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British 15-16 year olds binge drink at a rate of 54%, the fourth highest in Europe, and 46% report intoxication in the past 30 days[18].
The UK binge drinking culture is also evidenced by the rather unique social phenomena of relatively large groups (8–15) of men/women (of vary different ages) going, without their partners, on a holiday abroad (typically to Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany or other traditional beer countries) with the main purpose of getting drunk together, often in broad daylight.
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(Regarding the US) The population of people who binge drink mainly comprises young adults aged 18–29, although it is by no means rare among older adults. For example, in 2007 (using a 5-drinks definition per occasion for both genders), 42% of 18-25 year olds "binged" at least once a month, while 20% of 16-17 year olds and 19% of those over age 35 did so.[30] The peak age is 21.
It's about binge drinking, obviously but this is a part of alcoholism. There's certainly a much bigger alcoholism scene in the UK than in the US. I've lived 23 years in Chicago, 3 years in Boston, and 5 years in London so have some insight.
Certainly, people drink at a younger age in this country. It's not at all unusual to see people drunk in London. Not just the usual winos either. Women, kids, guys in professional attire, etc. There's a culture of alcoholism in the UK that simply does not exist in the US.
If there's a work-party or something, they go to pubs. Every week, co-workers meet up to go drink. Personally, I don't partake because I find the very notion repellant. This undoubtedly affects my standing in the company because as I say, this is just how things are done here. Drinking is the norm. I worked in the US, and nobody ever suggested going to a bar. Certainly not as official work-function anyway. That's totally unheard of.
Another example is the fact that it's illegal to have open cans/bottles of liquor in the US. No such law exists in the UK. And it would be largely unenforceble given the scale of the problem. You see people drinking on trains, on the street, everywhere.
Also, as the Wikipedia article suggests, people start drinking at an earlier age in the UK as opposed to the US. It's not uncommon to see kids in pubs. Sometimes trying to get served sometimes with their parents. I don't want to judge too harshly but it doesn't seem right to me. Imagine bringing your children to a bar in the US. Those kids would be taken from you by social services.
I can go on and on but let's briefly look at smoking. From my ancedotal evidence, I noticed very few young people in the US smoking. By "young" I mean under 40. It's something that old timers might do, but certainly it's on the decline. Surely there are studies that back this up because I remember reading a while ago about American cigarette companies focusing on overseas markets because young Americans just aren't taking up the habit anymore.
In the UK, it's much more common to smoke. And among the young as well. Also, I think you only have to be 16 to buy cigarettes in the UK. It certainly doesn't have the stigma that it has in the US.
Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of premature death in the United States. . . . . [font=Helvetica, Arial Narrow, Arial][font=Helvetica]There are approximately 47 million smokers in the U.S. About 23 percent of adults smoke, and about 30 percent of adolescents. . Mod cut: copyright violation
From http://www.ic.nhs.uk/webfiles/public...gland_2009.pdf
The NHS's stats (2009) show that 21% of people in England smoke. So it's lower than in the USA, but for the health of any of us, still not low enough in either country of course.
Last edited by Viralmd; 11-28-2009 at 12:37 PM..
Reason: added NHS source
Another example is the fact that it's illegal to have open cans/bottles of liquor in the US. No such law exists in the UK. And it would be largely unenforceble given the scale of the problem. You see people drinking on trains, on the street, everywhere.
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The bit quoted above is not actually true. In certain parts of the UK there are now laws which prevent you drinking in the street, in many towns. Usually the law is passed in particular problem areas.
Is your experience of UK drinking just London? Because where I live I don't think I've ever seen anyone drinking on the train. And very few on the streets either. If you live in the centre of a big city with loads of pubs, then surely spotting the proportion of people that have had a drink will rise?
In fact the rail companies and police can prohibit drinking on the train, if the train is being used by football supporters. Even on privately chartered football supporters buses drinking is not allowed or the bus company can lose their licence.
And I wouldn't trust all you read in Wikipedia. Kids are only allowed in pubs that are serving food (and even then up until a certain time in the evening), such as Brewers Fayre gastro-pubs. Kids in your normal type boozer is not the norm!
I'm not saying there isn't a problem with youngsters drinking, that has been well known for a few years. But I do think you are possibly blowing it a bit out of proportion. There are many people, myself included (mid 30's) who like socialising in the pub with a beer. It doesn't mean you have to drink until you can't stand up! And I would say there are probably more people like me, than the alcoholics you are suggesting!
