The days when I could drink five as a matter of course, or eight on a "serious" night's drinking, (I remember a night when male friends congratulated me on having consumed ten beers) are long over. Physically, I can't drink like that any more, and, in truth, I no longer wish to do so.
Besides, it is not only age, (and maturity) it is also that when you start working, heading in to the office or classroom with a throbbing head is not such a good idea; so, these days, I have made a virtue of necessity, and prize quality over quantity. And yes, you pay for that, but then, in your 40s, you often have a salary where you can afford to do so.
Okay, I take your point about the price of drinking out, and of course, it is cheaper to drink the good stuff at home (which I do). The difference is I don't drink swill or plonk anywhere, these days, not at home, and not out.
However, again, these days, I'm not out in pubs all that often, and when I am, I'm usually in a pub I like, in the company of people I like, where the ambience, service and quality of beer or wine served is excellent. Yes, I pay for this, and I'm happy to do so....
The other thing is that with the revival of artisan breweries (and EU membership) it is a lot easier to lay hands on good beers, and good wines in both Ireland & the UK than it was 20 or 30 years ago.
