Drink to be drunk

Of course people got drunk in the 50s and 60s but I do not think that there was the same single minded determination to get completely incapable as exists now. Licensing laws were, I think, more carefully observed. Most people in their late teens and early twenties did not have much disposable income as they would almost all have left home far sooner than seems the norm nowadays – I think somewhere around 18 was normal; they managed to afford it as they did not, generally, have cars, computers, designer clothes and trainers, did not belong to gyms or have mobile phones, did not go on holiday abroad or for fun weekends away, did not routinely eat in restaurants and have takeaways and, to get back to the point, spend loads on drink. We did not have trendy wine bars and very few places where a woman could go alone or even with other female friends.