MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
Just an observation!
I was just pondering the point as it seems to be everywhere and that if you're not 'on it' then you're missing out on this important fun filled time of your life??
Example - on way in to work scanning the radio stations...local inane DJ says 'to all you out there who are going in work after a few too many beers in the sunshine yesterday....'
Example - on way out of work, 'right the sun is shining, who fancies beers down the pub' me: 'i'm cool thanks, im going riding my bike, too nice an evening to miss' Colleague 'stop being boring, all that healthy eating and exercise is a waste of time, come and have a few.'
I then started thinking a bit more about how the majority of things seem to end up involving alcohol. Not me, i cant be arsed with the hangovers and like having my weekends to do some riding.
In my opinion its far more civilised across Europe where they dont seem to have all this daft sentiment about getting plastered all the time or being 'wild' or 'wacky'.
Is it me or is there something cringe worthy about a woman in her late 30's + staggering around incoherently?? The sites in my local town are quality at weekends.....girls with next to nothing on throwing up whilst clutching a kebab....good skills - i couldnt manage that. Lads fighting, people p*ssing everywhere. Just seems a bit of a mess.
I met a girl over in Canada and her perception of the ones who partake is that they dont have a life as if you did, why would you waste it drunk? A fair point.
So can anyone enlighten me as to why the Brits are a nation of proverbial p155 cans??
Anyway, enough of this, im off for a pint....err i mean a bike ride!! 🙂
Just got home from a hot,hard day at work. Just sat down, with a half of homebrew. Not to get drunk, just fancied it!
My missus made it for me, so technically i have to drink it or she would be upset!
Best not upset the missus!
Ride bike, drink beer, ride bike, drink beer, repeat....
So can anyone enlighten me as to why the Brits are a nation of proverbial p155 cans??
I think you'll find other nations drink quite a lot too. More pertinent question would be about Britain and its small man syndrome. Why do Brits on the p¡ss want to fight (all the time)?
Don, that maybe one of the more accurate questions. Any ideas? Personally i find it all a bit embarrassing.
No idea, but I'm with you.
Never understood the whole drink culture. It just seems to take more than it gives.
Odd that in a world that we find so busy, we can find hours to neck fizzy water.
Any ideas?
Having talked about this many times in Spain. The main difference is how alcohol is used, in Spain it's often used to enhance an already nice time and people, often surprisingly, get drunk. In Britain people go out to get p¡ssed.
Nah me neither, Im really not enjoying this ice cold beer sat on my deck in the sunshine! I did ride last night and the night before mind, and had a glass of ice cold water when I got in!! I love both activities to be fair!!!!
I think it's partly related to our proximity to the north pole and the lack of light in winter. So we drink in winter cos it's cold and miserable then we drink in summer to celebrate that it's no longer cold and miserable 🙂 Or something along those lines.
It's an interesting subject, but the pub I live next to beckons 😀
In my opinion its far more civilised across Europe
maybe thats your problem- in your opinion. In my experience swedish girls know how to have a wild night and were just as bad or even worse than the British. The Finnish girls not that far behind either.
Sweeping generalisations......can this perception be fuelled by the media plus our failing to recognise that the vast majority of brits do not stagger about totally inebriated.
Met plenty of other folks in different countries where folks over indulge. Also in some of these countries it appears not to be frowned upon to have a couple of glasses or wine, beers or cocktails then drive. But that is not to say all in those nations are drunk drivers.
I enjoy an alcoholic drink when it suits. In fact as my wife is going out on her bike this evening, I probably will sit in the sunny garden have have one.....
Mrscarlos and myself used to be complete pissheads , from the age of 19-24 we went out on the lash at least 4 times a week.then it started to get boring so we stopped doing it. Now we hardly drink Any alchohol at all , there's still half a dozen bottles of beer in the fridge from Christmas.
Some people grow out of it others get problems.
Because it's fun.
