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.

LaCrepescule, I think you're right. Seeing people in normal, everyday settings, reaching for a bottle of wine, or whatever, as soon as they get home, does give the impression that it's the normal thing to do.

I'll admit that DH and I love drinking wine (and G&T!). He comes home most evenings from a very stressful job and, up until recently, more often than not, he'd reach for a can of beer, or open a bottle of wine, then offer me a glass to join him! I'd seldom refuse!

However, I must confess that we have both come to the conclusion that it has become rather a bad habit that we need to break. I certainly don't intend to dictate to anyone else what they should or shouldn't be drinking, as far as alcohol is concerned, but I'm glad that DH and I both recognise that we feel the habit we got ourselves into really isn't normal at all.

We're also very aware that it's not good for our health and, quite honestly, we have recently been feeling the effects on our bodies, particularly with inflammatory issues. So, for us, we're glad that we've realised that it's not normal behaviour, and we are now actively doing our best to break the bad habit!

I think it's just a way of solving the actors' eternal problem of what to do with their hands.

You hardly ever see mocktails or lo/no alcohol drinks on TV.

They do have a zero beer on tap in the Rover’s Return now. Not that it’s asked for very often by the Coronation Street residents who seem to spend half their lives in there. One regular was drinking tap water the other day, but that could have been due to her being skint.

Its a gin for me, cheers!

I suppose the people who chose the no alcohol beverages may have been "saving" the alcohol for later - and we did have a few children in the mix.

There is a massive rise in nonalcoholic drinks both in pubs and in supermarkets/off licences (I think I read 3% of sales in pubs). You hardly ever see mocktails or lo/no alcohol drinks on TV.

I can't remember seing a party scene where, for example, a cordial/presse or other drink was offered alongside the ubiquitous prosecco/champagne.

We hosted a big birthday gathering recently and offered fizz or a choice of 3 home-made non-alcoholic cordials on arrival. The drinks bill showed nearly half had chosen the (admittedly beautiful and delicious) no alcohol option.

My son's wedding last year had a "do" the night before and their mocktails on arrival were also very popular there.

I don't know why thus isn't more visible on our screens.

When I was working and had 3 children at home, I confess I did reach for the bottle at 6 pm.
In hindsight I drank too much.
A serious illness got me out of the habit.
It’s reserved for weekends, dining out and special occasions now.

grumppa

Just as well the GP was only a locum, Allira. One definition of an alcoholic is somebody who drinks more than their GP. Our practice had a teetotal doctor once, but his partners more than made up for him.

Some years ago we were with a practice with an alcoholic Senior Partner. If you needed an emergency appointment, you always got him because no one ever chose to see him (this was in those long gone days when you rang the surgery and just got an appointment.).

He would snap and snarl at you, and, tragically, a baby died, because some very young parents with a sick baby saw him in an emergency, he barked treatment at them and they were too scared to ask him to explain because they did not fully understand what they had to do. As a result this tiny baby died.

The simple solution if thee is too much drinking on tv, is watch something else of stream something. I avoid all this angst by drinking very little and not watching tv. Give me a good book or a favourite film or series any itme.

On the subject of tv characters, I am also tired of the “stressed mother with a tough job” trope thingy.
I am not convinced it represents reality (or hope it doesn’t) especially those who do a lot of driving.

Yes this is so true LaCrepescule …but I prefer a Malibu or a proper Pimms in summer or occasionally (just the one) of those good quality cocktails in a can the mohito or strawberry daiquiri are quite. .. (far too delicious) in summer) when Christmas draws near it is my cue for a de-Kuyper or Warninks or a Baileys.
Vinegary wine is for culinary uses only imo and beer and lagers are too gassy.
Majority of the year my go to is Yorkshire Gold as all of the above make me sleepy and frankly I have trouble staying awake without booze as it is.

Thank you NotSpaghetti. I hadn’t thought of that but think you might be right; all those stressed mums/detectives reaching for the bottle!

I think you are right LaCrepescule and have noticed this more and more of late.
I think it's not necessary but is a lazy way to signify weariness/stress Apples Never Fall is a case in point.

I honestly don't know anyone who gets home from work and opens a bottle before they do anything else - but neither do they immediately lounge about on a sofa before they start dinner or go to the loo or put the washing on!

I am very pleased for you LaCrepescule that you are keeping sober. Well done.
(Meant sincerely).

Have noticed that in many dramas and soaps that the moment people hit a bump in the road they get wasted, either in the local pub or at home with a bottle of whiskey which if it was consumed as readily as it is on screen the person would end up with a nasty case of alcohol poisoning.
They also then tend to get into loud arguments or fights.
If everybody caved in like this we would all have liver cancer before we hit 60 or end up in jail for GBH.
Can we please see someone dealing with their problems without getting drunk.

every show is drink drink either wine or whiskey
especially cops ,women,kids drink anything
and wonder what livers are like
men guzzle beer
was bed bound for 1yr noticed it then,now
being bored /hurricane/ stuck in the house

😁

Allira
It’s always over the yardarm somewhere in the world 😁

As your name is testimony to Merlotgran 😁🍷

trivial
😁

Frivolous?

Just say "Never on a school night"

That’s exactly what I did say when I moved to a new practice.

When I read my medical record on patient access they have me down as a trivial drinker!!

Trivial?? I’ll have you know I take my alcohol consumption very seriously indeed! 😂😂🍷

We should email the BBC and Netflix and Amazon until we get an answer🤭

LaCrepescule

Just finished rewatching Game of Thrones. Struck by the lakes and lakes of wine (Cersei and Tyrion definitely alcoholics.) Now watching Apples Never Fall. More wine, at every opportunity.
It seems as if every time a TV character gets home from work, she (usually a she,) pours herself a bucket of sauv blanc.
I’ve been sober for over a year and maybe this is why I’m noticing it more.
Is this normalising alcohol abuse or am I overreacting?

You’re right, it’s something I’ve been noticing on dramas on tv for the last few years.Nobody comes home and makes a cuppa anymore do they? Usually one of those massive glasses of wine, and usually it’s a woman as well.I wonder why this is?

merlotgran

grumppa

Just as well the GP was only a locum, Allira. One definition of an alcoholic is somebody who drinks more than their GP. Our practice had a teetotal doctor once, but his partners more than made up for him.

And they take absolutely no notice of the units you admit to drinking when asked.

They usually double it. 😂

Just say "Never on a school night".

grumppa

Just as well the GP was only a locum, Allira. One definition of an alcoholic is somebody who drinks more than their GP. Our practice had a teetotal doctor once, but his partners more than made up for him.

Now I think about it, she was a trainee GP about to take her final exams; she hasn't been taken on by the surgery.

Apart from that comment, she was very good!

grumppa

Just as well the GP was only a locum, Allira. One definition of an alcoholic is somebody who drinks more than their GP. Our practice had a teetotal doctor once, but his partners more than made up for him.

And they take absolutely no notice of the units you admit to drinking when asked.

They usually double it. 😂