My dad spent a lot of time in Spain back in the day and was a regular at a local cafe, where he'd get a coffee and a tortilla (Spanish omelette) for breakfast. The cafe was popular with construction workers too and they would order the same, only they would top it off with a shot of Carlos Tercero, the cheapest brandy.

That's very unusual for 20 years ago. I remember this from my childhood, 60 years ago, where this was common. But even in the 90s that had stopped almost completely.

I'm guessing you don't know many roofers. I've watched roofers crush tall boys at 6AM more times than I can count.

Roofing's a helluva job. If I was a roofer, you'd damn well believe I'd have a beer+ before work.

People seek pain management where they can get it, and alcohol isn't the worst.

You misspelled meth. Roofers do meth. Outdoor trades do uppers. Indoor trades smoke weed. Everyone smokes cigarettes. Except the electricians, they smoke pole. Everyone knows that.

Lol. I knew a lot of framers who drank (lunch) and smoked (always) pretty heavily.

Maybe we live in different parts of the country but in bavaria it’s completely fine and common to have a beer at lunch, both blue and white collar workers

I saw that in Rome 13 years ago. Three road workers pulling up some bricks to access a utility. One guy in the hole, two guys outside the hole, one with a tallboy beer, at 930.

I'm sure it comes with a lot of problems but there's something to be said about a relaxed society.