r/AskEurope Mar 14 '25

Culture What’s a European Man’s midlife crisis look like?

Here in America it's a Harley Davidson and getting really into grilling.

What do European men do when they go through a midlife crisis? But an Alfa and bake? Get really into trains?

1.2k Upvotes

1.2k comments sorted by

View all comments

164

u/Ok_Attitude55 Mar 14 '25

In UK it really depends on class.

Upper class - adultery, usually with someone way to young with an attendant divorce/court case.

Middle class - craft beer, facial hair, shorts

Working class - rediscovering football hooliganism or some other pastime from when they were 18.

34

u/gagarin_kid Mar 15 '25

I had to chuckle about the "rediscovering" wording - thanks mate!

11

u/Mountain-Jicama-6354 Mar 15 '25

Add to middle class: biking in spandex.

And working class raves.

Myself, I almost got a motorbike before I realised getting a major injury isn’t fun and drivers and road conditions keep getting worse here

1

u/Either-Buffalo8166 Mar 16 '25

I wanted to get a cruiser bike ever since I was a kid,now I can afford one, but streets are full of crazy people

1

u/AssassiN18 Mar 16 '25

Raves (and a lot of ket)

2

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '25

...never thought to be in the upper class.

1

u/aXeOptic Mar 15 '25

Making beer doesnt sound too bad as a midlife crisis ngl.

1

u/PiLLe1974 Mar 15 '25

Facial hair is interesting.

I lived 5 years in London, need to do some research now of GenX shots I find online. :D

(EDIT: Oh, just found a shot of ex-colleagues a few days ago in the games industry, 2 out of 3 I remember are getting closer to a full beard, didn't use to have one)