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AIBU?

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Original poster

Non alcoholic drinks at work

107 replies

SunshineSamba · 17/07/2025 00:15

I work in a professional office for a large company.

Went downstairs for lunch today in my office canteen and new team member pulls out his packed lunch, including 0% ale.

I was stunned. I had a can of Fanta but it feels like non alcoholic beer is different. I hope this doesn’t become the norm. AIBU?

OP posts:
Justthethingsthatyoudointhisgarden · 17/07/2025 08:51

Surely the issue is that if having a glass of 0%beer in your desk becomes the norm, you won't spot the person with the real beer. Someone will take advantage of the situation.

ItDoesntHaveToBeASnowman · 17/07/2025 08:49

DiscoBeat · 17/07/2025 08:21

I think if I took NA beer in to work I'd be worried that people would think I couldn't get through the day without 'a beer' so I'd definitely avoid it for that reason.

Yes this is how I see it too

Radioundermypillow · 17/07/2025 08:46

I drink 0% Guinness in the day because its delicious.

Agree with whoever said uptthread that 0% beer is less full of shite than tango or fanta etc.

SerendipityJane · 17/07/2025 08:44

When I worked in Germany there was a a fridge with beer and wine in the office canteen.

They also had an onsite gym and a masseur come in once a week.

Generally I am a libertarian, but alcohol and work should never ever mix.

I do get a sense of the OP, but at the end of the day, if there's no alcohol, what harm ? Unless you subscribe to the "Yes there is no law against it, but we don't like it so will use the excuse that 'we don't want to norrnalise it" school of dim thinking.

YawYoreYourYoure · 17/07/2025 08:39

From the cryptic clues and some googling I'm guessing Guinness Malta.

TheJinxMinx · 17/07/2025 08:30

I can see how you would be a bit taken a back. If im being 100% honest my first thought would be are they an alcoholic and trying to still function in work by tricking the brain with the same taste/appearance in bottle. Obviously this is the extreme case they may just like the taste or see it as a bit of a treat and nothing wrong as its none alcoholic. In theory absolutely nothing wrong with it I do agree though it may cause head to turn particularly in certain organisations for example when I was in the NHS im sure my manager would have passed comment if I was in the staff room with a non alcoholic beer she would worry others might not see it has no alcohol, a family member could see the bottle but not clearly and assume im drinking alcohol etc also I assume it still smells like beer? Imagine if it catches on the office smelling like a pub 😹

MidnightGloria · 17/07/2025 08:28

I don't see anything wrong with it at all. It's no more inappropriate than having a soft drink, and probably healthier. Think about it logically - there are good reasons we consider drinking alcohol at work to be unprofessional. None of those good reasons apply to non-alcoholic drinks. What we're left with are rationales several orders removed, like some people associating it with nights out or worrying someone might mistake it for the real thing. None of which are strong enough to justify being against it.

TheKeatingFive · 17/07/2025 08:27

SunshineSamba · 17/07/2025 08:15

A bit of a mix in the comments but 72% of the poll think I am BU. Maybe this is going to become the norm afterall

Well there's obviously nothing wrong with it, so why not?

toadinthebucket · 17/07/2025 08:26

Why are you keeping the brand a secret?

FrenchandSaunders · 17/07/2025 08:22

I don’t see a problem with this at all.

But I’m of an age when a subsidised bar onsite and a few beers at lunchtime used to be the norm 🤷🏼‍♀️

DiscoBeat · 17/07/2025 08:21

I think if I took NA beer in to work I'd be worried that people would think I couldn't get through the day without 'a beer' so I'd definitely avoid it for that reason.

Gcsunnyside23 · 17/07/2025 08:20

I work in an alcohol company and have these drinks in the fridge for us freely to drink. They taste nice and gave zero alcohol so why not in my opinion. Is it because it's in the office that it's weird to you? As you don't seem to mind people actually drinking alcohol on lunch break as it's out of the office?

