Does everyone in "big" jobs drink a lot?

[CrinklyCraggy]

I don't suppose they do, but my little snapshot makes it seem like they do!

I work in a senior consultancy type position with secondary schools and know the heads quite well.

I was in a meeting with headteachers this afternoon and going round the table there was:

• A woman who has told me she opens the red wine as soon as she gets home. Rarely makes a bottle last 2 days

• A man whose hands shake and who comes to our meeting so he can knock off early and go to the pub on the way home. He tells us this.

• A rugby fan proud of how drunk he gets every weekend (at the rugby) Looks like a drunk with a big bulbous nose, although obviously I don't known what, if anything, actually caused that.

• A man who admits to having whisky in his desk drawer

• A man who has a case brought against him for harassing a member of staff in a public place. His defense was that he could remember none of it due to his level of intoxication. (He actually resigned as a result and is now there as an advisor but was head at the time)

• A man who spent several weeks in hospital after falling down the stairs drunk

• Then just one other who avoids HT's social things because he doesn't like the drinking. The annual County HT's conference gets very messy!

So it's not everyone, but in that room there are several problem drinkers and probably two who drink on the job. All middle aged heads of secondary schools.

Are other high pressure jobs the same?

I think there are drinkers across all demographics. My ex worked in finance in a really high pressure role. He never drank to excess, neither did any of his colleagues of a similar age but they always had a nightmare keeping new recruits off coke.

My DH has a very responsible job, very senior position, a big job by your definition, certainly. He never drinks in the week and at weekends only has a beer or 2.

I've got a big job and I barely drink alcohol. It just does't appeal to me all that much. I do enjoy it occasionally though. However, we all have our vices. Mine is biscuits!

Just here for the important husband comments. First few posts have not disappointed.

Not all but some.

But I don’t think it’s unique to any social strata, if you’re under pressure, whether that’s because you can’t pay the bills, or have to persuade your board of directors not to sack you at every review, drinking is one way to deal with it.

I have a moderately ‘big’ job - lead a department type of thing. I don’t drink. The occasional glass of fizz at a special occasion/event, but that really is it. However, I will say, after a particularly tough day/week/meeting something like ‘where’s the gin?’ I don’t really know why because it’s incredibly unlikely that I’ll reach for the gin, but it’s a good shorthand for how wrung out I’m feeling.

I’m a lawyer. I drink TONNES

(Not really.)

I have a relatively big job. I’m nearly two years sober! (Before that I definitely drank to cope!).

I work closely with sales teams. They are generally either big drinkers and / or coke heads. Or they are health nuts who spend half their time at the gym. Doesn't seem to be a middle ground.

I have a big job and don’t drink much at all. Sugar is my drug of choice.

Wow. Surprised at the unhappiness and poor habits of the headteachers in OPs post. Can't believe same people make such a fuss over black shoes vs black trainers and other petty nonsense.

I think to be truly talented and successful in a demanding job, you are unlikely to be a huge drinker. When you read interviews with top CEOs they are more likely to be up at 5 to meditate and do strategic thinking with herbal tea and bed at 10 because a good nights sleep is so important than opening another bottle after dinner on a weeknight.

Not to the level you’ve described.

But In law there has traditionally been a big drinking culture. But the ones in the group you describe sound far beyond what I’ve seen.

Agree that it's all areas of the business. My work now does separate Christmas parties for different teams because fewer and fewer office staff were coming because of how drunk and rowdy the operators got on the annual night out.

I have a 'big job'. Occasionally, have a drink a the weekend and it's one or 2. And it's probably one weekend a month on average.

My immediate peers at work, one doesn't drink at all and one rarely drinks. The wider group has a few drinkers. One is an alcholic.

The MD drinks at parties but rarely in between.

On the other hand my dp works in a warehouse, they have real problems with people turning up hungover or even still drunk. Calling in sick on their first day after their days off because they drunk too much etc.

So I don't think it's a 'big job' things at all.

In my experience men way out drink women in work events with executive attendees

"Wow. Surprised at the unhappiness and poor habits of the headteachers in OPs post. Can't believe same people make such a fuss over black shoes vs black trainers and other petty nonsense."

I'm surprised by the level of drinking, but not by the level of unhappiness. I wouldn't be a Headteacher for a million pounds and I honestly don't know how they have done it over the last two years. The demands on them are phenomenal, the level of scrutiny is insane and trying to reach expected standards while coping with current pupil and staff absences is impossible.

And their petty obsession with school uniform is their attempt to draw a line in the sand and set clear boundaries so that your child is safe at school. I've always felt I'd rather my child was in a school that was strict about small things than one where chairs were thrown, but you may have other priorities.

I have a big job - C level. I also have a two year old toddler and although the thought of drinking in the evening after she's in bed is very appealing, in reality I just wouldn't have the energy or clarity of thought to survive if I did.
I have a glass or two at the weekend probably and that's it.

I have a small job and regularly drink to excess with all the other small people

No. Everyone is different

HTH

@KenAdams

Just here for the important husband comments. First few posts have not disappointed.

@KenAdams

Just here for the important husband comments. First few posts have not disappointed.

🤣🤣🤣🤣

@BishyBarnyBee

"Wow. Surprised at the unhappiness and poor habits of the headteachers in OPs post. Can't believe same people make such a fuss over black shoes vs black trainers and other petty nonsense."

I'm surprised by the level of drinking, but not by the level of unhappiness. I wouldn't be a Headteacher for a million pounds and I honestly don't know how they have done it over the last two years. The demands on them are phenomenal, the level of scrutiny is insane and trying to reach expected standards while coping with current pupil and staff absences is impossible.

And their petty obsession with school uniform is their attempt to draw a line in the sand and set clear boundaries so that your child is safe at school. I've always felt I'd rather my child was in a school that was strict about small things than one where chairs were thrown, but you may have other priorities.

That is true, I forget that headteachers are saving lives.

I was just here for the teacher bashing and that didn't take long either...

I've worked in IT for a long time and there was always a 'work hard, play hard' culture which was basically pressure to drink. I hated it and used to slope off after one.
A lot of overweight sweaty men thinking they were terribly clever and cool