Pre-Drinking: WTF?

[Zaune]

So, apparently this is a thing that people do. If you're not familiar with the definition of the term, "pre-drinking" is the practice of getting buzzed at home before you leave for a night out because booze is too expensive at the venue you're heading for.

I suggested to someone talking about this phenomenon that maybe they should go drink somewhere that wasn't so stupidly expensive, and they responded thus:

"Say it takes you three pints over the course of an hour and a half to get you to the level of drunk that you want to maintain for the rest of the night, which reduces your required rate to 1 pint an hour.

[...]

"Now, would you rather spend £15 or £10 on a night out?"

To which I could only respond that if there's a minimum level of intoxication you have to achieve, below which you're not having fun anymore, you have bigger problems than the price of booze. This, apparently, is "why have no friends".

Am I prematurely middle-aged and boring for thinking that something isn't quite right here?

[Dartzap]

Am I prematurely middle-aged and boring for thinking that something isn't quite right here?

Thats meant to be rhetorical, right?

Its something that appeared when I was at college (2007ish) usually amongst the ladette brigade before going out to clubs. When I asked a friend, she claimed this was to minimise their risk from having drinks bought for them by blokes who may spike 'em. Depressing, either way.

[Zwinmar]

We would preflight all the time when I was being a drunk back in '99 time frame. When it takes a full fifth to get you anywhere its cheaper to hit the liquor store first before going out.

[Eternal_Freedom]

It's not just you Zaune, I feel the same level of confusion. I can understand the concept of having a few at home where it's cheaper, fine, that's the student mindset at work. What I couldn't understand was the notion that you had to get drunk to have a good night.

This is probably why I was never broke as a student. I went out with my mates to have a few drinks, play some pool, have a laugh. My flatmates went out to get blasted and consequently were always broke. Which didn't stop them going out, so something strange was going on.

[Broomstick]

What I couldn't understand was the notion that you had to get drunk to have a good night.

While I've never understood that mindset, either, it's nothing new - I ran into it regular 30+ years ago when I was a student, and my parents tell me it was around back when they were young.

[Vendetta]

It's because there's hardly any good pubs any more.

Y'see what you're supposed to do is start off drinking in a pub where there are tables, no music, and the beer is cheaper than trendy bars and clubs.

So you can drink and chat and possibly even get something to eat and then carry on to progressively more raucous places as the night proceeds and you're too drunk to talk any more anyway and would rather make a tit of yourself dancing.

But since there's approximately two good pubs left per city and the rest are all playing music way too loud out of terrible sound systems that can't handle it so you can't talk or tell what the music is supposed to be and the beer's too expensive, people do the drinking and chatting bit at home first.

[Ziggy Stardust]

I've always heard it referred to as "pre-gaming," and this is definitely not a new phenomenon. I mean, pre-gaming of some sort has probably existed for decades. Hell, tailgating sports events is the same damned thing, as people have been doing that since the 19th century.

In fact, I'm honestly astonished that there are people that have never heard of it. And it has nothing to do with being an alcoholic or whatever as you seem to be implying; there can be a variety of reasons for it. Drinks at bars are expensive, bars are crowded and it is hard to physically get to the bar, some people (girls especially) only want to be at the bar/club to dance and not spend $15 on a mixed drink while they are there, sometimes bars just aren't heavily populated until late and people want to be social before then, and sometimes people have a party and only go to the bars because the party is winding down and they don't want to go to bed.

Look, I am all for people being responsible. I think people who get dangerously drunk (dangerous for themselves and for others) are reckless and stupid, and I realize there are plenty of people with legitimate binge drinking problems. But that doesn't mean that everyone that enjoys alcohol is automatically some sort of degenerate, and pre-gaming is just one way of enjoying a night out without spending a lot of money at an overpriced bar.

[salm]

I suggested to someone talking about this phenomenon that maybe they should go drink somewhere that wasn't so stupidly expensive, and they responded thus:

It doesn´t have to be stupidly expensive to be too expensive if you´re a highschool or university student for example.

[Block]

I suggested to someone talking about this phenomenon that maybe they should go drink somewhere that wasn't so stupidly expensive, and they responded thus:

It doesn´t have to be stupidly expensive to be too expensive if you´re a highschool or university student for example.

And if you can't afford to be drinking at the establishment, why would you even bother to go there?

[salm]

I suggested to someone talking about this phenomenon that maybe they should go drink somewhere that wasn't so stupidly expensive, and they responded thus:

It doesn´t have to be stupidly expensive to be too expensive if you´re a highschool or university student for example.

And if you can't afford to be drinking at the establishment, why would you even bother to go there?

Because you don´t have to drink black and white. You might be able to afford 4 drinks but with 4 predrank drinks you will drink the 4 drinks at the bar a lot slower because you´re allready buzzed up making it possible to spend more time in the bar in a state that you deem more appropriate. And you might simply not be able to pay for 8 drinks at the bar.
Or you might be able to afford it but simply be too stingy.

That´t the whole point. You don´t want to save ALL the money you want to save SOME money.

[GuppyShark]

And if you can't afford to be drinking at the establishment, why would you even bother to go there?

When you go to the movies, how much do you spend at the snack bar?

[madd0ct0r]

plus pre-drinks can also be good for venn diagram social groups.

Not everyone shares my taste in heavy metal, and if the others are going off to a cybergoth night I'd be happier dancing elsewhere, but we still get to spend 3-4 hours socialising with each other.

We're starting to use pubs more, since we're not students any more, have slightly more cash and it's less odd for someone new to the group to meet there.

[Block]

And if you can't afford to be drinking at the establishment, why would you even bother to go there?

