Are things like partying, drinking, and casual drug use pretty normal in British culture?

Posted by LimitlessGirl205@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 393 comments

Hey everyone! I’m not from the UK, but I have a British friend who often talks about partying, drinking a lot, doing drugs occasionally, and just living what sounds like a pretty wild lifestyle. Where I come from, that kind of stuff isn’t super common or openly talked about — so I wonder whether it is just him, or is this kind of behaviour actually pretty normal or accepted in British culture, especially among young people?

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393 Comments

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IridiumQuality@reddit

Yes it's standard really. I don't know why you're being so judgemental in the responses though. You've asked and you've got answers. 20 year olds drinking alcohol, having a few lines and shagging pretty much know it's not the healthiest thing in the world.

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Fizzy_Can_Of_Vimto@reddit

Yup. Proper fucking Debbie downer those one.

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OrdoRidiculous@reddit

It will be all of the lemons that were standing at the edge of the dance floor instead of getting involved.

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gintokireddit@reddit

or people who just arent posh or privileged to live off mum and dad and ya know, had to work and pay rent at that age and work for those opportunities rather than getting them as teens

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soulsteela@reddit

Oi now, some of us were hugging that wall, it was an amazing wall. Not as amazing as the curtain over the emergency exit mind!

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pajamakitten@reddit

It made me feel like I part of the action but at least had one side of me that was not fenced in.

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lilcheese840@reddit

Someone needs to make sure that wall stays upright. True heroes

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OrdoRidiculous@reddit

Being in another dimension is a very different kettle of fish, so that gets a pass. If you've ever got to the point where you take your shoes off and start squeezing your feet against the floor because it feels nice, it's probably time to go home and find some carpet.

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soulsteela@reddit

Release the Carpet Monster!

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gilly1234567890@reddit

It was always the mirrored wall that would get me. Nowt like hugging yourself

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StIvian_17@reddit

Tried to a fight with myself once when I bumped into a mirror in a club. Not my proudest moment.

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colei_canis@reddit

I hope you taught that bastard a lesson!

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StIvian_17@reddit

Shoved him, told the stupid twat to look where he was going, then got thrown out for falling asleep at the bar.

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Routine_Ad1823@reddit

"I can have fun without the need to drink. That's just sad"

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Fizzy_Can_Of_Vimto@reddit

Yep. Thing they don't realise is that we can too, but we are a nation of drinkers and enjoy that too. Sometimes too much haha.

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ShaftManlike@reddit

Nothing that is fun is healthy

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Rexahexa@reddit

Walking, reading, lifting weights, listening to music, drawing Want me to go on, ya saddo?

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ShaftManlike@reddit

3 of those things are sedentary so not healthy and one of them is the opposite of fun. I'll give you walking (in nice countryside) though. Want me to go on, ya prick?

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pajamakitten@reddit

Not everything has to be healthy.

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teerbigear@reddit

Loads of things are. People have fun playing sports for instance. Obviously do the unhealthy things too.

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MissingLink101@reddit

Interesting that the account has been deleted less than an hour after the question was asked

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ThickTadpole3742@reddit

I wouldn't say everyone is "wild" but yeah, recreational drug use (weed, mdma, coke) and drinking is fairly normal for a lot of people in the UK. A lot of it is age related though, I think it all slows down as you get older!

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Racing_Fox@reddit

Depends who you associate with.

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tommygunner91@reddit

I know some people who will have house parties til 6am with their 5 year old kids wandering in the mix of cocaine and alcohol. All people in their 30s. Its hell for me as I have had a bad upbringing like that. They have no ideawhat it does to the kids. Yes the kid might think its a laugh his "uncle rob" is on mucky beer and playing fifa with him on the ps5 at 11pm but that kid will be in tears at 5am just wanting to go to sleep while a gaggle of coked up drunks laugh at him getting upset. Then he'll get in trouble the next day for causing a scene or if hes "lucky" they will have no recolection.

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Ryy86@reddit

Or if the kid has brothers or cousins around his own age, there made to fight each other for the amusement of the animals on bucky/swedgers/coke/speed

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Complete_Start6545@reddit

That surely isn't common.

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Ryy86@reddit

fk.. common enough in my family lol, i can think of a few houses that behaved like that tbh :/ you think its amazing when your young, just a big game etc its only when u get older u realise what abuse is

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tommygunner91@reddit

Oh yes cant forget about that. But at least youd get random people falling on you to shake your hand, tell you you're alright and hand you 50p for some sweets. Oh joys of being 10.

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IridiumQuality@reddit

I mean you are allowed to party hard without creating a depressing night involving children like you've described. Party people aren't always like your anecdote.

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rx-bandit@reddit

I had a small child when I was finishing uni and we partied till gone 6 am occasionally for years after. But those 2 things never crossed. Ever. If our son was home then we didn't have parties. We were also strict about drug use in the house because we didn't want any surfaces contaminated. If people wanted to rack a line up or have a bump then they had to go into the garden, rain or shine, same as they would for a smoke.

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Complete_Start6545@reddit

Drugs shouldn't be anywhere near a household that has young children. No idea why you're being upvoted.

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pixsperfect@reddit

Yeah, that’s literally exactly how we did it.

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MilkMyCats@reddit

"I take cocaine in the pouring rain and I got no feeaaarr..." Anyone name the song?

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Equal_Investigator88@reddit

Headshrinker

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Regular_Layer3439@reddit

Those people need putting down and those poor kids need a good family. I'm 37, I used to drink and smoke a lot.. I'm a dad first and foremost and nothing comes before my son. Should report it immediately. Need pieces of shit like that removed from society.

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Puzzleheaded_Race539@reddit

I only did stuff like that for the first couple years of uni and then got bored of it.

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tommygunner91@reddit

Same, the staying up til 6 on whatever substance? Bit weird and cringy to be doing it into your 30s yet here we are

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BeccasBump@reddit

Report them to social services.

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naturepeaked@reddit

Just these people and vicars and no one in between.

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tommygunner91@reddit

Not saying you cant have friends over and have drinks if kids are happy playing upstairs or everythings wrapped up and people remember they have kids. I have fond memories mixed with bad. But in my experience a lot of bbqs, parties, football watch parties etc decend into this. I've been to parties where a kid has come down the stairs at 2am asking us to be quiet and I was mortified. I know that kid has been up there for 2 hours already wide awake plucking the courage to come down and ask. This stuff is rampant in council estates / working class towns every weekend (and sometimes through the week if the weathers nice)

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mentaldriver1581@reddit

😢

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Fickle_Hope2574@reddit

You know these people yet have done fuck all why exactly? Why haven't you got the police and social services involved?

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one_up_onedown@reddit

Cute you would think they give a shit. Little anecdote here. I once did a job for a woman who works for Child protection. She makes decisions on cases. If children should be rehoused. The council did work on the council house she lived in at the same time I was there. She smoked weed all day and gave all the work man a hard time and was completely uncooperative when it came to tidy certain areas in her messy house for work to be done. Her neighbours hate her as she is always complaining. She also abused the system to squeeze as much monet for her own child. These people are not what you think they are.

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Prior-Explanation389@reddit

Judges make decisions on cases, not this person you are talking about. They have to apply for an EPO or ICO and it's granted by a family court. Have family that work in this specific area, can assure you there is no weed smoking scruff making decisions on children's futures.

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Fickle_Hope2574@reddit

Not relevant at all. What someone does in their personal time isn't a reflection on how they do their job.

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Malalexander@reddit

Sounds like she needed be reported to her employer. No way their code of conduct allows that.

