Frequent fliers and drinking
 

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Do people who travel a lot drink more than others? Perhaps, since they are away from family and friends and drinking is an easily available passtime when they might otherwise be doing something else if they were home. The perception that they are getting something for "free" on planes or in hotels might push some to get all they can to maximize their perceived value.



From my professional side, here is some of the information I use and share with patients.

http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/alcohol-use.htm


https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAGE_questionnaire

I don't understand the obsession with alcohol and free anything. There really isn't anything that is free or worthwhile that is free.

I prefer not to drink or have a glass of champagne when I fly.

This is a very overreaching statement. This is the same thing as stating that Canadians and the Irish (or fill in any other country) seem to have a few too many. Many people on vacation are going to party.

Prove it. I would love to see stats on this statement.

OP: Did you recently join AA?

What is the problem with what other people do?

Sounds like someone that just quit smoking and now no one can smoke. Same with drinking.

Just do "your" thing, and let others do "their" thing. MYOB.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...tive-club-446/

:D

Seriously though, I don't the obsession some people have with drinking on planes nor do I understand the obsession some people have with others drinking habits.

(most) everyone drinks

flyers are not a special bunch

Frequent fliers and drinking
 

I've found the higher up the corporate chain you climb, the more drinking there is.

Since frequent fliers are typically mid to high level businessmen and businesswomen, it makes since they'd be drinking more.

I do not drink at all and I am a frequent flyer.

Do I feel cheated because I am letting of $1,000s of freebees slip by?

Perhaps.

But I made the choice to not drink because of health reason and I don't regret it.

Having high status does makes access to alcohol less expensive.

in airline/frequent flyer context I agree. In life, plenty of free* experiences are worthwhile

* = of course taking into consideration one's time, cost to travel to event/experience, etc etc

I drink when I travel. I drink when I don't travel. I enjoy a glass of wine, a mixed drink, a good aperitif. I don't believe I have a problem with alcohol per se, although I do drink more than the guidelines suggest on occasion (and other times I won't have a drop, just depends on my mood, activities, etc.). I never drink if I am driving.

The issue for me is that alcohol is very high calorie, as are many restaurant meals, cocktail party nibbles, etc etc. That's the part I feel guilty about!

I certainly understand the 'free' part to an extent. I stayed in a very nice hotel in Japan last year, and was comp'd access to the club lounge. In the evenings after meetings and before going out, I popped in for a glass of rather good champagne and a few nibbles while I caught up on my emails. Had there not been a lounge, I would have been unlikely to go and sit in a bar to drink a glass by myself before going out for the evening, I would have just checked my emails in my room. I can't quite explain it, I guess it feels like a treat, especially in pleasant surroundings. However, this isn't limited to alcohol - I also popped in to the lounge mid morning for a cup of jasmine tea, and in the afternoon I discovered a gorgeous 'orange squash' they had, and that became part of my routine! I also am a huge fan of being greeted at a hotel by a welcome drink (whether that is a glass of bubbly, a mint tea, or fruit flavoured water).

Most of my 'free' alcohol comes from hosted events (cocktail parties, dinners, etc.) You walk in to the room, and are offered a glass immediately, and having a drink in your hand while socializing rather feels normal. There are plenty of times I will have a Perrier (especially if I am somewhere hot, or have been inside meeting rooms all day and feel dehydrated!) I am not judged by my peers by what I have in my hand, and I don't judge them, but I rather enjoy a glass of champage, or a gin and tonic, so feel quite comfortable having those, or a water or diet coke.

I think with travelling you often also have more 'spare' time (even though your trip may be hectic, you are not grocery shopping, doing laundry, cleaning the house, watering the garden, making the bed, filing your mail, paying bills etc etc. that seem to fill your evenings at home) so some people fill that void with going to a bar, opening a beer in front of the game on TV or popping into the lounge.

Until which time I puke on your shoes, drunkenly attempt to fondle your wife or otherwise make an overt nuisance of myself would the Temperance Annies, Sons of Carrie Nation and the other judgemental and condescending busy-bodies be so kind as to MYOFB about how much I or anyone else happens to drink on a plane or at the airport? :rolleyes:

I don't drink but some of my coworkers do. I enjoy just listening. They can go days without drinking with no ill effects. Other nights they can each down a bottle of wine or two or maybe some mixed drinks.

And then the conversations get really interesting. Lots of dirt put out on the table, who is boinking, someone is in trouble at work, so and so has a tattoo and everybody has seen her tattoo but me (what am I doing wrong?), who is mad at who, employee is a real dirt ball, so and so is shaved (Hey! How come I don't know she is shaved?)

I think I need to start drinking......

Consumption =/= problem nor dependence. Some like to imbibe more than others and still comport themselves within a normal environment.

And the problem is exactly what? I also see lots of fat people in business class or in lounges. CUT OFF THE FOOD!!!!

You'll find people who range from tea-totalers to absolute lushes from all walks of life.

Your observations don't really have any meaning or significance to me, sorry to say.

oh wow a thread on this in omni, because there aren't 472 in travelbuzz. :rolleyes:

My thoughts exactly. And talk about a wide generalization based on pure conjecture. "I know a bunch of frequent flyers. They all drink to exceess. Therefore all frequent flyers drink to excess." Awesome logic.