When you go to the movies, how much do you spend at the snack bar?

Are snacks the reason I'd go to the movies?

[Dr. Trainwreck]

I don't get pre-drinking. I usually go out and have one drink, perhaps a second. Drinking isn't the reason I go to bars, thanks to the [anime] power of friendship [/anime].

I'll also admit I'm utterly prejudiced against the idea, because I only learned of it this Christmas; some retard had a cardiac arrest because he was predrunk on wine and ordered a shot of vodka. Idiot survived for now, good for him.

[Lagmonster]

Pre-drinking, I gather, is something people without disposable income do, like sneaking food into theaters and...I don't know, reading at libraries, I guess. Chances are, if you haven't heard of it or think it's bizarre, you are possibly unknowingly waving the "I grew up/live comfortably and the same goes for my peers" flag.

[Napoleon the Clown]

Or don't drink and haven't spent much time around drinkers. I'm in the "doesn't drink, doesn't go to bars/clubs" crowd. Clubs are too damn noisy and I have no reason to go to bars. Also, Utah the bartenders will cut you off if they think you're getting too drunk. Liability thing here. I've been around people who do do the "pre-drinking" thing, but they were all alcoholics instead of just some people out to have a good time. And I do mean actual alcoholics, where they are addicted to alcohol and get hammered damn near every day.

The idea that you have to be drunk to have a good time is strange to me, personally. I can have a good time with friends and at parties without drinking or getting high. I don't judge people for enjoying it, though. So long as you don't drive or anything like that while you're drunk, what does it matter?

[LaCroix]

I don't get how anyone could not know this practise, even my mom (in mid 1950-ies) knew/did "pre-heating" (an analogy to a diesel engine start routine) before going to a party (usually done while selecting the evening's outfit&doing hair/makeup with the girls).

I am pretty sure that if you look hard enough, you will probably find it mentioned in roman literature, as well.

[Dr. Trainwreck]

Pre-drinking, I gather, is something people without disposable income do, like sneaking food into theaters and...I don't know, reading at libraries, I guess. Chances are, if you haven't heard of it or think it's bizarre, you are possibly unknowingly waving the "I grew up/live comfortably and the same goes for my peers" flag.

I hadn't heard of a specific name, but I now get why people might do it. I just personally don't.

And I think I've just been told my priviledge is showing... well, then it is.

[Eternal_Freedom]

I think that saying not going along with pre-drinking is a sign of "privildege" is a bit of a generalisation. I know plenty of people who grew up flat-broke who don't bother with it, and vice-versa. It's more of a case of whether or not you see getting drunk as the goal of a night out.

[aerius]

I don't get how anyone could not know this practise, even my mom (in mid 1950-ies) knew/did "pre-heating" (an analogy to a diesel engine start routine) before going to a party (usually done while selecting the evening's outfit&doing hair/makeup with the girls).

I am pretty sure that if you look hard enough, you will probably find it mentioned in roman literature, as well.

That about sums up my experience with my family and the people I know. From what I've heard, nearly every male in my family did it going back to the 19th century, and likely earlier except there's no one alive to remember & tell those stories. Most people in my generation did it in college and it seems the same is true of folks who are younger than me.

As for why, reasons vary. Sometimes it's a social thing that starts at the dorm or someone's home while waiting for everyone to get ready. Sometimes it's on general principle; some bars and clubs have a monopoly and charge like it.

[Arthur_Tuxedo]

I don't get how anyone could not know this practise, even my mom (in mid 1950-ies) knew/did "pre-heating" (an analogy to a diesel engine start routine) before going to a party (usually done while selecting the evening's outfit&doing hair/makeup with the girls).

I am pretty sure that if you look hard enough, you will probably find it mentioned in roman literature, as well.

Pre-Marathoning, perhaps?

But yes, people have been getting plastered since our species could stumble upright, preferably as cheaply as possible. The drunkest period in the US, btw, was in the 1820's when a gross oversupply of corn caused farmers to distill it en masse, which meant you could buy a lot of whiskey for next to nothing. No decade since has even come close to matching that level of alcoholism and drunken debauchery, especially not the ones inhabited by the bar-hopping youths of today. In short, "nothing new under the sun", or maybe "move along, nothing to see here".

[Lagmonster]

And I think I've just been told my priviledge is showing... well, then it is.

Oh...oh god, no. I wouldn't say that. I try not to chastise people for a lack of knowledge of the behaviours of people outside of their class.

As others have said, not being aware of the practice can also mean you don't engage in structured drinking. Which I don't, as well. But I was reading just above where people were talking about the practice as a cost-saving exercise, which I'm familiar with from listening to people talk about smuggling candy into theatres. I can grasp the idea of the practice as an economic thing far better than as a part of a social ritual or somesuch, even though I've never had to bother with the practice for either reason.

[ArmorPierce]

Well the point of going out to a bar and more related to socializing and doing things together. It is asked why you would go drink at a bar if you can't afford it, well you're not just going there for the drink, you are going there for the overall experience. For me throwing around $20 is nothing but as a college student it did add up.

[Iroscato]

I usually have a couple of drinks with my mates before we head out. I guess it helps get us in the right frame of mind for the night, have a catch-up before we go into bars too loud for us to think, let alone hear each other, and also serves as a useful meeting point to save hassle.
That's just how I'm used to doing it, I really don't share the bemusement expressed by some members here

[ArmorPierce]

It's kind of like asking why would you 'pre-drink' before going out to a club... you're not just going out for the drinks itself. If it was just about the drinks you can do that at home obviously if that's the sole purpose.