Drinking, Schminking, was Re: Ethics, Schmethics

[cubfanbudwoman]

Ginger:  
> As a member of the hard-drinking lower class, I have never 
> found the amount of drinking in any of the HP books to be out of 
> range.  Hagrid, bless his heart, is pretty much the same social 
> class as I, so I've never been put off by his drinking.
> 
> Winky, on the other hand, I worry about.  She isn't drinking 
> socially.  She is drinking from depression. 


SSSusan:
I'm enjoying the input from the British, Aussie & American 
perspectives on this issue of alcohol consumption.  

Speaking as a former bartender and waitress, I would say there is a 
very vibrant drinking culture here aux Etats-Unis as well.  Some of 
it is, as Ginger notes, a class thing, but social drinking seems to 
me to cross classes -- it's just the what/where of the drinking which 
differs.  That is, are you drinking scotch & water in someone's 
living room or drinking Old Swill in a sports bar?  Are you offering 
Remy Martin apres diner or Jack & Coke & buffalo wings *as* diner?  

There are concerted efforts here in the States, too, to reduce 
underage drinking and drinking & driving, but heaven knows it's not 
(I don't think) really reducing by much the amount of drinking that's 
actually happening (tho I do think people take designated drivers 
much more seriously, thank goodness).  High schoolers are still 
getting wasted in spite of PRIDE chapters, frat parties are still an 
every-weekend phenomenon, drunk drivers are still killing people in 
spite of MADD and SADD, lots of factory workers still hit the bars 
when the shift ends at 3:00pm, and there are still customers 
hearing "last call" at 2:30am.  At least, that's what I still see.

I did notice more drinking/references to alcohol in HBP than in 
previous HPs, but I attributed it to Harry's being 16 now -- that he 
& his mates are more likely to be interested in alcohol and that 
adults are more likely to include him & his mates when drink is 
offered.  Like Ginger, the only characters who've really concerned me 
so far are Winky and Trelawney, who seem to be "problem drinkers."

FWIW.

Siriusly Snapey Susan, suddenly nostalgic for the occasional Flaming 
Jelly Bean and Russian Quaaludes she used to drink while tending bar 
at The Scoreboard.