[Redway]

Originally Posted by Swan

I rarely agree with what you say, and i know you rarely agree with what i say, but you are absolutely spot on in that post.

I've been watching quite a bit of telly over Christmas, films and tv shows old and new, and one thing that is a constant is alcohol. It's so unbelievably normalised in our every day lives, yet offers no health benefits whatsoever. It's bad for you mentally and physically. And it's massively overrated too.

I don't watch modern soaps, only classic Eastenders, but my God, alcohol is consumed 24/7. Any scenario and every scenario calls for a drink, it's crazy really.

There was a show called People Just Do Nothing, quite good tbh, and appealing for people of my age (mid 30's). Anyway, a character on there takes drugs all the time, it's his character's make up, yet he's offered a drink and says "oh nah i don't touch that stuff, messes with your head" Excellent line, and much truer than we've been conditioned to believe.

Again, yes. If me and Swan can agree on something, it must be quite-something. And I say all this as someone who might as well be in the pub right now.

As far as EastEnders goes, characters who they make a point of as being skint at any one time (Karen and Bianca no less) still manage to find enough loose change inside the couch to have a few drinks. They’re not exactly doing it by halves either. And they definitely don’t do tabs at the Queen Vic. Ordinary to humble themselves and order a half or a cheap shandy to reflect their lack of money, they will not. It still ends up being pint upon bottle of Prosecco when they can barely afford to feed the kids. Where alcohol’s involved they’ll always find the money.

Some people might resent me putting Karen in the same sentence as Queen Patsy-B but one thing they both have/had in common is being skit mums who liked a good drink. Most nights and most afternoons alike. The way it jars is almost as annoying as those Insta posts matching up brands of wine with breakfast foods, just promoting and enabling borderline alcoholism on weekdays. Unless you’ve just done a night shift or it’s the weekend/something special (like Christmas), you should not be drinking wine with your Cornflakes at 7am. There’s starting early and there’s being one step away from rehab.