increased alcohol spending

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Is anyone else drinking more alcohol at home? I know we would be spending a fortune if we were out, but being at home we are spending quite a bit. DH acknowledges like 2-3 beers a day. Which is $3-4/day and in the grand scheme of things not going to break the bank. But it's just a lot more than before. Plus we are drinking a lot of other stuff. DH's cousin was over and we all sat outside and she mentioned they are drinking box wine because they are 30-somethings without kids and nothing else. Before she knows what happens they are drinking during "happy hour and dinner and binge watching tv and eating and drinking all night." Hence the box wine.

For us I did a quick run to costco last monday to buy two computers. That was expensive but i also bought 3 cases of beer for DH so that was $80 (he likes microbrews), plus i spent another about $100 on just small bottles of random booze and wine for me. My cousin and i finished 6 small bottles of sparkling sake, soju, and plum wines while sitting outside and each bottle was probably $8-10. It seems like we are spending more.

I just find it interesting. I know how much compared to going out we are saving so I have a suspicion we'll continue drinking at home. Because I am not sure if we are going to be decreasing our consumption. Instead we'll be just drinking with the neighbors more on the street since the weather is improving. I know my neighbors have all said the same about consuming more alcohol than expected.

[disneysteve]

We're definitely spending less out - zero actually. I don't think we're drinking any more at home than usual. That might be partially due to the fact that I still work full time so my schedule is the same as always. We have made two liquor purchases since the shutdown began - a bottle of rye that I picked up because we were doing a Zoom meet with the distillery and we wanted to have it on hand, and a bottle of wheated bourbon that had just been released and we wanted to get it before it sold out as it was a single barrel pick so only about 150 bottles were made. The rye purchase was a direct result of the shutdown because that's why the Zoom thing was happening, though we would have bought it at some point anyway. We visited the distillery in February and really liked the product. The bourbon purchase would have happened no matter what.

[kork13]

Gratefully, we don't drink at all, so that expenditure has always been zero. But I know alot of my friends have definitely been drinking more regularly, simply out of boredom. Of course, I don't expect that most of them are spending much more than normal -- they were pretty well (over-)stocked anyway, so this has been an opportunity to whittle down their alcohol collection.

[disneysteve]

they were pretty well (over-)stocked anyway, so this has been an opportunity to whittle down their alcohol collection.

We finished off a bottle of bourbon a few days ago and I used the last of a bottle of vodka last night.

[bjl584]

I'm probably drinking less.
Two factors I think:

One,
We can't go out to eat or to the bar.

Two:
We can't get together with friends at a house party or gathering.

Sitting at home drinking alone has zero appeal to me.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

There's no social drinking going on here. I typically have a small glass of wine before bedtime. Lately, I have not. For some reason I just have been forgetting about it. However, Totally Wine offers home delivery, so we did stock up that way. I felt a little embarrassed having wine, brandy, whiskey, and gin delivered.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I had no idea total wine delivered. May have to look into that. Bjl584 try drinking in your driveway with your neighbors. BYOB seems to make the alcohol flow. I will that when it's the weekend and we sit for hours with kids riding bikes and just playing on ipads next to parents in groups it appears we all have our coolers.

[disneysteve]

I had no idea total wine delivered.

Many liquor stores already delivered and many more have started as a result of the shutdown, at least here in NJ.

[Snicks]

People need something to do!

[kork13]

I had no idea total wine delivered. May have to look into that. Bjl584 try drinking in your driveway with your neighbors. BYOB seems to make the alcohol flow. I will that when it's the weekend and we sit for hours with kids riding bikes and just playing on ipads next to parents in groups it appears we all have our coolers.

this is largely what alot of families are doing in our neighborhood.

[Like2Plan]

Oh to be young again. DH and I don't generally drink alcohol. I used to drink one glass of champagne for New Years' Eve, but I haven't done that in quite a few years.

My big splurge these days is to brew a big cup of tea--used to be Teavana Tea, but I used up my last bit of that so I have switched to Steepologie. I haven't figured out how much it is per drink (probably best not to figure it out. )

[LivingAlmostLarge]

is steeped tea expensive??

[Like2Plan]

is steeped tea expensive??

I think so--it's about $10.00 for 2oz of loose leaves. (I'm not sure how many cups that represents, though.)

https://www.steepologie.com/

What makes me sad is that one of the stores in the chain (the one in Honolulu) will not be reopening.

[bjl584]

People need something to do!

Yes. But there is a difference in doing positive things versus negative things.

I've been doing yard work and projects around the house.
Far more positive than sitting around drinking beer.

[disneysteve]

Yes. But there is a difference in doing positive things versus negative things.

I've been doing yard work and projects around the house.
Far more positive than sitting around drinking beer.

Having a drink isn't automatically a negative. As long as you aren't doing it in excess, crashing your car, beating your wife, or damaging your health, go ahead an enjoy a beer or a glass of wine or a cocktail.

We've actually had a number of alcohol-related social events during the quarantine. Our bourbon group has done a couple of Zoom meet ups and tastings and we've participated in two Zoom events run by distilleries, one in Colorado and one in Maryland. Our daughter has done two online video cocktail parties with friends of hers.

Just as when we aren't quarantined, alcohol is commonly involved in social events.