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I'm a member of CAMRA, the campaign for real ale. Every month they send out a magazine to members. On the front page is an article on the social benefits of having a regular local. On the back page are the member obituaries. Sadly, regularly drinking alcohol shortens your life pretty dramatically, unless you are incredibly disciplined with it.

Traditionally there was zero stigma attached to having a beer in the "Kneipe" in Germany, especially for the working class typically living in small flats.

There's no significant social stigma to going to the pub socially in the UK.