There IS a problem with this nations attitude to alcohol. I wonder how A&E on a Fri/Sat night and the pregnancy rates would be if we had a more relaxed attitude to alcohol?
By relaxed meaning not getting rat arsed at every oppertunity and just having one or two.
I dont miss getting drunk, I hate the hangovers, so rarely have more than a couple at a time.
Is it me or is there something cringe worthy about a woman in her late 30's + staggering around incoherently?? The sites in my local town are quality at weekends.....girls with next to nothing on throwing up whilst clutching a kebab....good skills - i couldnt manage that. Lads fighting, people p*ssing everywhere. Just seems a bit of a mess.
No. It's not just you. All that sounds terrible.
Not sure what any of that's got to do with sitting in a noce beer garden for a few beers after work with some mates though.
I don't know any Brits you are obsessed with alcohol, but then, like me, they probably began drinking it at a very early age (the age limit here is 5 I think, five). I love a drop now and then, I also love a bike ride now and then, and an omelette...I'm not obsessed with those either.
Generally, I think those Brits (or indeed any other nationalities) who do have an alcohol problem do so because they either grew up in a backdrop of alcohol abuse, or because they weren't introduced to it, and how to handle it at a young enough age.
Doesn't help that our beloved media keep on banging about 'underage drinking' failing to realise the very low age limit that applies in the home. All they succeed in doing is making alcohol 'bad' and therefore for many impressionable children 'good'.
Cause there are a lot of brain dead morons in the UK
Will you lot stop going on about booze please?. I am only allowed beer on a Saturday due to a self-inflicted financial meltdown.
I could sell the car, I suppose
No idea what started the culture but it seems to have stuck. It may be the press but we do seem bad for binge drinking?
I think our repression has something to do with it.
It's not just Britain. Have you ever been to any working city in Italy for example? I used to live near Torino (Turin) and I can assure you they drink more than their 24 units a week 🙂 However, the trend of youngsters going out partying at the weekend is well covered in the media here so it's more apparent than say, alcoholic people who are poor and just stay in and drink a litre of Tesco's finest whiskey every night.
I'd be interested to see the figures for alcohol dependency across the EU states, whilst I reckon Britain will feature highly, I doubt the other states will have a glowing health record.
I agree that the better question would be why the Brits seem to want to fight all the time once they've had a few. In particular the southerners, who normally would shy away from even being that close to another human, never mind fight them 😉
That said, my experience of nights out in BC (Vancouver and various mountain resort towns) is that the boys there love to fight too. Problem is, they are all bred the size of bears and watch ultimate fighting on the telly rather than football, so they're generally pumped to the eyeballs by the time they are drunk.
As for me, I drink more than some people and less than others. People who don't have a drink at all (other than for religious, health or AA reasons) are as odd as vegans IMO. As are those who drink too much for "enjoyment".
Cool story Hansel
I dunno, I've not noticed Britain being particularly worse than anywhere else. Have you ever been to Europe, 18-30's still go out, get battered, take drugs and listen to techno wherever you are in the world on a Friday night.
Is it me or is there something cringe worthy about a woman in her late 30's + staggering around incoherently?? The sites in my local town are quality at weekends.....girls with next to nothing on throwing up whilst clutching a kebab.
So its the middle of winter, some poor girl has had her coat nicked, hypothermia has started to set in and she can no longer coherently explain her predicament. In her confused state she seeks solace in warm food, but the elephants foot bun is rancid and makes her hurl.
Then just as hope and her life is starting to ebb away, along comes someone who could help, unfortunately he is a self absorbed judgemental tosspot, who instead of offering the oh so needed assistance, pushes his nose into the air and full off righteous indignation strides off to tell the world how superior he is.
And there on that cold street that night she dies.
Are you happy now? ARE YOU HAPPY?
Brits do stand up drinking.
Europeans do sit down drinking.
Theirs is more civilised and we should try to follow their example. Unfortunately, we have the legacy of drinking to get drunk and what was closing time to get out of our systems first.
