American drinking culture is so crazy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People in other countries definitely do this. Maybe not with the TikToks and all of that but all over Europe (where I’m from and have lived in various countries) people are drinking

What’s more disturbing than this alleged drinking culture is that OP freely admits to watching TikToks. Now THAT is sad and pathetic.

[Anonymous]

My 25th college reunion is coming up and I was shocked by the comments in our WhatsApp group about getting “sloshed” and what not. Really thought we’d all grown out of that, but I wasn’t a big drinker to begin with.

I agree with OP there is a strong subculture that revolves around alcohol and it’s bizarre.

[Anonymous]

I just scrolled through my feed - the closest to obsessing about alcohol posts I saw were two in which people were taking pictures out drinking and eating.

Examine your friend list OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think Americans are actually more conservative about drinking that other countries. So I disagree with the premise.

100%

Spend some time in Europe.

[Anonymous]

It’s sad that people drink so much. What a waste. It was like this in college and now into adulthood.

[Anonymous]

Maybe you're associating with the wrong people. I went to dinner with a friend Thursday. She had one drink, I abstained. Neither of us mentioned it, and it was a non-issue.

[Anonymous]

OP, Americans don't drink heavily compared to many countries, especially European countries. Most alcohol consumption is done by a minority of Americans, the large majority don't drink or are light occasional drinkers. If you Google, right now it's 54% of Americans who drink alcohol and that’s everyone from alcoholics to a few drinks a year. And it's declined substantially in the last few decades.

Your problem is that your friends are heavy drinkers, not American society in general, which is far less tolerant of drinking compared to European countries.

[Anonymous]

Everyone prepping for the storm is going to the liquor store.

Americans are obsessed with drinking. It starts in middle school, then HS and into college with the fake ids.

[Anonymous]

I guess I tune it out easily. I only enjoyed drinking in my teens when it was illegal (college) and my 20s. I stopped by early 30s completely. All it did was make me too tired the next day. I developed a gluten sensitivity, so beer made me sick (and bread, etc-roll your eyes all you want). I think I tried wine again during covid and I ached all over any time I tried to have a glass. Haven't had a single drink since then and don't miss it.

My mom friends don't drink much. My old college friends still talk about drinking a lot now that I think about it and a few are probably functional alcoholics. At reunions, there is no pressure on me so I don't think about it. Maybe someone tried to get me to drink, but I feel so lousy from alcohol it's easy to say no and not be persuaded.

[Anonymous]

OP I'd rather be out getting a drink with a friend that home on my phone watching tik toks. That actually sounds more sad and less healthy to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not a teetotaler - I'll enjoy a drink on special occasions or on vacation, but I don't understand how we've gotten to a place where drinking for everything is so normalized. Can people not socialize or hang out without involving alcohol? If you can't have fun or enjoy the company of people without involving a drink... that's pretty sad. And pathetically boring.

Your instagam and tiktoks about your drinks every weekend? Impending snowstorm and you've got beer and wine, so you're set? It's sad. That's... fun?!

People in other countries don't do this. People don't post about their alcohol or make weird, kind of disturbing jokes about their boozey plans. I know we have an addictive culture in general (not just alcohol, but prescription drugs, bad food, etc) but it's really weird how drinking culture in America is celebrated.

Could be worse, you could be in Europe. The French, for example, are total lushes.

[Anonymous]

Sad that the citizens of DCUMland, who believes themselves to be so worldly, who be so ignorant of the drinking cultures of the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not a teetotaler - I'll enjoy a drink on special occasions or on vacation, but I don't understand how we've gotten to a place where drinking for everything is so normalized. Can people not socialize or hang out without involving alcohol? If you can't have fun or enjoy the company of people without involving a drink... that's pretty sad. And pathetically boring.

Your instagam and tiktoks about your drinks every weekend? Impending snowstorm and you've got beer and wine, so you're set? It's sad. That's... fun?!

People in other countries don't do this. People don't post about their alcohol or make weird, kind of disturbing jokes about their boozey plans. I know we have an addictive culture in general (not just alcohol, but prescription drugs, bad food, etc) but it's really weird how drinking culture in America is celebrated.

England and Ireland say “hold my beer”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think Americans are actually more conservative about drinking that other countries. So I disagree with the premise.

This.

And…this. Again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think Americans are actually more conservative about drinking that other countries. So I disagree with the premise.

This is true. My kid is a grad student at Oxford. She says the drinking there and in London is crazy. And she’s comparing that to her undergrad, UVA. This is amongst faculty, too, not just students