boozer

Boozer is an informal English noun that can refer to a person who regularly drinks large amounts of alcohol, i.e., a heavy drinker. In British English, the term can also denote a bar or pub, as in the phrase “the local boozer.” When used to describe a person, it can carry pejorative or humorous connotations depending on context.

The word derives from booze, the informal term for alcohol, plus the agent suffix -er. It first appeared in 19th-century English and has remained informal in both the United Kingdom and the United States. In the UK, “the local boozer” commonly describes a neighborhood pub, while in American usage the noun more often designates a person rather than a place.

In culture and media, boozer is used to characterize someone who habitually consumes alcohol and may appear in fiction, journalism, or casual speech. It is not a clinical or diagnostic term for alcohol use disorder; its tone is usually casual, humorous, or colloquial, and it can be perceived as disparaging depending on context.

As a surname, Boozer is borne by several individuals, including Carlos Boozer (born 1981), an American former professional basketball player. The surname is relatively uncommon and may appear in biographical or sports literature without implying any relation to drinking behavior.

See also: Booze; Boozehound; Pub; Tavern; Alcohol.