You should try Uni! I keep getting told that if you remember what went on the night before you clearly didn't have a great time.. 😕
My social groups are diverse but that seems to be a reoccurring theme. They go out to get drunk (which automatically makes you happy?). Ive studied in the US and Germany and they are very different to the UK. We are pretty much the only students who PRE-DRINK before going out, to make sure that we are drunk enough (and apparently spend less) to have a 'good time' when we go out. The UK has also got the most grim drinking games. I have several mining mates (yes, still a degree) who have liver damage as a result. Seems to make you macho that you can down a £3.90 drink in 2 seconds, yet are fat and general twits. I hate the student drinking culture but this seems to be the same across a lot of the young population (18-30 ish). I do love going for a couple pints with friends in a pub or in the sun and just chat where I can still remember the conversation and wake up for an early morning ride. What do the public link with student and night life ? Drunks, drugs, messy, fighting, chundering animals and recklessness. How people get kicks from spending £50 on a juice they'll throw up, give them hideous headaches and wont allow them to remember the previous night is beyond me. As they say, everything in moderation. Hopefully student culture in the UK will catch on someday 🙄 .
Brits do stand up drinking.Europeans do sit down drinking.
Theirs is more civilised and we should try to follow their example. Unfortunately, we have the legacy of drinking to get drunk and what was closing time to get out of our systems first.
It's an example I certainly adhere to; if I can't sit down in a pub I'm not interested. Went out for a spin tonight, lovely warm evening, stopped at my local (ish, it's three miles from home), had a couple of very nice pints, rode home.
That's how it should be.
So can anyone enlighten me as to why the Brits are a nation of proverbial p155 cans??
belly laughing.. soul cleansing, rib aching, tear streaming, snot flowing belly laughing.. on tap
that's your answer..
it's a shame the bloody stuff kills you eventually, and steals your vigour.. and holds you to ransom with your heart held firmly in it's vice-like grip.. sucking away your spirit in every blithe embrace..
You really think you'll get the answer in a response on a cycling forum from some loser?
If the reason was that straightforward then don't you think Google would bring up the answer?
Excuse my surliness I'm half cut.
[url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/pub-ride-tomorrow-night-in-the-land-of-htn-anyone ]See what I mean[/url]
yawn
opens another beer......
Cos uk is full off scum bastards mainly on dole ket or smack lol
I used to love getting smashed. Don't know why but just liked the buzz. Now I would rather ride a bike or watch telly. I really struggle to to a pub and have a couple, it's all or nothing.
Different strokes for different folks.
When I was younger going out for a session didn't get in the way of the next day...
We make a fantastic selection of well crafted beer over here. There are some amazing wines in the world. Don't lump everyone in the 20pints of p*ss or alcopop stuff.
It's cos the weather's so crap and it makes us miserable. All north Europeans drink plenty (admittedly they don't all act like such dicks when they're drunk for some reason).
After a week in work I fancy a pint. Won't get wasted, just want a nice cold one. Not just the Brits that drink, other countries do too. We are just well known for not handling it!
I used to binge drink as a teenager as it improved my confidence around people but as i got older i realised that i was confident enough without the booze. Now i enjoy a few drinks after a hard week at work, i only drink something i like the taste of. Strong lagers, dark Ales, Aussie red wine mainly.
Northern European Patriarchal Society aren't we. Fighting & Drinking are (and always have been) cornerstones of our psyche.
[img] 
[/img]
I Blame this lot
It's not just yobs who get pissed and fight and fall over in the street. I bet that if you went down any street on a Friday or Saturday night knocking on the doors you'd find half the residents quietly getting pissed at home, in any area.
The cosy professional couple across the road from us neck at least a bottle of wine each, every night. Their recycling wheelie bin is always full to the top with wine bottles.
The cosy professional couple across the road from us neck at least a bottle of wine each, every night. Their recycling wheelie bin is always full to the top with wine bottles.