Regarding smoking, I can't believe that the USA has less smokers than here. There are smoking bans in all public places and bars in the UK. People who want a cigarette have to stand outside in the street. And if I'm not mistaken, not sure about England but in Scotland you have to be 18 to buy cigarettes.
My experience is of London. I'm comparing like to like here. American big cities to an English big city. I don't know how the drinking culture in Shropshire or Fort Wayne, Indiana are. I suspect similar trends can be found throughout both countries, though.
If you want to go out with some friends or co-workers and drink, that's your business. I'm not making any moral judgements or saying that you're an alcoholic.
But this does illustrate the culture of alcohol(ism) that one finds in the UK. Regular folk don't just hang out in bars in the US. People who frequent bars in the US are largely alcoholics and they go there with the intention of getting drunk.
I don't really drink. If I'm forced to drink socially (something that I've only encountered in the UK, by the way) I'll have a drink. But it's not something I'm into, certainly.
In the US, this was never an issue because people just don't do that. No co-worker ever suggested that I go to the bar with them after work. Not because I'm unpleasant but because that just doesn't happen.
It's something I've found in every job I've had in the UK, though. It's what people do. And I've occassionally gone on these encounters. Some of these co-workers drink sensibly. Others have great difficulty getting home. Not a small percentage either.
It's just a totally different view of alcohol that one finds in the US and the UK. Without actually living in both countries, I think it's difficult to appreciate this.
Also yeah, the young people drinking in the UK is shocking. It's not something I've ever seen in the US. I'm talking 14/15 year olds.
One final point, in the UK you'll see people in pubs during the day. And on weekdays. I can only assume that these people don't work. I didn't really go to bars in the US, but I'd imagine that they were pretty well empty in the daylight hours.
But this does illustrate the culture of alcohol(ism) that one finds in the UK. Regular folk don't just hang out in bars in the US. People who frequent bars in the US are largely alcoholics and they go there with the intention of getting drunk.
One final point, in the UK you'll see people in pubs during the day. And on weekdays. I can only assume that these people don't work. I didn't really go to bars in the US, but I'd imagine that they were pretty well empty in the daylight hours.
This is just another misconception about the culture of pubs. They are not compariable to US bars. Many people go to pubs and do not drink - they often go to eat or sometimes even to just socialize with friends. Children are welcome in pubs (during the day, at least) not because society irresponsiblity allows them there but because pubs can hold a very healthy family atmosphere. People go to pubs for their lunch break - again, not necessarily to drink but to eat, have business meetings, etc. A lot of pubs offer a roast lunch every sunday - for a while, my husband and I were going to different pubs every sunday and sometimes we'd have alcohol, sometimes we just had the roast. How many bars in the US offer a roast every sunday?
Of course not all pubs meet these higher standards - some can be pretty "dodgy"... but gastropubs in particular are not frequented with the sole or main intent of drinking alcohol or getting drunk. Yes, some people may overdo it but that is not what I would call the norm. You simply can't compare them to US bars - it's not the same, the culture is not the same, the atmosphere is not the same and intent for which people go is not the same.
This is just another misconception about the culture of pubs. They are not compariable to US bars. Many people go to pubs and do not drink - they often go to eat or sometimes even to just socialize with friends. Children are welcome in pubs (during the day, at least) not because society irresponsiblity allows them there but because pubs can hold a very healthy family atmosphere. People go to pubs for their lunch break - again, not necessarily to drink but to eat, have business meetings, etc. A lot of pubs offer a roast lunch every sunday - for a while, my husband and I were going to different pubs every sunday and sometimes we'd have alcohol, sometimes we just had the roast. How many bars in the US offer a roast every sunday?
Of course not all pubs meet these higher standards - some can be pretty "dodgy"... but gastropubs in particular are not frequented with the sole or main intent of drinking alcohol or getting drunk. Yes, some people may overdo it but that is not what I would call the norm. You simply can't compare them to US bars - it's not the same, the culture is not the same, the atmosphere is not the same and intent for which people go is not the same.
Many "bars" in the US are part of a restaurant but in a seperate section or have some sort of food menu as well.
Many "bars" in the US are part of a restaurant but in a seperate section or have some sort of food menu as well.
Yes but as you yourself suggest by putting the word "bars" in quotes, it's more of a restaurant than a bar. Still not comparable to pubs in the UK. There's simply nothing like a UK pub in the US. Some may try but they never hold the same culture or atmosphere.
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