American drinking culture is rather different. I recall American work colleagues visiting us being horrified at going out for a lunchtime pint. ("What if your manager or HR finds out"; "Errm, we're joining them, they are already there"). They never even got to see the Friday night carnage that goes on in most British pubs.
Really? One person drinking five glasses of wine over lunch seems normal to you?
Looking at the UK guidelines, a bottle of wine is generally ten units and they suggest under fourteen units a week spread out over three or more days. So that "social lunch" seems to be binge drinking in the UK too.
Your government would still consider it drinking in excess of their guidelines, which is binge drinking. One of your other comments suggests you know this, as you're aware that it's not something you should do everyday.
Yes, I agree that is what the government say. I'm just telling you what happens in reality.
And I don't do it every day because I am old and hangovers are now a multi-day affair. In my younger days I could have easily done Friday, Saturday and possibly Sunday.
At least in Finland, no, that wouldn’t be normal. I’m sure there are people who drink a bottle of wine (or equivalent) during lunch, but that would definitely raise some serious eyebrows among most people.
In the USA it's often called "day drinking" and it usually coincides with brunch (never heard the term "social lunch" here) on the weekend. As in "rosé all day", or "bottomless bloody mary's" with a brunch purchase, etc.
I mean I wouldn't do it every day, but if I went to, say, dinner in the evening or Sunday lunch (and obviously didn't have to drive) I could drink a bottle of wine over the course of a 2-3 hour meal easily.
In the UK (and probably most of Europe) that's what we have with a social lunch.