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rambo_beetle@reddit

A fish rots from the head down, sadly. Shit management lets this bullshit fly.

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BigTiddyGothTV@reddit

Similar to my childhood my brother would be crawling around in nappies and various class a drugs would just be laying about on the coffee table whilst my mum and her mates smoked shotties all day and night. Council estate living

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MyCatIsFluffyNotFat@reddit

That's awful. Sorry but that's not normal on most council estates. I'm sorry you lived through that especially being so little. That's living with addicts. Definitely not all council estate residents. My relatives who lives on council estates, football in the park, went to school, normal jobs, looked after the kids .

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Pedantichrist@reddit

It is not normal for council estate residents, but it is normal that there are residents like this on most council estate.

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MyCatIsFluffyNotFat@reddit

Sure 😞 (Not disagreeing)

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Dirk_diggler22@reddit

This was my childhood too

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karatecorgi@reddit

I appreciate my upbringing more and more when I read posts like this. My raging neurological and personality disorders at least aren't due to child abuse from "trusted" adults and parents..

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KlausGriffinThe1st@reddit

Wow that triggered memories for me. My childhood was just like this. Terrified of mr stepdad. Left at 16 and never went back. 26 and happy now!

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Wonderful_Falcon_318@reddit

Beers/wines and a few bifters are fine but coke turns people into utter cnts, just avoid it.

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Scarboroughwarning@reddit

Seriously, that's horrendous

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bloxie@reddit

This is basically child abuse and should be reported

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iWacka50@reddit

No basically about it. This is straight up child abuse.

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9thGearEX@reddit

Like obviously that's awful and I'm sorry you went through that (I went through some similar stuff when I was younger) but clearly that's not the only way to party. It's entirely possible to get off your face, have a crazy good time, a shitty hangover and then do it all again the following week WITHOUT causing irreparable psychological harm to minors.

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NightOwlAnna@reddit

Please report these people. This is not a safe environment for a child

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ownworstenemy38@reddit

I’m so sorry.

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Porridge_Hose@reddit

Sorry you had to live through that, friend.

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Ok_Importance_7479@reddit

Those people need to be reported to the authorities to protect the children.

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naturepeaked@reddit

True, if you never go out you don’t tend to see it!

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Pedantichrist@reddit

I am not sure it does. You can never go out, and not can any of your friends, without that materially affecting whether it is normal in the UK.

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phatboi23@reddit

yup, me and my ates have done a few beers and some tunes for 15+ years. we've all gone wild and can do but it's not regular.

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xDzerx@reddit

This 100% tbh.

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Sad_Commission8594@reddit

It’s definitely depends on who you’re spending your time with. I’m 26 and most of my family members drink heavily so I grew up around the partying culture. Now I feel unsafe around drunk/high people so I tell my friends I’m not drinking or if I know everyone will be drunk at an event I stay home. If you’re going out to the bars/pubs especially on a weekend I’d say the majority of people are there not just to drink, but to get drunk. Drinking is often seen as part of socialising. If you’re going out to spend time with friends between the ages of 18-25 they will usually suggest getting a drink at some point. So if you’re looking for a more mellow evening it’s best to choose a quieter bar/cocktail lounge etc or make it clear to friends that you’d prefer to do activities that don’t involve drinking.

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Lanky_Mammoth_5173@reddit

Don't forget the casual sex it's the best part of it all

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zeviea@reddit

I would say pretty common, particularly in people in the late teens and early 20s but any age really. Not every does it of course.

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Street_Inflation_124@reddit

Partying, drinking a lot, yes. Depends which drugs. Anything stronger than the Devil’s lettuce and I politely decline.

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gennynapolitan@reddit

It’s too expensive to go out so it’s mostly drinking and casual drug use in the comfort of my living room

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Danglyweed@reddit

The funny thing is it's these ones complaining about the cost of a pint while spending 40-50 on a bag of coke. Doesn't make sense

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Orkys@reddit

Coke is pricey. But a night on MDMA is like £10 and Ketamine would be like £15 if you split a g between two people.

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htmwc@reddit

Yea, or take half a 20mg THC gummy for £3 and that's your evening nice and chill and no hangover

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Orkys@reddit

That's not really achieving the same thing though, is it?

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PatsyFlicker@reddit

Edibles always give me a massive headache the morning after, not as bad a hangover but its still pretty gnarly

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htmwc@reddit

Take a bit less or take it a bit earlier. If it wears off just as you go to sleep I find there's no hangover

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skloop@reddit

Ya dealer be ripping ya off, it's 20 or 10 in Bristol

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OGSkywalker97@reddit

Well yeah, that's because it's a port town and the K comes into the country there. It's like saying someone is being ripped off on cocaine because it's cheaper in Rotterdam.

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skloop@reddit

Huh, you know I genuinely never considered that's why. Why I coke cheaper in Rotterdam?

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OGSkywalker97@reddit

85% of all of Europe's cocaine imports come through Rotterdam harbour, and almost all the rest come through Antwerp harbour.

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winobeaver@reddit

I think there's some supply and demand / market forces thing happening in Bristol that you don't see so much in other cities. In Manchester you might have to ask around for a bit if you want to buy ketamine from any non-online source, and so prices are really variable. In Bristol you probably just need to shout down at the street from your window to talk to the nearest ketamine dealer

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skloop@reddit

Cos it's too expensive to go out these days 😭 rather just sit in my room and k-hole. I find it really psychedelic That's my reason anyway, but it's defo not for everyone

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winobeaver@reddit

yeah but you could have a lot more psychedelic bang for your buck from LSD or something. And it's not like we're short for drugs up here in Manchester. There's as much ketamine as we want, we just want less of it than you guys in Bristol. Maybe you're not aware but Bristol is the ket capital of the country! And I went there, it was lovely, no idea why you'd all want to dissociate disproportionately (apparently Manchester is the MDMA capital. And I can understand that; MDMA was a big part of Manchester's history in the Madchester scene and perhaps this still plays a cultural role nowadays. Perhaps Bristol was the epicentre of minimalist house or something)

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skloop@reddit

Yeah I'm aware it's K central. Different strokes, what can I say 🤷🏼‍♀️

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DigiNaughty@reddit

MDMAzing! Yeah MDMA was always a cheaper night out than booze, and also far more enjoyable in every way.

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PauseMenuBlog@reddit

You can also have a decent night on coke for £20 (halves on a half) tbh

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Curious-Anywhere8567@reddit

Well a pint/drink lasts half an hour and a bag lasts 2 people 6-8 hours, so it works out pretty cheap.

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TwystUK@reddit

You know some really restrained people if a bah is lasting them 6 hours!

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OkayTimeForTheTruth@reddit

Especially a bag for £40-50, that's half a gram. I'd have hoovered that up in an hour

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limpingdba@reddit

You're buying shit coke and also paying too much. 1 gram of flake (for £50) will do a casual user for a night easily

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OkayTimeForTheTruth@reddit

No it was super decent coke hence why I was paying a lot. >a casual user Nah, see, I was not a casual user by any stretch of the imagination. An hour for 0.5g would only have been realistic when I was still only snorting it.

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hopeelizabethhh@reddit

i used to have a bit of a ✨problem✨ that stemmed from one bag costing £50 and lasting me two nights out, whereas one drink would cost me ~£10 and i’d go through 10+ in a night. the coke made me feel really smart for spending less on nights out - until i started buying it for myself for a quiet wednesday night alone at home

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theMooey23@reddit

You have coke instead of pints?

