Resurfaced Ed Sheeran clip sparks alcoholism debate and experts weigh in: Its just the culture

A clip from Ed Sheeran’s appearance on “The Louis Theroux Podcast” has recently resurfaced on social media, sparking renewed debate over differences between British and American attitudes toward alcohol.“Americans call something ‘alcoholism’ that Brits simply call ‘culture.’ Maybe one or two pints at the end of a workday,” the singer said during the 2025 podcast.“On a Friday you’ll have six pints and a bottle of wine.It’s not alcoholism to drink every day here … It’s just the culture.”Americans and Britons consume similar amounts of alcohol overall, with the average adult drinking about 9.7 liters of pure alcohol per year, according to the World Health Organization.Drinking patterns — such as how often people drink, how much they consume in a single sitting and social attitudes toward alcohol — can differ even when overall consumption is similar, according to public health experts.In the UK, pubs are commonly regarded as community gathering places, with alcohol representing a routine part of social life for many people.

In the US, attitudes toward drinking tend to vary more widely by region, religion and social norms, experts say.Jessica Steinman, chief clinical officer at No Matter What Recovery in Los Angeles, noted that British and American cultures have always been very different, and that includes alcohol consumption.“Americans can’t legally drink until 21, and it is frowned upon to do so before that age,” she told Fox News Digital.“In England, there is less stigma and restrictions around alcohol, which changes how people view it and drink it.”“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,” Steinman said.“When drinking gets in the way of a job, school or relationships — or when people start numbing out from difficult feelings or ...