According to some idiot (no link because TIME magazine, fukkem):
It’s Time to Go Back to the Joy of Social Drinking
As pandemic lockdowns ease and we return to ordinary life rhythms, the revival of social drinking should be embraced with euphoric gusto. The shared experience of music, happy chatter, effortlessly synchronized conversation, rising endorphin levels, and reduced inhibitions catalyzed by a few glasses of ethanol has been impossible to replace with Zoom chats, and it is something we’ve been desperately missing. Let us look forward to once again celebrating the ancient, distinctly human joy of sharing a pint or two among friends.
Yeah, I suppose he means something like this:
…this:
…this: 
…or even this:
Hate to say it, buddy, but that’s the way I always drink and no, I didn’t stop during the Covidiocy.
I am looking at moving to coast GA in the next 6 months. Just as soon as the house is finished. My running buddies all started moving a few years back. One moved to Daytona and another to the outskirts of Denver. Another is in a 38′ RV traveling America. The last one is back on the road and I am trying my best to get out of metro Atlanta.
We still socially drink. Either by a video chat or a phone call. When my wife would ask if I was drinking alone I would reply, “No, I have been talking with Jim,” or Larry or Benny…
One thing that I think has put a damper on social drinking, that the article doesn’t mention, is DWI laws, and the (IMO, justifiable) social opprobrium associated with driving while inebriated. Couple that with the fact that most people drive to and from work, and people aren’t going to stop at a local watering hole on the way home from work, knowing that they have to drive the rest of the way home after having a drink or two.
And once home, people tend to stay there. In suburbia, at least, getting to and from the local watering hole requires driving, unless you feel like paying for an Uber, which will probably cost more than you’re spending on the booze, unless you’re carpooling in the Uber.
I know the crackdown on DWIs in the military is what strangled the Army’s club system (officer/NCO clubs that every base had, at least through the late 90s to early 2000s). When a single DWI can ruin an officer or NCO’s career, they aren’t going to stop by the O club or NCO club before they head home.
Yeah, that did it for me. Being armed is a problem too and I don’t go out of the house without that. So when I do go out, no alcohol.
I can’t speak for the other services, but the Navy absolutely destroyed their club system in the 90s and early 00s. Many of the clubs would not serve alcohol before 1700, and the base CO would station civilian cops right in the club parking lots. Every function from 2009 on would have a DAPA (Drug and Alcohol Program Advisor) rep taking names and counting drinks. My last command CO was tickled to death every time she had a chance to bust someone for a DUI and she had a zero tolerance for alcohol consumption at any command-sponsored function, including retirements.
That’s a shame. I remember our dinings in and hail-and-farewells as being particularly bright moments in my military career.
The dog is home with me. Does that count as social drinking?
JQ
Mr. Free Market replies: yes.
Excellent!!!! My Golden Retriever Piper is excellent company!!!
one place I worked at had a couple of people that were fun and interesting to go drink with after work but we all went our separate ways.
The more fun places to drink and smoke cigars are at least an hour from me so it’s have a couple, then nothing but coffee and water for an hour or so then I could drive home or get something to eat. The conversations with strangers ranged from the silly to sublime and were very enjoyable.
Some of the closer places just don’t have any liquor worth drinking.
JQ