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patrickb1920@reddit

coke prices in the uk have stayed very consistent 2005 and market demand is high. I'd enjoy a £5 bump over a £5 pint

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LimitlessGirl205@reddit (OP)

🤦‍♀️

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Green-Eggs-No-Ham@reddit

You plonker

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FighterJock412@reddit

Don't be such a funsponge. Go snort some mandy

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Blind_Warthog@reddit

LimitlessGirl205 seems in fact to have limits.

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SlightProgrammer@reddit

Oh do lighten up

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TheCarnivorishCook@reddit

They're normal for people they are normal for. I knew people in my 20's who had taken so much coke by their 20's they had permanent facial ticks I've never tried it However I recently googled "how many bottles of red wine am I allowed a day"

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plantlady1-618@reddit

It was pretty ubiquitous when I was in my teens and twenties. But I think gen z and alpha are far less inclined.

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Ok_Adhesiveness_4155@reddit

Because we deserve it.

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Amanensia@reddit

I must live a very sheltered life. I don't take any drugs apart from moderate alcohol and I don't know anyone who does (or at least, anyone who admits to it.)

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Briggykins@reddit

Me too. Surveys consistently shows that it's way more common not to do drugs but Reddit seems to always insist that the surveys are wrong or people are just lying.

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TheGloss73@reddit

I mean it’s kinda obvious why people would lie about drug use on surveys🤣 also people who don’t take drugs are oblivious to amount of people around them who take drugs casually.

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CraigL8@reddit

Used to be a lot worse

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TheGloss73@reddit

Drug use has increased by 33% from the 90’s

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OGSkywalker97@reddit

I feel like the recreational drug taking used to be a lot worse, but the amount of people losing their lives to drugs and getting addicted to hard drugs seems to be worse now. Maybe I'm wrong. It's definitely the case in the US due to heroin not even existing anymore over there and it all being replaced by fentanyl and xylazine.

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LimitlessGirl205@reddit (OP)

How worse?

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Sir-Craven@reddit

https://preview.redd.it/t54f5nncyvef1.jpeg?width=1024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=91211d000b5671ab75e1b8b703ae0cb2f182335f

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devcmacd@reddit

This is the bayeux tapestry of modern Britain I love it so much

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Linguistin229@reddit

r/accidentalrenaissance

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Malus131@reddit

This image flashed through my mind yesterday. I was walking past a takeaway, Buddha something or other, and lo: I saw a fat (buddhaesque) bald man lying on his side on the pavement not too dissimilar from the renaissance art pose that is visualised above. Was a beautiful moment.

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Sir-Craven@reddit

Art is everywhere. You just have to look. Sometimes its in the falling of an autumn leaf from a mature tree in the park, other times its a fat (buddhaesque) bald man lying on his side on the pavement.

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thierry_ennui_@reddit

AND DID THOSE FEET, IN ANCIENT TIIIIMES

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Mountain-Ad542@reddit

We love to party lol

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Suspicious-Wolf-1071@reddit

I've gone out and ended up realising the people im out with do that sort of thing(drugs), but I took myself away from that situation, as that is not my thing, and I've seen first hand the damage that can be done. I've personally never been a big drinker, but work nights out I'd have a few. But no, not everyone is like that in the UK.

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OrdoRidiculous@reddit

It's not uncommon. Most people age out of it when life gets in the way. I still know a few die hards that are determined to keep the 90's rolling, for which they have my admiration.

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gazmbuku@reddit

Hold up! It's not still the 90s???!!!!

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pajamakitten@reddit

We can stop 9/11!

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OrdoRidiculous@reddit

the 90's was only 10 years ago, and always will be.

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auntie_eggma@reddit

*Smalls voice* For-eh-verrrr...for-eh-verrrr...

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roar_dark@reddit

Give it up son. Give it up Mucker. Get mental in the house!!

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OrdoRidiculous@reddit

This could turn Hare Krishna into a bad boy!

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russtafarri@reddit

5am at Bagleys. Jeff Mills on the ones and twos.

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Cautious_Frosting_24@reddit

90s after party's were sometimes better than the rave.

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NorthbankN5@reddit

Yep, that’s us.

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LimitlessGirl205@reddit (OP)

But those things are pretty bad for you

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No-Garbage9500@reddit

*holy shit really?!?* Guess we'd better stop doing it then..

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pajamakitten@reddit

They should teach us this sort of thing in schools!

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Grimdotdotdot@reddit

Let me help, fellow British Redditor! Send me all your alcohol and drugs so you can avoid temptation. Except the gin, I don't like gin.

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-You_Cant_Stop_Me-@reddit

I'll have the gin as long as I can get a bit of molly on the side.

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Civil_Assistance_592@reddit

Not in moderation, and in a generation where everyone is so disconnected through their phones, there is nothing more human than having true, real life connection with both friends and strangers. The rave / clubbing scene has always been major here and I personally have had countless experiences making friends, hugging strangers and connecting with people at raves. It breaks down the barriers between us all.

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MyCatIsFluffyNotFat@reddit

Ok. Gen X. Former clubber. I'm actually heartened to hear this. I was really pretty sad for the yoof that all the clubs were closing and maybe their 20s were not a bit wild, because the housing market was fucked, and everyone was now sensible and focused on saving for a deposit for a house. OP. For me/ us it was alcohol, marijuana, occasionally more. Didn't continue throughout our life.

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Even_Passenger_3685@reddit

Aye, the nineties are a bit…..blurry

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NuclearMaterial@reddit

Death comes to us all.

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Guderian-@reddit

But before it comes for you....

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NuclearMaterial@reddit

Might as well have a good time

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Guderian-@reddit

Ayyy https://youtu.be/GZ56bfxn4xE&t=1m23s

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TheMightyBastard@reddit

If you have a basic understanding of how they work then they are not necessarily bad for you and with the right company they can be wonderful experiences. Might feel a bit off after because everything that goes up has to come down but your body will sort itself out, no biggie (generally speaking). Ideally you don't hang out with jackasses. Also these are not for everyone and that's ok. And really most people don't lead this lifestyle, you only hear the fewer ones that do. Now shit like meth or heroin are actually bad but not really part of the uk 'party scene' and nobody in their right mind would even contemplate them.

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SprintsAC@reddit

Not all Brits are like this. It's definitely not for me.

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Lammerikano@reddit

well... i have a friend who ended up going to Eaton for some reason and it seems they really enjoyed horse analgesics.

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snarfalicious420@reddit

Not living up to your username are ye? 🤔

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nastybadger@reddit

Ozzy Osborne made it to 76. Think you have to party bloody hard to properly notice it.

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marksmoke@reddit

Yes but also enjoyable for some of the people some of the time

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GiveGoldForShakoDrop@reddit

Limitless Girl has reached her limit 😥

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dbxp@reddit

No one lives forever

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Honey-Badger@reddit

No way!?

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anotherwankusername@reddit

As are all the fun things in life. Moderation is key.

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Maximum_Scientist_85@reddit

Moderation in all things. Including moderation. :)

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EroticFalconry@reddit

“Everything in moderation, including moderation”

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youllbetheprince@reddit

True but also we’re living through civilisational decline

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mattsmithreddit@reddit

Yeah that's why we do them plus they are fun as hell. What are you confused about dude?

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Neither-Mongoose6014@reddit

🤦🏻‍♂️

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poplingtonfun@reddit

I'd say no it's not. Not in my circles. Not judgement but it's never appealed since I was about early 20s. Was fun for a short time but then you change.

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bahumat42@reddit

Drinking is. The rest is down to the individual/group. I have been in social groups that like partying and I have known individuals who practise casual drug use. I wouldn't say drug use is normal, but it isn't especially rare either.

