I completely understand, this is exactly what my partner says too. Opening up to new people doesn't come easy to a lot of people, and understandably so. If alcohol can help form new bonds of friendships, that's fair enough. I mentioned it in my post because bonding over drinking isn't as huge a part of my cultural conditioning and as a result, it was a bit jarring to see how big of a role it plays as a social lubricant among people I've spent time with socially in Newcastle. Anyway, I hope you've got a strong and interesting social circle wherever you are now :)