Remembering When London’s Pubs Were Full at 7 am Drinking 8 pints of beer a day was once routine

Atlasobscura ^ | FEBRUARY 22, 2018 | JESSICA FURSETH

[SJackson]

IT

[libertylover]

it’s amazing how much booze is packed away in such as “Inspector Morse” or even “Midsomer Murders”.

This article made me think of "Morse" as well.

[NobleFree]

Morning drinking permanently fell out of favour after the war, in large part because licensing laws made it illegal for most pubs to be open. People became more aware of the health risks, drinking by children became frowned upon, and “proper” ladies soon came to prefer a nice cuppa over a rowdy pub.

That's the right way to moderate use of a mind-altering substance: regulation and social pressure, not counterproductive bans.

[RedStateRocker]

Perhaps another factor was that most people walked everywhere and did physical labor, so the calories were not as much of an issue. I could give a rip less about what anyone thinks of my alcohol consumption, nor do I care what anyone else consumes unless and until they actually damage or injure my family or property, but the calories in beer force me to limit my consumption even more than the stupid prudishness of modern society.

[dfwgator]

Maybe all that drinking is why Britain is a shell of her former self.

[9YearLurker]

I remember a Spaniard once telling me how the Brit tourists were perceived in Spain. They saw them as terrible drinkers because they drank all day, but never enough to get drunk at any particular time.

I think that is an old-world recollection, as the younger Brits are certainly not known for holding back!

[9YearLurker]

That’s just about the time I was starting my professional career in MA and shocked to find that getting sloshed every lunchtime, then meeting up for the happy hours after work, was considered good form.

But things definitely changed quickly in the latter ‘80s.

[Chuckster]

Remember Busch Gardens? A theme park with free beer.

[Chuckster]

During the eighties I discovered that all I had to do to advance beyond my peers was to stay sober until after five PM. People were smoking pot, snorting coke and drinking at lunch. The VP had a tapper in his office, the service department kept a fridge full of beer, customers “Tipped” with joints or lines and the sales managers incentive program was to spiff the sales staff with cocaine.

[MCF]

Yes, and Grants Farm here in ST. Louis.

[mowowie]

In the late 80’s we had a coke machine stuffed with beer at the job.
Doubt that it’s still there...

[zeugma]

I suspect the beer was not as strong as it is today. Probably something like 3.2 beer.

No, but some were more than others. Many folk drank 'small beer' in the morning, which was the lighter bit of the first of a keg back in the day. The amount of alcohol the average person went about with onboard would shock most modern Americans.

[Djl3668]

I can’t, horrible. Irish here and that’s all I need.

[morphing libertarian]

because, bad water

[ImaGraftedBranch]

Thank you for that. I have been to the Market Porter many times. My favorite pub (although there is rarely space inside after 5pm).