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MrHankMardukas_@reddit

Drug use is definitely normal in the younger age groups. I’m 29 and can say that everyone I’m friends with does drugs of some kind. I’ve dabbled but prefer just to drink. Cocaine is especially rife in London.

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pingpongtiddley@reddit

I’m 34 and don’t think I know a single person who hasn’t at least tried some form of drug. I’ve only ever smoked weed and am def the minority for such low experience

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pajamakitten@reddit

I am 33 and haven't. No one ever offered me any and I would not know where to get them.

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RRC_driver@reddit

In my 50s and know a couple of people (including myself) who have never done anything other than alcohol or tobacco. Personally I was in a job with random drug testing between 20 and 40 years old, so didn’t bother, and now I can’t be arsed. I don’t have the connections so would probably get ripped off. If I went somewhere where it was legal, I’d probably try marajuana.

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Briggykins@reddit

The overall illegal drug use rate is around 9%. Even amongst the highest use age group (20-24) it's less than 20%. It's not rare but it's not exactly normal.

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Grand_Master_Punk@reddit

I'm nearly 50 and almost everybody I knew in the 90's and early 00's were on one kind of party drug or another. Mainly pills, speed or charlie, with the odd tab of acid thrown in.

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thierry_ennui_@reddit

I've been practising casual drug use for 20 years now, I think I'm getting quite good at it

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MooMF@reddit

Have you tried spunking in the cup?

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Far_wide@reddit

you should go pro, I believe in you.

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MyCatIsFluffyNotFat@reddit

Hes been "practicing" for 20 years. Its a leap of faith.

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MyCatIsFluffyNotFat@reddit

How casual?

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VOODOO285@reddit

This is the answer right here.

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AdamBake13@reddit

Yes - every man and his dog does gear here

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acnebbygrl@reddit

It’s pretty normal in some circles and is becoming more and more widespread and not in a good way

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FitConsideration6529@reddit

This is a slightly more complex question compared with the others this OP has asked in recent days

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lizziexo@reddit

Noooo she deleted her whole account! 😭😂

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Bgtobgfu@reddit

She fucking should, tbh, it’s a train wreck

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auntie_eggma@reddit

I'm so mad I missed this. I would love to know what happened if it's not a huge hassle to retell. 😂

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Bgtobgfu@reddit

Oh just a bunch of weird questions on various subs that made OP look either really neurotic or judgy (probably both)

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CrazyPeak2165@reddit

It was 6am on bin day, I heard a noise outside and immediately jumped up to the curtains, I saw my neighbour putting their wheelie bin out, I stared at them to try and figure out what they were doing, please Reddit is my neighbour a serial killer using the local tip to dispose of the bodies or is the noise a dictated harassment campaign against me?

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Old-Owl-1@reddit

I wonder where she/he/they is from. I am a fellow western european and this applies to 99% of the western countries.

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IridiumQuality@reddit

Looks like they're an Indian female.

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Bgtobgfu@reddit

Yikes yeah that post history is weird

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shlebee@reddit

Yes. Watch Skins.

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martzgregpaul@reddit

In my 20s yes. Now im in my 40s I get cold sweats even thinking about fighting for a cab home at 3am

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Routine_Ad1823@reddit

Uber my man

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martzgregpaul@reddit

Uber here is basically just the local cab firm with uber stickers on the doors too

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DivineDecadence85@reddit

Indeed. Best to go for another drink till the busses start.

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Mc_and_SP@reddit

"Donovan is smoking drugs!? In the open!? ON A SCHOOL DAY!?"

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BamTheKarmaThief@reddit

Everyone does a bit of puff!

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Coffeeisforclosers_@reddit

Inbetweeners?

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SuspiciousTomorrow45@reddit

Downtown abbey

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Mc_and_SP@reddit

Honestly, if you ever hear Donovan's actor speak out of character you'd probably think he had been in Downtown Abbey.

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SuspiciousTomorrow45@reddit

Yh he sounds really posh irl

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JimmyJonJackson420@reddit

💀 a classic episode

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celestialnostalgia@reddit

It's just a leeeeel spliffff

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Previous_Ad4616@reddit

No. No one takes drugs in the UK. It’s illegal and bad for you. Wow. That is as painful to type 🤣🤣

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formal-monopoly@reddit

Find some other friends

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Ryy86@reddit

I wouldn't say 'normal' it purely depends on 'wealth or class, imo'

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DisastrousType1917@reddit

It depends who you associate with. Parties and drinking are very normal with most people (even people who don't do it won't usually take notice of others doing it). Weed is also pretty common and from experience a lot of people take no notice of others smoking even if they don't but also a lot of people are judgemental. Most people I know have at least tried it once - generally as teens. Any other drugs are majority frowned upon but there are lots of people who do them/don't care if other do.

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jayhopeofficial@reddit

Same as any country in the world tbh

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Mobile_Falcon8639@reddit

Back to the OPs question. Yes drinking and recreational drug use is very common in the UK. Partying used to be, but less so for house parties because a lot of young people still live at home because they can't afford to move out. Clubbing is not so bing anymore a lot of night clubs are closing down. But apart from people still like to havexa good time.

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Beautiful-Joke-7089@reddit

Its at most 10% of people, which is very common and visible, but no where near the majority of people. It also depends where you live, the closer you live to the city center and clubs, the more it could be 40-50%. If you go a few miles out or even to the countryside, very few people live wildly other than enjoying the nature

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FletchLives99@reddit

I am no longer a young person, but I would say yes.

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Sea_Fox_906@reddit

They are quite normal among younger people, but most of the drugs used are illegal and therefore unacceptable to the law.

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ProD_GY@reddit

Yes its very nornal, especially with british people who are into going to music events

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Big_Stretch3684@reddit

As a 25 year old who spends a lot of time in london - yes, very common. I’d say every other young person does drugs semi regularly either at home or out partying and drinking is just a huge here culturally for most people (and those who don’t drink tend to smoke weed instead as far as I can see).

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GoldenArchmage@reddit

Let me tell you about the 1990s...

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DivineDecadence85@reddit

If you can tell us about them, you were doing it wrong.

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auntie_eggma@reddit

This is what people used to say about the 60s in the 90s. I think this makes me my dad.

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IDFGMC@reddit

I can remember pretty much everything that happened while I was conscious. Like exactly what it felt like to be too drunk to walk in Greece in 1996 for example.

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auntie_eggma@reddit

Brits are generally rather big drinkers across the board compared to people from *some* other countries, for sure. But illegal drug use varies.

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saberking321@reddit

Yes it is normal here. But noone will mind if you don't want to take part

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Interesting_Law4332@reddit

Alcoholism culture and hyper conformity

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cinejam@reddit

You missed out on the casual shagging element

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appletinicyclone@reddit

Depends on his socio-economic class in the class system, his wealth, education and region, location as well.

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NecessaryCorrect3990@reddit

Sounds about right

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Fragrant_Scallion_34@reddit

Drinking a lot is more common than taking drugs and a lot of socialising and celebrating happens over a few (or many) drinks e.g. birthdays, weddings, christenings, funerals, Christmas, barbecues, work parties, a sunny day... Drug use is quite common but most people reduce/stop in their 30s+. I think a lot of the reason for stopping is having responsibilities, different priorities, and not being able to cope with the hangover/comedown.

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StereotypicallBarbie@reddit

Can get pretty rowdy round here in the summer with the house parties and BBQ,s. Only on the weekend.. during the week it’s like a ghost town! I think house parties are still a big part of British culture! Also now cheaper than the pub.

