Topic: How is the worldwide economic situation affecting your boozing habits? (Read 12664 times)

Oli · « **on:** 03 Feb 2009, 10:30 »

I have started taking a bottle of wine to parties instead of a crate of beer because it is that little bit cheaper.

Some places have changed their £1 a drink night to £1.50 a drink or even, in some extreme cases, £2 a drink.

pen · « **Reply #1 on:** 03 Feb 2009, 10:34 »

Hasn't affected me all that much, really. I still drink cheap beer. It doesn't take much to get me drunk, so I can get a 12 pack and it'd last me a weekend just fine. I have been drinking a little less, but that's not much to do with my money lately as it is to do with not many people throwing parties I'm interested in attending.

Scandanavian War Machine · « **Reply #2 on:** 03 Feb 2009, 10:37 »

well, a fifth of Jim Beam still costs $15 so...not at all, i guess.

not that i actually drink very much anyway.

Hat · « **Reply #3 on:** 03 Feb 2009, 10:39 »

Prices haven't gone up here, which is remarkable really because beer's always shifting up in increments, and as far as I can tell one really isn't planned until they can see what sort bounceback is going to happen in the new year, because raising prices would just encourage people to drink out less anyway.

I on the other hand have been doing my proud part for the economy by downing as much cheap local swill as I possibly can.

Reed · « **Reply #4 on:** 03 Feb 2009, 10:40 »

I just moved in with a Russian roommate. He makes sure there is always a bottle of vodka and some beer in the refridgerator, so I am set to weather the recession.

valley_parade · « **Reply #5 on:** 03 Feb 2009, 10:41 »

I've gone from occasionally drinking to rarely drinking.

(see also: possibly selling the first guitar I ever bought)

Bowers · « **Reply #6 on:** 03 Feb 2009, 10:44 »

I paid £3.50 for a pint last night
I was so drunk I didn't care though

Josefbugman · « **Reply #7 on:** 03 Feb 2009, 11:16 »

I am used to paying over the odds, I just take a hip flask out with me now.

ledhendrix · « **Reply #8 on:** 03 Feb 2009, 11:21 »

I've not really noticed it to bad. Pubs round here don't seem to be any more expensive. For parties I would normally take a bottle of wine anyway, I quite like getting drunk on wine.

BrittanyMarie · « **Reply #9 on:** 03 Feb 2009, 12:18 »

My boozing habits are about the same, but I find myself saving up during the week to be able to afford going out on the weekend.

eddie · « **Reply #10 on:** 03 Feb 2009, 12:24 »

Quote from: Oli on 03 Feb 2009, 10:30

I have started taking a bottle of wine to parties instead of a crate of beer because it is that little bit cheaper.

Some places have changed their £1 a drink night to £1.50 a drink or even, in some extreme cases, £2 a drink.

Other countries don't have the expensive booze problem, they don't have to pay a stupid amount of tax when they wanna get hammered. I've started drinking less though because I have a girlfrined, I've started driving and I'm ignoring an old group of friends who always try and turn drinking into a competition.

clockworkjames · « **Reply #11 on:** 03 Feb 2009, 14:22 »

15 crate of carling for less than a tenner... sorted.

MrBlu · « **Reply #12 on:** 03 Feb 2009, 14:58 »

I go to All-Inclusive parties, so it hasn't affected me. =\

Puki · « **Reply #13 on:** 03 Feb 2009, 15:02 »

I've actually started to drink a little more, and for now haven't spotted the difference in price.

Scandanavian War Machine · « **Reply #14 on:** 03 Feb 2009, 15:06 »

Quote from: clockworkjames on 03 Feb 2009, 14:22

15 crate of carling for less than a tenner... sorted.

there isn't a single part of this sentence that i understand.

but i like it.

michaelicious · « **Reply #15 on:** 03 Feb 2009, 15:08 »

Carling is skunk beer.

onewheelwizzard · « **Reply #16 on:** 03 Feb 2009, 15:14 »

Quote from: michaelicious on 03 Feb 2009, 15:08

skunk beer.