Didn't know the STW bin patrol was active in out area
I agree that the better question would be why the Brits seem to want to fight all the time once they've had a few.
This
I travel all over Europe and much of the rest of the world and while people enjoying drinking nowhere seems to suffer the same level of aggressive behaviour as the UK.
I sort of agree with the OP. I work in the building industry and you really are regarded as a bit weird if you don't drink every night, watch nothing but football and only eat chips. I've been working away from home a lot too, and I've seen others in the hotels, of all ages, in suits or high viz who just sit there and drink all night. They cannot it seems think of anything else to do other than sit in the hotel bar from 6-11pm drinking [one person who is the exact example of who I am talking about has just walked in the room]
Why do they do this? Well, it just what tough men do, isn't it? "I'm hard. I can take my beer" is the attitude. It's the mark of manhood. Like a big new car, it's for showing off.
Now, I do like beer. I brew my own. It's tasty, refreshing, relaxing. But I drink socially and only on occasion. I've just filled in my 60th weekly expense claim and in all that time I've had 1 alcoholic drink on my own. But tonight I'll get home and have a couple of beers with Mrs PP.
Alcohol. I can take it or leave it, but I must say I prefer the European attitude to it than the British one.
I've got a bottle of Jägermeister on my desk. Its partly drunk as we all had a nip at 8am yesterday morning to toast my birthday.
What does that make us? 😐
A lightweight.
As a student (some considerable time ago) we used to hit the town and get pretty fall down drunk - but that was more of a side effect of heading out to have fun, post sports match, chase girls and head for a gig, party, etc the drink was just something else on the itinerary, it eased things along. Getting hammered now seems the reason for going out. I've been on the wagon since March in an attempt to lose a bit of weight and get fitter - not really missing it.
I've got a bottle of Jägermeister on my desk. Its partly drunk as we all had a nip at 8am yesterday morning to toast my birthday.What does that make us?
Unemployed, if you work where I do.
Ok,
I guess I can list myself amongst the Saturday night drinkers and while ive seen punchups and girls staggering home, you know, it's just every now and then, where u drink makes a Massive difference, some bouncers take it seriously and will clamp down on people getting put of hand. Let's be honest we all know the places that are rough
It's not just young people though, I can go to quiet pubs where's there's old people just getting steadily smashed or big warehouses filled with lights shots flesh and beats, it's the same thing, getting out of your box for a bit
The Spanish drink easily as much as the British, going for a morning coffee before work there'll usually be at least a couple of people having a pre-work beer, anis or whatever. And they certainly do get into fights, the out-of-town clubs on industrial estates are particularly bad for it.
Unemployed, if you work where I do.
No no we aren't emergency services or anything like that. I'm just a Ships Master with the first officers of a small cruise ship.
Well, so long as it's only a [i]small[/i] cruise ship. Wouldn't want you behind the wheel of a medium one when ratarsed.
Have you seen the British Channel? Its soo busy, its scary to navigate!
People for every country in the world get pissed and fight. Its just the Britsh are the only ones who do it on the high street.
And to the OP - Going out cycling on your own rather than having a few social beers with some colleagues is fine most of the time, but if its every time then it is a bit... well... anti-social. Having a social drink isn't the same as getting drunk, fighting and suffering the next day.
I spent a month in Ukraine a couple of years ago - L'viv to be precise - and was impressed with how much horilka and/or beer the Ukrainians could down in a night. But not once did I witness any untoward behaviour, and on more than one occasion I was basically crawling home in the wee hours.
In light of this, I think we can safely say that the whole 'patriarchal northern European society' excuse can't possibly wash. If anywhere on earth fit that description, it would be the Slavic countries like Ukraine.
It seems people like me in their mid twenties in the UK are always going on about what they drunk, how pissed they were, what that night out was like and how many shots they did. It is a constant, perpetual, macho conversation topic.
I don't drink at all, for a few reasons, and I find it all pretty wearing.
Whats wrong with having a drink on your own anyway? Technically you are not alone if you have friends talking to you in your head.