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DeepSpaceNineInches@reddit

In my experience. the people that think drug use isn't common are just oblivious to it. I got into drugs in a pretty bad way in my 20s and it opened my eyes to just how many people were on something. 8 years sober now and still paying off debt from those days.

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Calm-Sea-1837@reddit

I think it cuts both ways. People in both groups tend to suffer from exposure bias. People who are really against drugs tend to rarely encounter people who do them and therefore underestimate their prevalence. But equally, people who do take them tend to socialise around other people who do and therefore come to overestimate their prevalence.

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themanfromdelpoynton@reddit

I don't think it's even who you socialise with that there are necessarily talking about. Having done a fair amount of drugs in my younger days, I can be in a bar and know just from how some strangers are behaving that they're doing coke or whatnot. There's little tics that are a giveaway that you pick up.

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Calm-Sea-1837@reddit

I'm sure that could contribute to a false perception of their prevalence too. But my point is more that people who use drugs by definition tend to exist in a social milieu where their use is common. And that can lead them to overestimating their prevalence. See it quite often on Reddit. People saying things like, "everyone does drugs, just look around next time you're in the pub on Friday night". But Friday night in a pub is a place where drugs are disproportionately prevalent. So if you're the sort of person who often goes to busy pubs on a Friday night, you may overestimate the prevalence of drug use in the general population. When I was in my twenties and living in London, it felt like drugs were everywhere. Now I'm neither, it really doesn't.

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winobeaver@reddit

we're just better at keeping quiet about it. Most days I will have smoked weed at some point before I pick my kid up from the school gates. To be honest the only thing that stops me being stoned all the time is onerous drug driving regulations, and perhaps the desire to avoid a massive tolerance or spend a fortune. But I'm not all like "weed dude yeah" nowadays because I am old. I got married last weekend! And I drank shandies all night and occasionally smoked some weed and took some legal pharmaceuticals I don't especially want to go around advertising (even if they've never caused me any harm). And the in-laws absolutely had no idea that anything was amiss.

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Curious-Term9483@reddit

Yep.. not many people doing drugs at parents evening, the gym, the tip or Tesco are there 🤣. I don't get out much!

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mo_tag@reddit

It's not just that.. as a habitual drug user, I'm going to avoid talking about drugs around people who seem judgemental about drugs.. there are people I've worked with for over a decade in a professional capacity who probably think they know me quite well yet would be shocked to find out I use

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Curious-Term9483@reddit

Those who don't do drugs are probably less likely to notice drug use when it goes on around me. Obviously I can tell if what someone is smoking isn't tobacco because it's a different sort of stink. But I have definitely been in situations where there were people nipping off to the loo to do a line and I was totally oblivious till someone pointed it out to me later. Once I caught 2 people coming out of the cubicle together and assumed they'd been shagging and was mildly scandalised given I knew one of them was in a long term monogamous relationship with someone I ma pretty close friends with. It had always niggles in the back of my brain until a few years later the penny dropped 💡🤦‍♀️🤣

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toysoldier96@reddit

I don't know, I found loads of people doing drugs openly in a bunch of different jobs too. From CEOs to execs

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Calm-Sea-1837@reddit

I didn't say that's not the case, drugs certainly are widespread. My point was that people who take them are very prone to overestimating how widespread drug use is, because they tend to exist in social groups where use is common. For example, if you're someone who goes out to pubs and clubs a lot you will see drugs really often. And that can lead you to overestimate their prevalence, because what you're not seeing is all the millions of people who are at home not doing drugs.

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ok2888@reddit

Yeah and most people won't admit to it unless they know the person well or have reason to believe they also do drugs. I know plenty of people decently well who have no idea I've done anything, when I've been a daily weed smoker for 5 years and have gone in and out of heavy use of other drugs.

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ceelo_purple@reddit

Okay, so I'm not saying that you, specifically, are mistaken. I've never met you. I'm just saying that weed is *pungent* and clings to fabrics, that nose-blindness is a thing and that I've known *multiple* people who mistakenly believed that their daily weed smoking was a total secret.

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OGSkywalker97@reddit

I'm here in the same boat bro, but only got a year or so clean. A friend of mine who I'd known since I was 4 didn't get so lucky to escape that existence and passed away on the weekend. Whatever debt you're still paying off, try not to let it get you down, we are the lucky ones that made it out of that dark pit with our life and sanity.

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DeepSpaceNineInches@reddit

I had a similar experience, got the news a couple years ago that someone I was really close with had passed, I don't know if she ever got clean as we fell out. My debt is fine now really, defaulted on loans ages ago so just paying trivial amounts with no interest. It gets me down to think how much money I wasted, my life would be completely different now. But we live and learn. It's such an easy thing to fall back into as well, good job getting yourself clean dude, it gets easier.

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Goldf_sh4@reddit

It's probably just the circles your friend moves in.

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SingerFirm1090@reddit

Basically, not "normal" at all. Of all the people I have meet in my nearly 70 years, a handful have been anything like regular drug & drink users. Even the drinkers are getting rarer, the pubs are closing because of it. Bear in mind, I knew some Hell's Angels who were in a 'biker gang', lovely people to a man. I only met one person who regularly went to raves. So, no, it's not common at all.

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Fingertoes1905@reddit

It’s in our DNA

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LimitlessGirl205@reddit (OP)

Makes me sad

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pecuchet@reddit

Better that than being a pious dickhead.

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BALLCLASH@reddit

https://preview.redd.it/bziqwoq1xvef1.jpeg?width=511&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=46cbbcd79a493219ebd265a54cf0c6f6bebdfe21 how does this image make you feel

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frjack666@reddit

Upset. Too much head.

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AddSomeSpice@reddit

Said no one ever, am I right?? Heh, I’ll see myself out.

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YakManYak@reddit

In all honesty I won't complain about any pint.... 50% head fuck it yea I'll pay £10 for 4 pints, yes sir no sir that's an acceptable pint, 3 bags full sir

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jahambo@reddit

Don’t be sad lad be glad

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chulldogchillydog@reddit

Makes a lot of other people sad too, good job the government dont make shit loads off it

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da_Sp00kz@reddit

You might want to sit down for this...

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chulldogchillydog@reddit

I am seated on my shrine of defecation

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VOODOO285@reddit

Me too. Wwoooooooooooo

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chulldogchillydog@reddit

Me poo. (Noise silenced).

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thierry_ennui_@reddit

It makes us happy

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VOODOO285@reddit

Judging from your comments, you came to make a sweeping generalisation of a question and then criticise the results. If you’re asking for the sincere pursuit of knowledge then crapping on everyone you disagree with is not the way to do it. Personally I don’t really drink and don’t do any drugs, never been interested. But I don’t have a problem with those who do until it becomes a problem and they make a nuisance of themselves. Very very few people I’ve met are active drug users and my jobs have had me meet A LOT of people up and down the country. I grew up with kids using drugs and an ex had a sister who was a heavy heroin user but you’d never know as she went to work like a normal person every day. So look, be careful what you ask and stop crapping on those who don’t quite meet your standards. Or… do you think your shit doesn’t stink?

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RopeOk7076@reddit

Pretty normal

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Messterio@reddit

No it’s not normal. A cup of tea, a biscuit, Coronation Street and lights out at 9.30 on the dot.

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Rough_Produce4943@reddit

No, it's not normal behaviour, and you won't get a balanced view on Reddit.