I have never heard these words combined before!

Scandanavian War Machine · « **Reply #17 on:** 03 Feb 2009, 15:15 »

me neither.

and also, what's with "a 15 crate?" Is beer sold in odd numbers there or is this an exception? in America, beer is always sold in multiples of six.

tania · « **Reply #18 on:** 03 Feb 2009, 16:41 »

i don't drink all that much, and when i do i get drunk pretty easy so this doesn't affect me too bad. i do what i always do, buy a big bottle of hard liquor every so often and it lasts me ages.
i also never go out to bars or pubs, but this has less to do with intending to save money than it does with being really uncomfortable away from my house and surrounded by really noisy people while drunk. but yeah, it does also save a lot of money.

BrittanyMarie · « **Reply #19 on:** 03 Feb 2009, 16:57 »

I try and fail to do that all the time. I'll buy a liter of something I like and not finish it, but I'll feel like something else the next weekend so I'll buy that. So I have a whole cupboard full of half drunk bottles of liquor and instead of just drinking them, I keep buying more. I probably have an entire bar by now.

Reed · « **Reply #20 on:** 03 Feb 2009, 17:12 »

Quote from: Jeans on 03 Feb 2009, 16:50

I am in tania's position, basically.

In Norway we call this "economically efficient drinker".

In the US we call this a "lightweight".

Hard alcohol is just about the only thing that I can drink in these economically dismal times. Years spent at WSU has trained my liver to withstand copious amounts of beer. Sadly, I have so little money (and the fact that I'm a fucking beer snob) that I can only afford to drink a bottle with dinner. Of course, having a great pot connection helps this!

supersheep · « **Reply #21 on:** 03 Feb 2009, 17:15 »

Quote from: Oli on 03 Feb 2009, 10:30

Some places have changed their £1 a drink night to £1.50 a drink or even, in some extreme cases, £2 a drink.

This and the strong euro is why I cannot wait to go to Edinburgh. A pint of Guinness costs €4.50 in Dublin usually. Fancy beers are a fiver and change.

ViolentDove · « **Reply #22 on:** 03 Feb 2009, 17:22 »

Not really to do with the economic crisis, but I've taken up homebrewing of late. My first batch turned out rather well- A full-bodied ale, and tasty to boot. I suppose all the microbiology training helped somewhat. I think the cost works out at about 50 cents Australian per longneck, which is 750 mls.

Reed · « **Reply #23 on:** 03 Feb 2009, 17:23 »

I've been meaning to try this! How time consuming is it? When I originally took general micro, we actually brewed some beer for one of the labs, but that was really shitty beer. I would love to brew my own if I could make something decent.

ViolentDove · « **Reply #24 on:** 03 Feb 2009, 17:38 »

Overall, it's not that time consuming, though you will need a free afternoon when you need to wash the bottles and vat after finishing a brew. It probably took me about two hours to set up the vat for the initial fermentation, though half an hour of that is waiting for stuff to be sterilised.

I was told a few bits of advice by my ex-housemate, who got me into homebrewing. Basically, treat it as you would any micro exercise in the lab- sterilise all the equipment, and ensure as good aseptic technique as you can at home. Measure amounts as accurately as possible. This is critical in the case of the sugar added to the bottled fermentation, as too much will cause exploding, or over-carbonation. Before you begin, buy a thermometer if you don't already have one and find a good place for the vat that maintains as constant a temperature as possible in the 22-27 degrees range. Also, get a hydrometer if the kit you get doesn't have one, as it'll allow you to track the fermentation progress, and also calculate the alcohol percentage.

McTaggart · « **Reply #25 on:** 03 Feb 2009, 17:44 »

Should I get any money in the latest stimulus package it is going to go to buying local beer from a local bottleshop. This is the because it is the best course of action for the economy, and has nothing to do with this wheat beer I've been meaning to try for ages nor that the bottleshop is friendly and nearby and has a decent range and definitely not because I was probably going to spend that much money on beer anyway*. It is tough but I am doing my part.

