decision, I just don’t seem to have time, or I’m busy, or whatever. But then I will go through a period where I will enjoy a glass of wine or a spirit most evenings.
I enjoy drinking more when I have time to enjoy it such as in a restaurant on a weekend.
I drank a lot more during the first lockdown quite simply because I was bored and had nowhere I had to go to. Then I got bored of drinking and stopped for a while.
Walshenham said:
I do miss the pub a bit, But i’m happy to drink coke to be honest. The last time I got a bit merry, I just felt a bit... stupid?
Edited to add: I totally get the above. I haven’t been ‘drunk’ for years. I embarrassed myself slightly at a friends barbecue party about 10 years ago simply by being drunk and thinking I was funny, and I know it sounds daft but I’ve never forgotten it.
If I now feel I’m getting merry or more lively than usual after a few drinks, I tend to stop with the alcohol and move onto soft drinks.
Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 22 October 14:05
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