drinking culture

Drinking culture refers to the social customs, rituals, and attitudes surrounding alcohol consumption within a group or society.

It encompasses when, where, how, and with whom people drink: The office has a strong drinking culture—happy hours every Friday.

Different drinking cultures vary widely, from wine with meals in Mediterranean countries to binge drinking at American universities.

The term often carries implicit criticism when describing environments where heavy drinking is normalized or expected: The drinking culture in finance can be hard to navigate if you don't drink.