# Drinkers: What is "too early" for you? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 13, 2005, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinkers-what-is-too-early-for-you/312405 "2005-07-13T20:32:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinkers-what-is-too-early-for-you/312405/1 "2005-07-13T20:32:02Z")
Almost everyone has a feeling about what “too early” means when it comes to alcohol. For some people it’s anytime before 5pm, for others drinking with lunch is OK, for some people a Bloody Mary is an integral part of their Sunday brunch. So, barring one of those “I need a drink” moments (and alcoholism), what is the earliest time you’d consider civilised for drinking alcohol. For me, I wouldn’t drink before midday. You? ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinkers-what-is-too-early-for-you/312405/2 "2005-07-13T20:34:38Z")
I’m not big on drinking during the week if it is still light outside. Weekends are fair game any time due to cookouts, tailgating, and things of that nature. ---
**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinkers-what-is-too-early-for-you/312405/3 "2005-07-13T20:36:11Z")
Generally noon…unless I haven’t been to bed yet in which case I’m probably not terribly coherent on what time it is anyways. And all bets are off in Las Vegas or at a bachelor party. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinkers-what-is-too-early-for-you/312405/4 "2005-07-13T20:38:26Z")
Does rinsing after brushing in the morning with a gin and tonic count? Seriously… Rare glass of wine or beer at lunch. Mostly drink with dinner and later. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinkers-what-is-too-early-for-you/312405/5 "2005-07-13T20:44:19Z")
> [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#): > > I’m not big on drinking during the week if it is still light outside. Weekends are fair game any time due to cookouts, tailgating, and things of that nature. What he said. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinkers-what-is-too-early-for-you/312405/6 "2005-07-13T20:47:09Z")
> [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#): > > I’m not big on drinking during the week if it is still light outside. Be thankful you don’t live in Alaska then. 6 months dry followed by a 6 month bender. ---
**Author:** ![wasson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/4da419/32.png) [@wasson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wasson)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinkers-what-is-too-early-for-you/312405/7 "2005-07-13T20:47:56Z")
Regularly, I’d say at dinner time. However, there are special occassions where the drinking starts early and keeps on going. I was just in a wedding I didn’t really want to be in with friends about in the same boat. We started at about 10:30 AM, and finished about 3:30 AM the next day. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinkers-what-is-too-early-for-you/312405/8 "2005-07-13T20:51:27Z")
Champagne drinks or Bloody Marys with a weekend breakfast or brunch is OK, IMHO. Otherwise I don’t see a problem with a drink at lunch, as long as it’s not every day. Ditto for dinner. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinkers-what-is-too-early-for-you/312405/9 "2005-07-13T20:51:57Z")
During the week I’ll start as soon as I get off if it’s hot outside. On days off mid afternoon is fine. If I’m at the lake I’ll start as soon as I get up in the morning if the mood strikes. Vegas, 36~48 hour marathon drinking. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinkers-what-is-too-early-for-you/312405/10 "2005-07-13T20:51:59Z")
There is no “too early” for me. That said, there is definitely a “too often”. If my wife and kids are away, I sometimes wake up on a Saturday morning, drink a protein shake, hit the gym, and then come back and drink a Black Label on the rocks. Then I’ll ride the buzz while watching TV until it’s time for lunch. Of course, this is rare. On the other hand, I usually don’t drink more than 4 days a week. And most of these days, it’s just 1 drink. ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinkers-what-is-too-early-for-you/312405/11 "2005-07-13T20:56:43Z")
Ordinarily, before 7pm is too early on a weekend, although I’ll occasionally have a bloody mary in the early afternoon. I don’t generally drink during the week. On vacation (a beach vacation, anyway), too early is any time before I get out of bed. ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinkers-what-is-too-early-for-you/312405/12 "2005-07-13T20:57:43Z")
There’s no such thing as too early; mimosas and bloody mary’s are superb breakfast drinks. I only drink in the morning on vacations, though. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinkers-what-is-too-early-for-you/312405/13 "2005-07-13T20:58:06Z")
I really won’t drink before 5 PM. I have broken this rule before, but rarely. ---
**Author:** ![usar\_jag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f0a364/32.png) [@usar\_jag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usar_jag)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinkers-what-is-too-early-for-you/312405/14 "2005-07-13T20:58:20Z")
Just remember: You can’t drink all day unless you start drining in the morning! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![usar\_jag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f0a364/32.png) [@usar\_jag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usar_jag)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinkers-what-is-too-early-for-you/312405/15 "2005-07-13T21:00:36Z")
:smack: I meant drinking! Apparently, I should really cut back… ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinkers-what-is-too-early-for-you/312405/16 "2005-07-13T21:00:53Z")
> [@adam yax](#): > > Be thankful you don’t live in Alaska then. **6 months dry followed by a 6 month bender**. Isn’t that the state motto of Alaska? I have to agree with **Big Bad Voodoo Lou** …although for me, 9:30 or 10:00 pm is generally the norm, parties or BBQ or something earlier on the weekend _might_ tempt me, but probably not. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinkers-what-is-too-early-for-you/312405/17 "2005-07-13T21:11:16Z")
> [@Ol'Gaffer](#): > > Generally noon… It’s always noon, _somewhere._ ---
**Author:** ![pasunejen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/58956e/32.png) [@pasunejen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pasunejen)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinkers-what-is-too-early-for-you/312405/18 "2005-07-13T21:16:36Z")
Never before dinner, unless there’s tailgating involved. This is also the only time I will gleefully break out an ice cold beer in below-freezing weather. ---
**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinkers-what-is-too-early-for-you/312405/19 "2005-07-13T21:17:02Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > It’s always noon, _somewhere._ I think I have heard this rationale before… ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinkers-what-is-too-early-for-you/312405/20 "2005-07-13T21:17:38Z")
Last Saturday at about 11am, a friend of mine was hungover and in need of grease, so we headed to Zeitgeist, a wonderfully dingy dive haven in the Mission, with a great grill. Now, I’m not gonna waste a trip to Zetgeist by not having one of their many microbrews, am I? > [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#): > > I’m not big on drinking during the week if it is still light outside. But happy hour! Two dollar microbrews! Plus, it’s light until about 9 here; I gotta start thinking about bed at that point. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinkers-what-is-too-early-for-you/312405.md?page=2)