A recent clip from Ed Sheeran’s appearance on “The Louis Theroux Podcast” has reignited discussions about how British and American cultures view alcohol consumption. In the 2025 interview, Sheeran remarked that “Americans call something ‘alcoholism’ that Brits simply call ‘culture’” and described having multiple pints and wine at the end of a workday as normal in the U.K. The comments, which resurfaced on social media, have prompted addiction experts to clarify where cultural drinking ends and problematic alcohol use begins.
According to the World Health Organization, both Americans and Britons consume around 9.7 liters of pure alcohol per year on average, but drinking patterns differ significantly. In the United Kingdom, pubs are often seen as community hubs and alcohol is integrated into daily social life, while in the United States attitudes toward drinking vary widely by region, religion, and social norms. Jessica Steinman, chief clinical officer at No Matter What Recovery in Los Angeles, told Fox News Digital that the legal drinking age and social stigma in the U.S. shape a different relationship with alcohol compared to the U.K., where restrictions are looser and drinking is less stigmatized.
Steinman emphasized that cultural context does not determine whether alcohol use has become a problem. “Regardless of where anyone lives and regardless of their culture, when alcohol or substances start negatively affecting someone’s life or when someone cannot control the levels of alcohol they drink, then it is a problem,” she said. She warned that people with alcohol use disorder may dismiss their drinking as a normal part of local culture, making them less likely to seek help. “When drinking gets in the way of a job, school or relationships — or when people start numbing out from difficult feelings or escaping their problems through alcohol — it isn’t just cultural drinking, it’s an addiction,” Steinman added.
Chris Tuell, clinical director of addiction services at Lindner Center of HOPE and associate professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, reinforced that culture influences perception but does not define alcohol use disorder. “What is considered ‘normal’ in one country may seem excessive in another,” he said. He noted that in parts of the U.K., Ireland, Germany, Australia, and even parts of the U.S., drinking is woven into sporting events, celebrations, work gatherings, and family traditions. However, he stressed that commonality does not equate to healthiness. “The fact that something is common does not automatically make it healthy — the same principle applies to alcohol,” Tuell said.
Tuell pointed out that two people who drink the same amount can have completely different outcomes. One may drink socially without negative consequences, while another may experience worsening anxiety, strained relationships, poor sleep, financial problems, declining health, and an inability to stop. He recommended paying attention to patterns that may indicate alcohol use disorder, such as craving alcohol, being unable to limit drinking, spending significant time drinking or recovering, and continuing to drink despite problems. “Ultimately, AUD is measured less by how much a person drinks and more by how much alcohol has begun to take from their life,” Tuell explained.
One of the greatest barriers to recognizing a drinking problem, according to Tuell, is comparison. People may say things like “everyone I know drinks this much” or “my family drinks every day.” He compared this to saying everyone in a family has high blood pressure, which does not make untreated hypertension healthy. “Likewise, widespread drinking doesn’t eliminate the possibility that alcohol is causing harm,” he said. Anyone experiencing symptoms of alcohol use disorder is advised to consult a healthcare provider for evaluation and guidance.
