Wine-drinking on TV

Nansnet
We do both drink (and enjoy doing so) - but it never was something we did immediately on arrival home from work.

I know you got into this "habit" but I think you are right and it's not normal (whatever that is exactly). I hope you are feeling better for the change.

How do you know it's not normal? You have no idea what other people do. We are drinkers. When we were working we never reached for the bottle when we got home but always had a drink later on. Our lives have been very difficult. There's nothing wrong with a few drinks to help with the stress. There are people doing worse things.

MissInterpreted

Was the wine drinking really the main thing for you to worry about in Game of Thrones?

MissInterpreted🫠..so much more to worry over - brutal torture ..incest, foul language ..debauchery…my daughter advised me not to watch this series- I actually loved GOT and was very impressed with the live action and the scenery - IMO ale was drank daily as we drink our tea/coffee

I've ever watched Game of Thrones but presumably it's set in days of yore.

Perhaps tea and coffee weren't brought to Britain, even if they were they wouldn't be drunk at home. Water was often bad and not fit to drink so ale would be the safest thing to drink, and perhaps mead too.

Never not ever

Kate49 there are indeed people doing worse things. I don’t think the OP meant her post to be judgemental just more of an observation really.
It is something I noticed way back when all the “new faces” started to appear in Coronation Street. I stopped watching it about 20 years ago.
It used to be everyone gathered around the kitchen table with the teapot then. But blokey cop shows for years have had the main characters necking scotch at every available opportunity.

Smoking has had to disappear unless they’re outside so I suppose they’ve had to “replace”the social camaraderie aspect of shared fags in the home environment.

Around here there is always the distinct aroma of cannabis drifting through the air, but no one seems to object.😮‍💨

Allira

I've ever watched Game of Thrones but presumably it's set in days of yore.

Perhaps tea and coffee weren't brought to Britain, even if they were they wouldn't be drunk at home. Water was often bad and not fit to drink so ale would be the safest thing to drink, and perhaps mead too.

Not exactly, it's a fantasy series, set in a fantasy world - but it is 'days of yore' in a sense, so yes, it would be similar to that. Ale and wine would probably have been safer to drink than many of the sources of water.

Yes, not judging anyone. People are free to do what they like as far as I’m concerned and it was just an observation.
Of course there are other things going on in GoT! But the Lannister’s drinking is definitely next level.

Granmaderby. Yes I realise the OP wasn't being judgemental. We also get a whiff of cannabis from the canal bank at the back of our house.

I don't think most of us thought you were judging LaCrepescule

MissInterpreted

Allira

I've ever watched Game of Thrones but presumably it's set in days of yore.

Perhaps tea and coffee weren't brought to Britain, even if they were they wouldn't be drunk at home. Water was often bad and not fit to drink so ale would be the safest thing to drink, and perhaps mead too.

Not exactly, it's a fantasy series, set in a fantasy world - but it is 'days of yore' in a sense, so yes, it would be similar to that. Ale and wine would probably have been safer to drink than many of the sources of water.

I did notice the wine pouring in Apples Never Fall though.

My hand always goes for the kettle 😀

Interestingly Allira I read Apples last autumn and although drinking was in it I don't recall that level of wine-swilling in the novel.

I do think it's poor script writing and inadequate direction. The end was particularly badly done on screen - though that wasn't a drink problem.

LaCrepescule

I’m not the alcohol police. You have misread me.

It was a general comment, not one directed at you!

Anyone for a chilled Ribena? It’s reassuringly expensive🤗

Granmarderby10

Anyone for a chilled Ribena? It’s reassuringly expensive🤗

Mine's an elderflower pressé, please 🥂

So often they pour a glass and just swig it down!

When watching old films (Cary Grant era etc) I'm always shocked at all the cigarette smoking. Perhaps actors feel the need to do something with their hands hence the cigarettes replaced by a glass of wine - what next?

I do not think you are overreacting,

I have wondered for years why it is unacceptable to show people smoking on films or in TV series, but accceptable to watch them drinking to excess.

Especially as sports events and festivals may no longer display adverts for alcohol.

I feel that showing glamourous heros and heroines smoking, drinking and having casual sex with no mention of any form of contreception or steps against contracting or transmitting STDs encourages teenagers to believe that we, their parents, teachers and grandparents are talking through our hats when we try to discuss these topics with them

And we can add dangerous driving to the list, too!

I follow Coronation Street (for my sins) and we’ve commented recently on how much more wine the characters appear to be drinking, especially in their homes. No one ever makes a cup of tea or coffee. All coffees are bought from the local cafe, and otherwise they drink wine or beer.

I usually share a bottle of Prosecco with my DiL each weekend, but we rarely drink during the week, unless we go out. Son and DiL are away this weekend, so I guess I won’t be drinking any alcohol for the next couple of days.

I think it gives the actors something to do. If you put the kettle on you have nothing to do while it boils.
Another thing they do for the same reason: chatting while preparing a meal for two with enough chopped carrots to feed an army!
Ordering a round of drinks in the pub then all getting up and leaving the nearly full glasses on the table.

It is daft isn’t it Sheila11? I think some actors did have to “learn” how to smoke with authenticity.

Each to their own and I think tolerance is important. Life, in my opinion, would be joyless without a glass of wine and there is solid evidence that red wine (nothing else, though, as far as I know) has health benefits. I think GPs should be more aware of the side-effects of the drugs they push, and let us have our wine without guilt trips. Junk food is arguably much more harmful. In my experience alcoholics who are committed to their recovery are happy to see others enjoying a tipple, they just accept it is not for them. One such said to me 'I'm always happy to pour your wine' - and he did!
(and yes, watch out for Chairman Starmer!)

I'm not a teetotler but I don't.like the unnecessary over indulgence in wine and gin often shown on the screen. Or in popular culture, it's wine o'clock, prosecco time, gin time, etc. overindulgence in alcohol is not good for anyone's health, and it shouldn't be normalized. As a means of dealing with stress it is not a good one, there are means of dealing with stress that do not harm the rest of you. That is so very different to having a glass of wine with a nice meal once in a while.
Smoking was once a popular activity and apparently helped with stress, imagine if the programmes with alcohol has people reaching for a fag instead or greetings cards were normalizing smoking. Not good many would.no doubt agree.
Alcohol also affects families and society, money spent on excessive booze isn't available for things people really need, violence is often fueled by alcohol and it sets a poor example.for.young folk to see excessive consumption of alcohol
Alcohol.is also empty calories, and like lungs, our.livers are supposed to last us a lifetime. I'll have a bit at a celebration, or a special event, but never on my own, I'm not an alcoholic, that's not the reason I rarely drink, I wouldn't ban it

OP. I think you’re right. There does seem to be a lot of reaching for a bottle of wine on several programs.
As one poster put it, it’s something to do with your hands. Otherwise there’d be a lot more hangovers on the set.

I enjoy the odd glass of wine ,but I am more of a g&t girl at heart.My husband is borderline diabetic so the days of having a drink at night are over. It’s no fun drinking alone and non alcoholic gin isn’t that great.