The truth about boozy Brits

People from abroad living and working in Britain can offer a valuable outsider’s insight into our way of life.

For instance, what are people’s first impressions of our drinking culture? How does it compare to that of their own country? And has it changed for the better while they’ve been living here?

We talk to two twenty-something professionals from abroad living and working here to find out.

Working life and getting older change your relationship with alcohol, regardless of where you’re from, says 26-year-old, Paris-born Audrey Landry*, a researcher who lives in London.

Generally the French are very direct. If we want to say something we say it. I think the Brits in general find it more difficult to express themselves which is why I think you have a tendency to drink more.

When I first came to live and work in London in 2007 I remember being on the night bus going through Brixton. It was chaos. People coming out of pubs and clubs were tumbling and falling over. It made me feel sad. It’s dangerous to be that drunk you don’t know what you are doing.

You would see scenes like this in Paris on a Friday or Saturday night but it would be more moderate chaos. It’s expensive to drink in Paris and we don’t have the pub culture you do here.

Young people in France binge drink too, especially if they’re studying or have finished their studies. It’s the rebellion of growing up. Parents’ guidance has a big role to play in ensuring their children have healthier attitudes towards alcohol. There’s more help and support for parents to fulfil this role in the UK now, which is a good thing.

It’s part of French culture to drink wine with food. My family always have wine with dinner. But we do hide behind the fact that alcohol is part of our culture. Both countries are more aware now of the health consequences of drinking too much because there’s more information about it.

I used to go out more when I first arrived here but I don’t so much now. Your relationship with alcohol changes as you start working and get older, your friends change too. You don’t want to go out as much, so you drink less. And that’s the same in France and Britain.

Underage pub drinking has reduced since he moved to the UK from New Zealand seven years ago, thinks 29 year old journalist Jim Wells*

You are never far from a pub in Britain. That was one of my observations when I first moved here. Here alcohol is a lot more available than at home.

The closest pub to my parents’ house was probably three miles away when I was growing up and I lived in a suburb with 15,000 plus residents. People drink more at home here too. I think it’s because alcohol’s in every corner store in the UK. Cheap wines and beers are found in most licensed high-street shops.
Like here, in New Zealand students drink a lot at home. But as houses are usually detached bungalows on large plots, they weren’t as hard on the neighbours as they are here.

I was surprised to see business people drinking pints at lunchtimes outside pubs in the City in London. I know from various office jobs that it can write off the afternoon. I was surprised too that the adolescence of the people I met seemed to revolve around sneaking into pubs from the age of 16 or younger. There seemed to be a general tolerance of underage drinking.

I think there’s been a change for the better since then though. Age card schemes have probably reduced underage pub going.

I drink less now, partly a result of age and maturity. I am more likely to spread drinking over a week rather than all in one go at weekends. I think Brits can have a healthier attitude towards alcohol by not treating a night out on the town like they’re on a mission to get as drunk as possible.

*Names of case studies have been changed. 

Page last updated by

Matthew Bateman, 29 Jul 2010.

Page checked on

29 Jul 2010