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mo_tag@reddit

Yeah they are.. young people use other drugs over drinking because you get much more bang for your buck and alcohol is arguably one of the unhealthiest drugs you could take anyway. older folk tend to be more judgemental about drug use, unless it's cocaine.. NIMBYs especially hate weed because apparently the smell is unbearable even from 100 yards away but really it's because it makes the neighborhood look dodgy and might affect the value of their home

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Happy_Little_Fish@reddit

this thread gives me such an unfamiliar sense of patriotism.

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Best_Needleworker530@reddit

That's not the UK, that's just Western culture. You hit mid 20s and realize cheese is expensive and everyone is on some kind of drugs.

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MrLoneWolfCM@reddit

Drinking yes. Drugs 50/50 depends on the social circle but it's not uncommon. Partying the same depends

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Grand-basis@reddit

I used to party hard in the 90's & 00's but apparently the youth are more reserved & sensible these day's especially when it's around £5 a pint whereas we used to drink cheap cider. I don't know what the party scene is like nower day's.

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hawklord23@reddit

£5 a pint? And the rest

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Grand-basis@reddit

You're right! I haven't had a pint for a few years but it was a fiver then, takes the piss.

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Due_Ear_4674@reddit

Very normal

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AlfalfaSerious9355@reddit

It's a break from the hype of modern life

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ForgotMyPasswordFeck@reddit

Partying and alcohol is common when you’re 18-30 or so. Never known anyone to do more than smoking weed every so often, so the drug has side is well overstated imo

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charltheunicorn@reddit

I’m now 34, when I was 15-25 I was a wild child drinking/drugs etc most weekends. Now it’s probs twice a year I have a night out and drink, the hangovers are vile. I know a lot of people my age who drink/drugs most weekends.

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lufcwill@reddit

Common

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elmachow@reddit

I used to do drugs. I still do drugs, but I also used to do them too.

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Gavcradd@reddit

It depends on what your experience is and who you associate with. Social drinking is pretty much accepted and openly discussed everywhere, but excessive drinking and drug use are much less accepted. You will, of course, find groups of people who say its absolutely normal and other groups who would be horrified by it.

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ShaftManlike@reddit

Certainly was in the 90s We had whole subcultures built up around it.

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Used_Warthog_2920@reddit

Yes. Alcohol is sold to anyone 18 or over, but most drink long before that. Drugs of various kinds are common, especially cocaine. Police do sometimes confiscate small amounts. Dealers are often prosecuted, but prison sentences are quite short compared to the USA for example.

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saugagentottiescone@reddit

Where I'm from it's just called friday

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alexgran63@reddit

I wouldn’t say it’s rife but drugs are very evident. The wiff of weed is everywhere. Generally though drinking isn’t as bad as bars are closing and booze is very expensive outside of supermarkets.

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HistoricalFarmer6635@reddit

A man is known by a company he keeps, so please make good friends and avoid those 🙏🏻

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Pedantichrist@reddit

Yes, it is normal. That said, I wish it were not. I’m in Switzerland at the moment and we are hanging out in bars where folk drink, take drugs, fuck, and have fun, but there is no threatening atmosphere. British drinking culture is a shit start to life for our youth. The good bits can happen without the bad bits.

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Ok_Cow_3431@reddit

Yes, just not amongst the socially anxious Reddit demographic

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aredditusername69@reddit

I drink and take drugs BECAUSE I'm socially anxious

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Owneoi@reddit

Yes. America is soft as fuck in comparison

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head_face@reddit

If you're in a city or sizeable town, you will almost certainly be able to get coke and weed delivered to your work or home or pub you're at by calling a number for one of a network of anonymous dealers. They usually turn up within half an hour and you meet them in a car. They're inexplicably happy to let their customers pass on their phone numbers so long as you ask to do so in advance. So essentially, if you know basically anyone else who smokes weed or does coke and you don't live in the middle of nowhere you can probably get drugs delivered quicker than a pizza (which is in turn usually quicker than an ambulance). End result is that sooooooo many people are doing drugs these days. Major upswing in coke usage over the past fifteen years.

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Spottyjamie@reddit

In my experience the current young people dont drink. They vape My old uni doesnt own any bars/clubs any more. The uni in my city closed its own bars as noone used them. Cheap midweek student nights stopped 15 years ago “Partying” Well good luck finding a place still serving after 1am in many towns now. Some places here are dead after 9pm when they used to open til 2am

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EasyPriority8724@reddit

Me and my son dropped some LSD last night, we had a great trip together and laughed our heads of at judge Judy, was nuts.

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Apidium@reddit

It really depends. Young adults is more common but not universal either.

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KlausGriffinThe1st@reddit

From my personal experience yes. I’ve traveled all over England. Even where I live I can get any substance I want (I don’t use, I used too) but yeah. It’s not good. When I go abroad I’m almost surprised, even the quality of drugs in the UK is better than a lot of other countries. I think the UK is depressing and that’s why drug use is more rampant here. Isn’t Scotland the drug capital of the world?

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AccidentAccomplished@reddit

in my experience yes, for 20+, but not as much later on, especially when people get married and have families.

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cuppachar@reddit

Yes, and they have been for thousands of years.

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Famous_Obligation959@reddit

So going out for drinks once or twice a week is very normal. People smoking weed is semi normal but its not appreciated in public places. Coke use is huge in some circles from high end professionals, musicians, and a lot in the trades. A lot of the new gen z arent big drinkers but they dabble with mushrooms, ayhasca, and ketamine. Heroin isnt a big thing now

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Sad-Discussion1601@reddit

Yes very.

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just_burn_it_all@reddit

Not sure if the partying alcohol culture is decreasing a bit for young people. They seem a bit more health conscious than previous generations (or more likely just cant afford to do routinely like some of us did). I'd say drug use is prevalent. The amount of people who are up for a line or two of coke, who I never woulda guessed. Weed is not even controversial either, but I think many people tend to grow out of it as they get older.

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ZeroZer0_@reddit

Wheeeeey git it up ya lad

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baggierochelle@reddit

Giiit up mush av gorra 3 for a 1er loaded up am gerring proper buzzed up mucker. Twocked 3 ton of copper wire from bus depot next door the dikeds tried phoning police but av got a warrant so a sparked em out and took off pal giiiit up

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jabroniisan@reddit

Oh arr whermyow from? Git it up ya? It's gerritdarnya

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LimitlessGirl205@reddit (OP)

What?

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BALLCLASH@reddit

up ye 💪

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Porridge_Hose@reddit

That emoji made me snort-laugh.

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shredditorburnit@reddit

How'd you manage to cut the laugh into a line?

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Porridge_Hose@reddit

Practice and a credit card

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Sir-Craven@reddit

Wot?

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MissingLink101@reddit

Why did this person create this question and delete their account within an hour....?

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Inevitable-High905@reddit

They want to insert some ecstacy pills up your rectum. Which leads to a very quick, intense and jovial high. Apparently.......

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Fossilhund@reddit

"jovial"

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rileyvace@reddit

Translation: "I am jubilant! I simultaneously confirm your suspicions and express support for the cause in a the form of a nape which softens the tone of a quite serious underlying issue with casual merriment in my free time."

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Porridge_Hose@reddit

What?

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MCMLIXXIX@reddit

He's encouraging you to enjoy yourself 👍

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ZeroZer0_@reddit

You want to get some up you lass* sorry for misgendering just did a key after shagging some sort at a rave been oot me nut for ages like

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SlightProgrammer@reddit

You wouldn't understand...