Original poster
SunshineSamba · 17/07/2025 08:15

A bit of a mix in the comments but 72% of the poll think I am BU. Maybe this is going to become the norm afterall

OP posts:
Icanttakethisanymore · 17/07/2025 08:14

SunshineSamba · 17/07/2025 07:52

It wasn’t any of the drinks mentioned. It was a can of one of the popular beer brands - perhaps why I felt uncomfortable, because the branding on the can was for what I have always seen as an alcoholic brand. Lucky Saint and Tripp mean nothing to me so if these are also 0% drinks then I wouldn’t have twigged.

Why don’t you want to say the brand?

Icanttakethisanymore · 17/07/2025 08:13

I’d have been surprised too but obviously it’s fine once you’ve thought about it for a second. He likes the taste of it, the is no reason he is less entitled to his 0% beer than you your Fanta.

Original poster
SunshineSamba · 17/07/2025 08:12

@Shelby2010 i wouldn’t consider schleor to be a 0% drink. It doesn’t mention alcohol anywhere on the bottle.

@spoonbillstretford if you go out for lunch or drinks, that’s different.

This was a major alcohol brand and in small writing it said ‘non alcoholic malt drink’

OP posts:
RonObvious · 17/07/2025 08:10

TyneTeas · 17/07/2025 00:32

I am a bit conflicted as I do feel it is inappropriate but am struggling to articulate exactly why

In 70s and 80s things like Top Deck Cider and Shandy Bass were fine for kids to buy, but views shifted about normalising

Omg - I’d forgotten about Top Deck cider! Sudden flashbacks to my misspent youth.

UnfashionableArtex · 17/07/2025 08:07

What about Wine Gums? Coq au vin allowed? Prosecco flavoured crisps too much? I think you're being silly.

spoonbillstretford · 17/07/2025 08:02

When I started work we used to go for pints at lunch time. And working in France we had a proper lunch and wine. I can't say I'm fussed about 0% beer, or even someone having a glass of wine over lunch.

TheKeatingFive · 17/07/2025 08:02

Actually, sorry, having googled it, there is no legal basis to do so. But stores seem to enforce restrictions on non alc because they think it could lead to mix ups if they don't.

theunbreakablecleopatrajones · 17/07/2025 08:01

Shelby2010 · 17/07/2025 00:59

Does Schloer count as ‘fake’ alcohol? I was thinking of taking a can of Schloer Zero to try and help with my afternoon sugar cravings. Will I get frowned at?!

Show quote history

Only by the OP..

TheKeatingFive · 17/07/2025 07:59

Coka · 17/07/2025 07:56

Genuine question, if its the same as a soft drink why do you have to be 18 to buy it?

A hang over from the licensing laws and how they're classified.

Beyond stupid

Coka · 17/07/2025 07:56

Genuine question, if its the same as a soft drink why do you have to be 18 to buy it?

Original poster
SunshineSamba · 17/07/2025 07:52

It wasn’t any of the drinks mentioned. It was a can of one of the popular beer brands - perhaps why I felt uncomfortable, because the branding on the can was for what I have always seen as an alcoholic brand. Lucky Saint and Tripp mean nothing to me so if these are also 0% drinks then I wouldn’t have twigged.

OP posts:
Tiredofwhataboutery · 17/07/2025 07:41

Pigtailsandall · 17/07/2025 06:51

Or maybe they just enjoy the taste? I hate syrupy soft drinks and would never have fanta, but I love the taste of hoppy, malty beer in the summer.

I think CBD drinks should be fine too, seeing as Waitrose sells them as a part of a lunch-time meal deal. Might chill out some very highly-strung colleagues

Show quote history

I really like TRIP, I don’t think it makes you high, it’s essentially fizzy water with natural flavourings , there’s an elderflower one which is really refreshing. I’m not bothered about the cbd, I’d buy a non cbd alternative that tasted the same. Most companies who do a flavoured fizzy water make the flavour really strong or add sweeteners.

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