You really haven't been to northern Europe have you?

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.

You're telling me that people go to lunch, drink a bottle of wine in an hour and go back to work?

I drink a lot and I'd never do something like that. You'd be too drunk to drive.

> You're telling me that people go to lunch, drink a bottle of wine in an hour and go back to work?

Social lunch != working lunch

Though a pint or two or sharing a bottle of wine (not one each) at a working lunch is hardly unusual in Blighty.

> You'd be too drunk to drive.

One doesn't need to drive into London nor most commuter cities.

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.

Well drinking on the weekends is normal everywhere so I don't know what is being conveyed here.

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.