Latest addiction: ‘drunk shopping’, online shopping when you’re wasted
It can’t possibly be true. I mean: this is also a razor-sharp Thai knife for next to nothing. But I already have six razor-sharp knives in the kitchen drawer. And yet I just ordered another one. Why, tell me why.
I entirely blame my Chardonnay (‘the slut among grapes‘). Because: 39 billion a year. That is how much is sold worldwide to people who shop online after one glass of wine or beer too many.
New addiction
‘Drunk shopping’ is a new addiction: you’re tipsy and you want something you never knew you wanted before. You take a look at all those webshops on your phone, at the latest summer dresses here (thanks to my fashionable colleagues at Amayzine) and beautiful products there. Suddenly you think you deserve to treat yourself to a peanut butter maker, a Guac-Lock or a mountain of new cutting boards. Suddenly you think you’ll be happier with that Bacon Master. And yes, you really did need that mini wine fridge from Lidl too, hop, flop, into your basket and click away. Have another sip, then. Cheers to that new cutting board.
Sound familiar?
It’s awful but true: I completely recognize myself in this (you too?). There is no such thing as enough kitchen gadgets (except for this one). But I usually manage to restrain myself, because savings are important too (so that I can eventually fly to these five world-class restaurants!) But before I know it, I’m scrolling again and a little later I get an email saying ‘Thank you for ordering!’.
Makes me want to cry. Because I really don’t need it. But why do I do it then?
The combination is disastrous
There isn’t much I and all the drunk shoppers out there can do about it, research shows. Alcohol causes impulsive behavior and therefore also those impulse purchases. Whereas in the past you might not have cycled into town to go shopping after a pleasant drink, these days you can buy everything with a few swipes on your phone. The combination of what alcohol does to your brain and today’s technological convenience is disastrous for your savings account. As many as 79 percent of people who drink alcohol occasionally are guilty of drunk shopping. Each year, we spend an average of 385 euros per person on things we order online when we’re wasted. The people who shop online the most while they’ve been drinking are men and women aged 36.
Anyone who wants to make their own peanut butter again or needs a cutting board knows where to find me. But that Thai knife really was a great purchase. I’m keeping it.
Also read:
- 8 myths about alcohol (stop believing them!)
- Fact check: does drinking alcohol help against a hangover?
- Is alcohol-free wine really wine? And does it taste good?