*I am not expecting $950.

Reed · « **Reply #26 on:** 03 Feb 2009, 17:50 »

Thanks for the advice, I think I will definitely try to talk my roommate into doing this. Especially once I get my refund/rebate. I guess being a microbiologist will finally pay off!

Gilead · « **Reply #27 on:** 03 Feb 2009, 18:01 »

The poor economy has depressed me so much that I now drink TWICE as much.

Also Nick when your latest batch is done I totally want to try some.

Skibas_clavicle · « **Reply #28 on:** 03 Feb 2009, 18:18 »

I haven't gotten a shift at work for the second week straight, therefore this friday will be a "split a 40 of Old English with the best friend and try to sneak booze into the club" night. DAMN YOU ECONOMY, MALT LIQUOR IS GROSS!

ViolentDove · « **Reply #29 on:** 03 Feb 2009, 18:23 »

Quote from: Gilead on 03 Feb 2009, 18:01

The poor economy has depressed me so much that I now drink TWICE as much.

Also Nick when your latest batch is done I totally want to try some.

Yeah dude, come round for the party on the 13th if you're in town. Plenty of homebrew to be drunk!

Dimmukane · « **Reply #30 on:** 03 Feb 2009, 19:34 »

I have been spending way too much. Somewhere around 120$ a month at a rate of about 35 beers a month. This is not because of the economy, this is because I recently turned 21 and have been trying as many beers as possible. My current favorite (that can be bought in bulk, my actual favorite is 6$ a bottle) goes for 15$ a 4-pack pre-tax. The cheapest beer I will buy for my personal consumption is still 7.50$ a 6-pack, and that's the cheapest I could find it at in a 20-mile radius.

I wish I could drink cheap beer and liquor. My gag reflex, she protests.

bluehazed · « **Reply #31 on:** 03 Feb 2009, 19:42 »

I find myself purchasing "Prince Igor Premium Russian Vodka." $5 canadian a mickey.
Contrary to the name, it isn't too premium.

Drill King · « **Reply #32 on:** 04 Feb 2009, 01:34 »

You guys should just be underage and nick alcohol from your parents. Duh.*

*I am so classy

jodizzle · « **Reply #33 on:** 04 Feb 2009, 02:04 »

I drink McWilliams Fruitwood Red anyway, which is like, a little over $5 a bottle. This is my drink of choice and it is soooo affordable.

Johnny C · « **Reply #34 on:** 04 Feb 2009, 03:13 »

if you think being broke is going to affect my drinking you are dead wrong

el_loco_avs · « **Reply #35 on:** 04 Feb 2009, 04:49 »

Beer went from 1.80 euros for a beer to 2.20 for a beer at my regular hang. Meh.

Not that it's expensive compared to some places, but it used to be really cheap there.

clockworkjames · « **Reply #36 on:** 04 Feb 2009, 06:30 »

Usually 9 quid out of a supermarked and will get you drunk for a night. (Yes it comes in a box with 15 cans)

It's cheap brittish lager beer very popular with students, but is not as piss poor as Tennants.

It's one of the only lager I drank all through college apart from at LANs when I sometimes switched to Carlsberg or pubs when I would have a proper pint (80/- or Velvet, IPA, Best etc.)

I like it as a lager.

Oh fuck- and sometimes you can get Red Stripe at a corner shop I still get ID'd at for like 85p a can, this is awesome.

Dimmukane · « **Reply #37 on:** 04 Feb 2009, 06:36 »

Quote from: onewheelwizzard on 03 Feb 2009, 15:14

Quote from: michaelicious on 03 Feb 2009, 15:08
skunk beer.

I have never heard these words combined before!

It's beer that's been overexposed to UV light. Usually tastes different/bad, typically not the intended flavor.

clockworkjames · « **Reply #38 on:** 04 Feb 2009, 06:47 »

Oh man, back when I was a kid all I drank was 40oz's.