No no we aren't emergency services or anything like that. I'm just a Ships Master with the first officers of a small cruise ship
Genuine chuckle at that one.
Hora wouldn't sit and drink all night anyway. At some point he'd have to buy a round. And thats the point where he always mysteriously disappears. Back on to the Bridge I suppose. I'm the navigator. I always stay in the bar.
Hang on. What was that grinding noise?
In fairness I was on holiday in rural Spain and the I went in the local bar / cafe in the morning for coffee and the local work force were on it already drinking rum/brandy at about 9 in the morning before they went off to work. Then in the afternoon 2-5 they were back on it and then after work 10 ish to the small hours they were back on it again. Including crawling into their work vans and driving around the mountain roads of southern spain.
Like wise in northern Italy me and a mate were drinking with a group of Italian ladies. We drank a lot of spirits; several bottles of vodka between us and then they all got in their cars and drove off down mountain roads (when I suggested they came back to our tent that is).
binners that will be the Latvian girl we picked up in the last port.
It's not the booze at all. It's the person.
Well worth a read:
[url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15265317 ]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15265317[/url]
Beer is brilliant though. Not crappy lager that you get fed in high streets, but REAL beer, previously the preserve of the bearded ones, now a growing collection of diverse and tasty brews.
I'll be heading back to the ale festival after work, drinking a few not getting pissed, not puking and really enjoying a few beers with mates in the sun.
Alcohol and football - for the proles, they keep the lower classes distracted from rebellion right?
If you don't enjoy a cold beer, or three, after a ride in this sunshine, then you're a ****ing deviant, quite frankly 😀
I've always said that if I had a beer before a ride I'd be ****ing awesome at DH. Sadly it'd be a slippery slope so I just stick to being nervous bambi on dirt.
Now that is a t-shirt slogan waiting to happen
nervous bambi on dirt
Brits do stand up drinking.Europeans do sit down drinking.
I find a beer last much longer if I don't have to stand holding it. Also if I can have a conversation that's not being drowned out by bad music at top volume. Basically I'm pretty much over town centre weekend drinking. I'm amazed more people aren't.
Klumpy, excellent article, thanks for the linky. Certainly makes sense that pre-programming could have quite the effect!
Oliver, excellent point about standing with blaring music in the pubs.
If you don't enjoy a cold beer, or three, after a ride in this sunshine, then you're a ****ing deviant, quite frankly
does my alcohol free stuff count?!
Britain doesnt suffer a greater alcohol problem than many other western country.. It sufferes a violence problem made worse by alcohol.
I think we are naturally more violent anyway.
Why do people suffer such generalisation problems?
Why do people suffer such generalisation problems?
Absoloutely 🙂
And with that, the thread is now over.
What about a thread on "Why are Somalis obsessed with stealing ships?" or "Why are all Americans really annoying?" or "Why are Germans so boring?"
i don't drink (anymore 😀
Why are American Ti frames shit?
Pub shortly anyone?
Its gone 12 😀
peterfile - MemberWhy do people suffer such generalisation problems?
Absoloutely
And with that, the thread is now over.
What about a thread on "Why are Somalis obsessed with stealing ships?" or "Why are all Americans really annoying?" or "Why are Germans so boring?"
yeah.
or "why are all vegans weirdos?" perhaps...
I sometimes wonder why people obsess about what other people do. Get on with your own life, it's much more fun than trying to see it through someone else's eyes.
yeah.
or "why are all vegans weirdos?" perhaps...
Nah, that one isn't a sweeping generalisation, it's just a fact 😉
I sometimes wonder why people obsess about what other people do. Get on with your own life, it's much more fun than trying to see it through someone else's eyes.
Why are you obsessing about what everyone else is obsessing about?
Just stay out of the thread and get on with your own life
😉
(sorry, i'm in an odd mood today)
yeah.
or "why are all vegans weirdos?" perhaps...
*Junkyard to the thread please*