Stop Making Me Go to the Pub – Let’s Live Life Instead!

I’ve got a bone to pick with society. A large, irritating, alcoholic bone. And I can predict that this will be controversial, but hear me out.

I’ll start by explaining that I am not a big drinker at all. If I’m in the mood, which is rarely, I’ll perhaps have one beer or a small glass of wine and that’ll be enough for me. I’ve only been very drunk once on tequila (tequila is the devil) and since that horrid experience of which I unfortunately recall every tiny detail, I haven’t got drunk again. Tipsy, yes, but never drunk.

This is one of the many reasons why I’ve started to get really sick and tired of everyone choosing to go the pub as their only social activity.

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As we scramble into our late twenties, we are experiencing pub culture a lot more than we used to. Gone are the days when people actually did FUN things to celebrate an occasion. Now, when discussing weekend plans with colleagues, conversations repeatedly go like this:

‘So what you up to this weekend, Annie?’

‘Oh, it’s my friend’s birthday, so we’ll find a pub somewhere and have a drink’.

‘And what are you doing on Saturday, Jamie?’

‘It’s my housemate’s last night in London so I think we’ll just go for a drink’.

‘… Okay, how about you, Carl?’

‘Nothing much, my friends are coming down from up north, so we’re gonna go on a pub crawl’.

And my inner reaction?

‘ARRRRRRRGGGHHHH! YOU BORING, BORING PEOPLE! All you want to do is sit in a pub and get drunk with your friends over and over again for the rest of your lives?! What a bloody waste of time and money!!’

*Throws every pint glass full of Stella out of the window in rage.*

But of course, I don’t say that. All I say is, ‘That’s nice’.

The truth is, I’m angry that I’m at the age where no one seems to want to do anything else apart from drink.

Talking, I love – drinking, I’m not overly crazy about. Feel free to disagree all you like with me, but this alcohol-based socialising day in day out is really getting my goat.

So why is the pub the no. 1 place in which to meet and socialise? And why am I so annoyed by it?

It could be that it’s very convenient. But I also feel that the main reason why people are so unimaginative (yeah, that’s right, I said it) with their socialising is because as we grow older, we have more financial responsibilities so our friends don’t feel they want to pressure anyone into dinner. Dinner’s so formal, nowadays. Instead, ‘going for a drink’ is psychologically cheaper and, of course, everyone is used to this being the norm so apparently, everyone is happy with this state of affairs.

However, the reason why I’m so incensed by this is because it’s more often than not quite expensive to sit in a pub for hours. We all know it’s never going to be just one drink, it will be several. Everyone is expected to partake in buying rounds and for just four people in a London pub, this will set you back at least £20, if not more, each time.

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I’m a massive foodie, so for me this is a serious injustice; I would much rather spend that money on a tasty meal or even a trip to the zoo because, really, anything is more exciting than a pub.

Work dos are the same. Everyone gathers at the pub after work to say goodbye to a leaver but if I have to spend my whole evening in a bar, excuse me but WHERE’S MY DINNER?! I’ve been at work all day, I’m hungry, I need to eat, for goodness’ sake! This is the reason why, if this occurs over dinner time, I will always buy some nachos or chips for the table because I cannot stand there not being something to munch on.

I hear you saying, ‘But, Shiraz, it’s not really about the drinking, it’s just a place to sit and talk most of the time’. If that’s the case, then why does no one choose the juice bar, or the frozen yoghurt place, or the ice cream parlour?

Laziness, that’s why.

Pubs are seen as grown up and cool and familiar, and there are more of them. And if you choose to have a glass of water or a Coke, you’ll always get: ‘Are you sure you don’t want a drink? Seriously? Come oooon, have at least one! How come you’re not drinking?’ So I beg to differ, but it does seem to be about the alcohol after all. And if this only happened occasionally, I’d be okay with it, but every damn week for the rest of my life? No thanks. Liver says no.

When we were children, this was never an option, so for our birthdays, we had to think creatively to make sure we had a fantastic time. When I was a kid, I had some amazing parties I’ll never forget. Each year, I came up with something new – a trip to the IMAX, ice skating, bowling, ceramic decorating, and – my absolute favourite birthday – a Roald Dahl-book themed fancy dress party! None of those broke the bank for my friends, so why should it now?

In this era of endless Groupons, there’s really no excuse. With a little effort, I guarantee that if you invite your friends to do something other than go to the pub, they’ll thank you for it.

From now on, I’m taking a stand against this pub-obsessed culture because life is too short to spend it sitting around there every weekend, especially when it’s not something I actually want to do.

Let’s be inspired by our childhoods, get out there and celebrate life in more exciting, original ways! Boating on the lake? Barbecue in the park? Laser quest? Go-karting? Treasure hunt in your city of choice? Escape-The-Room game? Oh, the possibilities! This year, I’m going to do something for my birthday that I enjoy. And there won’t be a pub or a bar in sight.

Now, who’s up for Karaoke?!

If you enjoyed this article, why not check out: ‘“You just have to be kind – there’s nothing bigger than that”. – INTERVIEW: Pavan Amara, Founder of the My Body Back Project‘?

Tags: drinking culture dull imagination Joy pub obsessed

Categories: Fire me up baby!