That was awesome.

Ã¶de · « **Reply #39 on:** 04 Feb 2009, 07:35 »

Boozing habits: cheap booze before I go out, expensive booze when I'm out, cheap booze when I get back. I haven't really been able to do this recently due to my stupid-ass money problems. For some reason all my friends buy me stuff so now I'm going to have to get a ton of spirits and an ounce to pay everyone back.

Oli · « **Reply #40 on:** 04 Feb 2009, 09:06 »

Quote from: clockworkjames on 04 Feb 2009, 06:30

It's cheap brittish lager beer very popular with students, but is not as piss poor as Tennants.

I will fight you to the death, sir.

The other day I took a bottle of buckfast from a homeless man who was sleeping (dead?) because electricity is getting so dang expensive.

Josefbugman · « **Reply #41 on:** 04 Feb 2009, 09:28 »

okay there is "low" and then there is "you need help" I think you may have past that point dude.

When you start stealing from beggars its only a matter of time till you are stealing candy from babies and pushing grannies down stairs.

redglasscurls · « **Reply #42 on:** 04 Feb 2009, 09:48 »

The fumbly economy hasn't really hit me too badly yet, since most of my pay comes from an educational assistance grant system. That said, Chris and I took up brewing hard cider because it's a great way to get smoshed even during rent week when we have zero money.

bicostp · « **Reply #43 on:** 04 Feb 2009, 10:24 »

I didn't drink before the recession and I still don't now.

Even though perpetual unemployment is making it oh so tempting.

mberan42 · « **Reply #44 on:** 04 Feb 2009, 13:03 »

Quote from: Johnny C on 04 Feb 2009, 03:13

if you think being broke is going to affect my drinking you are dead wrong

celticgeek · « **Reply #45 on:** 04 Feb 2009, 14:16 »

Well, so far I have not seen any price increases in the alcohol that I buy (Laphroaig, primarily), or in prices at restaurants that I frequent, so there have been no changes in my drinking habits up to this point.

Darkbluerabbit · « **Reply #46 on:** 04 Feb 2009, 16:07 »

At first, I switched to boxed wine, because in actual dollars per liter, it is cheaper. Boxes holds four standard bottles and cost the same as three bottles of similar quality.

Then I realized that it is much too easy to keep refilling my glass until the box is half gone.

Now I buy bottles again so that when the bottle is gone, I am done. This has proven to be much cheaper.

Also, it never hurts* to develop a taste for this:

*until the next morning.

BrittanyMarie · « **Reply #47 on:** 04 Feb 2009, 18:45 »

I get so much shit for only drinking PBR pounders when I go out "Oh Brittany that is such a hipster beer" FUCK YOU it is an old man beer and it is also delicious. I have consistently had a case on hand for eight years and I don't plan on stopping. Though right at this very moment I am drinking a Drop Top amber ale and it is so refreshing and delicious and smooth and also I have a Summit IPA, Southampton Altbier and Goose Island oatmeal stout so I think maybe those balance out the cheapness of the PBR.

*edit* this is my fridge

Top shelf: Milk, margarine, Carnation Instant Breakfast, my delicious beers
2nd shelf: mayo, cheese, butter, apple butter, ham, pudding
3rd shelf: jag, diet redbull (roommates'!), water, two bottles of wine behind some keystone light (roommates'!) and one Sparks
bottom: Captain Morgan, Bacardi O, and a 24 of something the roommates put in a soft cooler.

My cupboards are all about the same. No food, but lots of booze.

Hairy Joe Bob · « **Reply #48 on:** 04 Feb 2009, 18:47 »

Am I the only one who's drinking MORE because of the worldewide economic situation?

Liz · « **Reply #49 on:** 04 Feb 2009, 18:54 »

I started drinking after the recession began. So no, you aren't the only one?

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Author Topic: How is the worldwide economic situation affecting your boozing habits? (Read 12664 times)

Gilead

bluehazed