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ta-maku@reddit

lol

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Nicko5000@reddit

You will never take alive coppppppppa

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MerlinTrismegistus@reddit

If we're at a festival we go feral

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mikolv2@reddit

Yes, it depends on the age group, if you're in you're in the sort of 18-24 age group and you're not regularly drinking and partying, you're going to be the odd one out. In my uni experience, I'd say 90% of people there partied regularly, at least sort of 2-3 times a month. Drugs are less common than alcohol but very very common, large chunk of people will take something. If you include weed, it's going to be nearly as popular as alcohol.

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LzzrdWzzrd@reddit

None of its normal in my social circles but then my social circles have been the neurodivergents, geeks, nerds and extremely studious and workaholic. As we grew up we got into house plants, DIY, cooking/baking, crafts, cozy games. We love our homes and early nights and easy coffee meet ups. None of us even smoke.

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KnowledgeSea1954@reddit

It's definitely very common, but not everybody. I'm a millennial, I occasionally go out to bars and club nights now but not as much as when I was younger so it may be different now but back in the day it would not be uncommon for drug dealers to offer to sell you drugs openly in nightclubs or outside areas where there are nightclubs and bars, I don't know if that would be as prevalent today. But they may just sell drugs online. In the UK I'd say on average the edgy/alt kids start drinking about experimenting with drugs etc maybe about 14-16 years old, a lot of middle class/upper middle class basics will probably do drugs maybe cocaine whilst at university, the more gangster or inner city kids might already be drinking alcohol and smoking weed in the school toilets at 12yo. That's what it was like when I was growing up anyway.

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Kat8844@reddit

I spent a lot of time in my late teens to mid 20s partying, drinking and doing coke it was a distraction from dealing with my grief and really exacerbated my mental health issues. Now I’m 37, happily married and have 3 kids, thinking about doing that kind of thing now fills me with dread!.

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Due-Tell1522@reddit

Not if you want a good future

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bunkbedgirl1989@reddit

It is very common amongst London profressionals, does not indicate a problem necessarily- just something people eventually grow out of

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Subject-Battle-3493@reddit

I don’t mind partying and drinking but drug use is too common unfortunately I prefer to stay in and have a quiet drink watching my favourite tv episodes

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Crazy_Travel4258@reddit

Drinking is drug use bud lol

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Inevitable-High905@reddit

No, alcohol isn't a drug, its a drink...

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gizmostrumpet@reddit

This is cake. It's not a real drug.

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Crazy_Travel4258@reddit

Weed isn't q drug, it's a plant...

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Inevitable-High905@reddit

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIAJemmO-bg](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIAJemmO-bg) Skip to 4 minutes 😂

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Subject-Battle-3493@reddit

True, however if responsible and not too much drink, it’s not as bad

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Bugggerr@reddit

Alcohol and tobacco are two of the worst drugs just fyi. Read David Nutt’s book.

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NrthnLd75@reddit

Drinking is legal drug use.

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TeaSlurpingBrit@reddit

Not really these days, nobody goes out anymore.

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gizmostrumpet@reddit

Depends where you go - Leeds or Bristol on a Saturday night still have packed out bars and clubs.

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Oskar-USERNAME@reddit

we start doing drugs at like 14/15 or even younger so I'd say so yes, a lot of the population does cocaine, in fact I believe the UK is up there with countries which do most cocaine

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Mjukplister@reddit

Yeah they are . It’s very normalised . The younger generation are a bit better though . It’s very common , whilst not everyone does it - we all know people that do

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mosh-4-jesus@reddit

generally, yeah. vast majority of people don't go that hard on it, but on the flipside you're 90% likely to be around coke if you go to a busy pub in any medium-large town.

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Dehydrated-Onions@reddit

I was a weed head for 12 years. Quite last year. Done mdma a few times. Never touched cocaine but all my friends and their grandmothers have.

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tropically_vexed@reddit

Short answer, yes. British go hard from young. Obviously it’s bad for you but it’s fun, rebellious, liberating etc. Deeply complex to articulate why it’s like that - but politics, history, music and so on all play a role

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cjdstreet@reddit

Its pretty normal. Probably not with reddit users, though

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DavieODaBanks@reddit

They sure used to be. Probably less these days I imagine.

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mazze01@reddit

People need Christ! ☦️

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BleepingBleeper@reddit

Never Trust a Junkie!

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illarionds@reddit

Was definitely common among my friendship group in my 20s and early 30s. Mostly middle class professionals. These days my idea of a wild night is letting my kids stay up late to play games together :)

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ijs_1985@reddit

Your friend could also be full of shit and just trying to act hard / cool But yes most brits drink, a lot will dabble in drugs and parties / festivals / nights out are very common albeit less so since COVID

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Dry-Communication922@reddit

Fairly new to the UK but work with a couple of functioning (barely) alcoholics and drug addicts, who are quite open about their drug use in particular.

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BaldyBaldyBouncer@reddit

Not among the losers on here. In the real world it's extremely common

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dbxp@reddit

Yes, to a level. People aren't constantly shit faced but most people go out drinking and partying to a degree whether that be a rave or a dinner party

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BALLCLASH@reddit

ye but you ever been to a dinner party rave mate? its a fkin mess

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dbxp@reddit

Isn't that what a lot of those bottemless brunch spots effectively are?

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Consistent-Time-2503@reddit

Yes, well from 16-25 years old I did a lot of partying, drinking and casual drug use. Then I got boring I think because now I only have a few drinks on the weekend at home while watching TV.

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Deathwish8041@reddit

As an e.european I was kinda shocked when I moved to the UK, ngl - people here just dgaf about laws/authorities, so a lot start drinking/taking drugs (as well as having sex) from a much earlier age than I’m used to, and all of this stuff is pretty normalised

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ZhayBee@reddit

Consider the age bracket of your friend. Let's dial back about 10 years because I'm an old git. At twenty something in the early/mid 2010s, that sounded about right. I'd say it's still there, but it takes a bit to keep at it beyond the twenties, when you've hit the sweet spot of time, money and energy. Enjoy it when it's there, then let it fade and let the younger generation make their own mistakes is my take.

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Important_Highway_81@reddit

Depends on the people and social circles you associate with. When I was a student in university then yes, drinking until I bled and indulging in a range of recreational chemicals that would put Hunter S Thompson to shame was pretty much the norm. When I left it, got a job and realised that I couldn’t function properly when hungover then that swiftly got knocked on the head. Now I have 2 kids, get out once a month with my wife if we’re lucky and 3 glasses of wine on a Friday night feels like pushing the boat out!

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Alternative_Metal138@reddit

In my experience, yes, its very common. Drugs are very common and drinking more so. I know very few people that haven't at some point taken drugs.

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cloud1445@reddit

In previous generations(i.e. the 90's) I'd say yes. The new lot are much less inclined. But it's not uncommon to find.

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Old-Peace-8110@reddit

I would say it occurs, but whether it is acceptable is another matter.

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opinions-please-3164@reddit

I think it’s pretty common, but I come from a rural area with high drug use and live in Bristol, which is well known for drug use. I have circles of friends who are into it and some circles of friends who definitely wouldn’t touch it.

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opinions-please-3164@reddit

Binge drinking is definitely a popular activity in the UK too

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PretendEnvironment34@reddit

quite normal from my experience

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Imaginary_Goose_5890@reddit

Depends on your age group - I went to a Russell group uni (so not Oxford or Cambridge but a very well-respected and academic uni) and I would say a solid 90% of people there did drugs - frequently. I met like 3 people out of hundreds who didn’t take drugs at least on occasion. However, 10 years later and very few of those same people take drugs. Maybe once a year at a festival or something. I don’t think it’s a class/wealth/education level thing either. If anything, the middle/upper class people I know take drugs more than the working class people I know. Bankers, lawyers etc love their gear.

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Historical-Log-7650@reddit

I hope so 🫣

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OddPerspective9833@reddit

Yes, they are

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unclear_warfare@reddit

Yes not everyone does it, actually most people don't, especially when it comes to drugs, but it's certainly quite normal

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Effective_Ad_273@reddit

In a lot of social circles yes. It’s quite alarming how common cocaine is when you’re out drinking

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ghexplorer@reddit

Its never been common in my circle

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HotPen8582@reddit

Yes drinking culture is massive in Uk and getting wrecked on a Friday or Saturday night is the rite of passage for most teenagers until late 20s . If I could go back in time and do less of it I would . It’s also a camouflage because people can act up and do silly things like one might see on Jackass etc , but be called a legend when they are stuck in dead end jobs or have mental health issues and have to return to normal on a Monday ( after a deathly Sunday hangover ) .

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treelovingkoala@reddit

Yes, we are a civilised bunch. We tend to start in a park in our early teens - start with some Fosters, pack of smokes and maybe a J

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CowDontMeow@reddit

I don’t think the part scene is as big as it was but people definitely love to binge in the UK, I know people who are sober until they go to a festival and spend 3-5 days drunk whilst smashing gear, overindulgence is definitely a thing, just look at the reputation brits on holiday get

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Ok_Pangolin1908@reddit

I'd say pretty common but not something people do forever. Maybe 30% of young people probably dabble, more in cities. I moved to the countryside to get away from it and live a healthier life. I try to limit myself but its hard when all your friends and family do it very casually.

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ShinyHeadedCook@reddit

Yep its normal. Im a pretty normal guy, i dont drink often now im 44, but in my younger days weekends were just taking loads of coke and ecstasy and going clubbing and partying

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peps123@reddit

Get up mate

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Spiritual-Crow-5539@reddit

Before I had kids this was my life I will say this it’s a lot cheaper to get wasted by drugs than alcohol the affects last longer lol

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Home_Assistantt@reddit

It’s more a case of IF it happens in your circle of friends. I’ve been into clubbing in my “youf” and known plenty of people that do all sorts of drugs and it’s never been my thing and I can say none of my main friend group have ever touched anything. Just wasn’t for me/them/us.

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ding_0_dong@reddit

Tldr yes

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BobySandsCheseburger@reddit

It's in our blood, even the ancient celts were getting fucked up on magic mushrooms and drinking ale and mead

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James_Oculto@reddit

In the naughties it was pretty common. Messy times!

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amenizm89@reddit

I used to live for it, now i can't stand it but everyone around me in my life is still mad for it. The whole situation is making my life pretty difficult

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conrat4567@reddit

Never did the partying and most of the people in my circle stopped by 22. Drinking is still a big thing but we no longer drink excessively. A good night could be two or three pints. Drugs are a mixed bag. Me and my friends have had weed, they smoked and I consumed. That was when I was in my early 20s. We are all 25 / 26 now and no one does it anymore. We are open about it because it isn't a big deal. Not really. Partying is something all young people do and drinking isnt uniquely British, most of Europe can keep up with us or even do it better. Drugs have always been a thing, my mum did Ecstasy in her rave days and smoked weed as well in the 80s.

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Balnagask@reddit

Yeah it's called having fun and enjoying life.

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Adam-West@reddit

Probably 50:50. I don’t have many friends that haven’t at least tried some naughty stuff. People who don’t are usually just not bothered by the idea as opposed to being held back by cultural pressure

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EnoughYesterday2340@reddit

Cocaine usage is way more casual and prevalent here than my home country, although opioid crisis might be a big reason for that.

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Beer-Wolf1991@reddit

Pretty normal yes but becomes more and more difficult as you get older. Drugs and staying out until the early hours of the morning no longer appeal to me really, the odd occasion where I do go for it, I will suffer the consequences for a few days.

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Cak556@reddit

Yeah even in smaller villages and towns, we liked to get fucked up on whatever for a few years in our teens. I remember lots of kids smoking weed, drinking high strength cider, taking acid or ecstasy. Most folks grew out of it, and cracked on with their careers and I see them on LinkedIn with job titles like “senior logistics manager” or “VP of sales”. But, now I’m older I know a lot of middle age/middle class folks who still do a bit of MDMA when they go out, get stoned, maybe do some mushies or get some other stuff off the darknet. I know plenty of people that would say”go on then, just a little one” if offered a line. I don’t think many Brits would flinch if someone sparks a fat joint at a barbecue, or spilts an e before a gig. Yeah, I guess we’re generally up for the sesh.

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Westsidepipeway@reddit

I would say it was in my younger days. Not everyone of my friends, but many. Generally, a lax attitude as long as people were not being OTT. We're old now so less partying generally.

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Danglyweed@reddit

I reckon a good 40% of the 20-50% age range in my town do coke far more than is sociable usage. It's nor my cup of tea, but I do like a good drink!

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No-Body-4446@reddit

Not on Reddit

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misterjonesUK@reddit

There is a deeply embedded drinking culture in the UK. It is changing, and maybe it is more my generation. Drugs are everywhere, also, in different parts of society in different ways. Not just young, we have grown up with it.

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yoboylandosoda@reddit

It depends on a lot of things. Location is a pretty big one. Where my mam lives (small village) hardly anyone seems to drink except for special occasions and nearly always in their home or in the garden with neighbours. The idea of going to a pub to them is crazy. It's just not something they would do. Most of the ones under 50 are about spending time with their loved ones. You could walk through that village from 6am to midnight and not see a single drunk person, even on a Friday and Saturday Where as where I live, most of the pubs and bars are busy every night of the week and you'll see people pissed up at dinner time and going to the pub with 2 bags of coke on a Tuesday

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Calm-Sea-1837@reddit

Yeah, very normal. People like to have fun.

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rileyvace@reddit

We've actually got a bit of a Ketamine issue with young people currently, it may seem. But yeah a lot of people 'get on it' out on a night of drinking.

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Xenna11@reddit

Yes, normal.

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stebotch@reddit

Yer we like to enjoy ourselves

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explorer9898@reddit

For the youth yes but most people have grown out of it by age 23 or so - used to be drinking 2 nights a week at uni and some Drugs here and there now I’ve barely had a drop of alcohol all year and haven’t touched drugs since I can remember in my late 20s

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LimitlessGirl205@reddit (OP)

That's great!!

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Quirky_Raspberry_901@reddit

Depends on the people but I’ll say drinking is common

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JagoHazzard@reddit

Yeah, pretty common. I feel like it’s not as common as it used to be, due to the general cost of living, but yeah, it’s part of the culture.

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Superb-Ad-8823@reddit

Pretty much

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Indigo-Waterfall@reddit

Depends on your circles.

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sam_p_23@reddit

Pretty much. Nothing else to do over here. Wait until you find out what a Wetherspoons is.

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giganticturnip@reddit

Yeah, pretty normal among some people; uncommon among others. Britain is quite diverse in this respect, but it exists in the culture.

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Zealousideal-Habit82@reddit

Getting mashed for millennia.

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That_Northern_bloke@reddit

Depends on your social circle I'd say but yes, non of those things, apart from maybe drug taking, is particularly taboo. Weed is largely 'acceptable' as in it's use is very common.

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Sharp-Sky64@reddit

Yeah pretty normal

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eeyorethechaotic@reddit

Pretty much, sure. Not everyone, but it is common, yes

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