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Can you drink at work?

117 replies

MayorDusty · 19/05/2022 11:07

I was listening to something about parliament and the free booze and it got me thinking.
I'd be sacked and I don't work with machinery or driving. Most people I know wouldn't be allowed apart from one who works in a pub and then it's a two drink maximum.
What jobs/industries still allow alcohol consumption?
Can you drink and what's the job?

OP posts:
LynneBenfield · 19/05/2022 12:53

Ex sales and yes, eating and drinking was part of my job. All part of building and maintaining client relationships. Obviously no alcohol in the office though Grin

RaininSummer · 19/05/2022 12:54

Not a chance. Civil service now and teaching before. Am intrigued by the drinks trolley stories. How does it work? Like a free mobile bar or do you have to pay?

Blueberrywitch · 19/05/2022 12:55

Communication marketing and advertising roles and can drink at lunch with colleagues, in advertising the office drinks fridge would officially open at 4pm.

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Blueberrywitch · 19/05/2022 12:55

Drinks fridge = free beers and wine for staff

Fizbosshoes · 19/05/2022 12:56

My first boss who I suspect had alcohol problems when I started work in the late 1990s, used to go for lunch (involving alcohol) from 12-2pm every day. We did work with machinery etc although he barely did anything (except give out the occassional bollocking) in the afternoon. On Friday afternoons, as the junior I was sent out to buy drinks (cans of beer/lager) for my colleagues (all male) and no one really did any work.

waterlego · 19/05/2022 12:58

@RaininSummer I’m intrigued by the drinks trolley too! I’ve never heard of such a thing, but I’ve always worked in schools and leisure centres so alcohol has never featured in my working day (except when I was a barmaid as a youngster in the 90s).

Crunchymum · 19/05/2022 13:07

Pre Covid my office had a Sainsburys delivery every Friday of wine / beer / nibbles / soft drinks. People would start tucking in from 5pm onwards. Some would carry on working with a glass of something (software company) Some would stay all night and drink everything on offer. Most people would just have a glass before heading off for the weekends etc.

I don't work Friday's.

TenoringBehind · 19/05/2022 13:07

No!

the only time we are offered wine is at the Christmas lunch which is held out of opening hours (library).

Goodskin46 · 19/05/2022 13:10

TheUnexpectedPickle · 19/05/2022 12:08

I’m a paramedic. So, no. We’re also supposed to keep 12 hours clear of drinking before a shift, but that’s not enforced in any real way.

NHS here too and I think twice before having a drink on Sunday evenings, try to stop by 8 to have my clear 12 hours.(I and most of my collegues are dry Mon-Thurs) Drinking at work is completely unthinkable. Hospital outpatients FWIW.

EBearhug · 19/05/2022 13:15

Where I worked in the mid- to late-'90s, we had a bar on site, which opened at 5pm (possibly only on Fridays, I can't remember.) It closed around 2000, but rumour had it that it lasted so long because it was so profitable.

You weren't meant to drink during working hours, but pub lunches did sometimes happen, and the main reason they didn't happen often was because it was a faff to get to one from where we were located. After work drinks could be very boozy indeed, and if taken out by vendors, occasionally still included pole dancing bars and the like (very male dominated, but the culture was fortunately changing there.)

Now, different employer, but not such a different culture (especially going by reminiscences of pre-millenium work events from long-serving staff,) there's meant to be no alcohol on site, though I think it's occasionally allowed if there's a sort of reception event on site. Definitely not meant to drink at work. People might have a pint if they go out for a pub lunch, but that doesn't happen that often. There are rules about what you can give (and accept) as gifts, and it doesn't include alcohol (because it's not inclusive of all religions or others who don't drink for any reason.)

You can claim one alcoholic drink wiyh dinner on expenses if travelling away for work (or could- it's a long time since I I travelled for work, and I know there have been some expense policy changes.) If you're out as a group, bottles of wine etc should be on the expenses of the most senior person there. There are also rules around what you can accept from vendors and others who arrange meals out for work reasons.

People might still drink if we go out in the evening, but not as much, but I think that's more to do with being middle-aged parents and driving as much as anything. But also more awareness of harassment possibilities. But mostly not being able to cope with hangovers any more!

Leftbutcameback · 19/05/2022 13:23

@RaininSummer someone brings round a trolley with beer, Prosecco, etc and gives you a glass. Nothing to pay! When I was a lawyer there was lots of free booze and wine all the time so not a big deal. Generally we’d stand around at desks and have a chat then go back to desks to keep working. We used to have Prosecco and beer in the kitchen anyway in case you stayed late with clients or working on a deal.

Classicblunder · 19/05/2022 13:24

Civil service - yes, drinks at leaving presentations, odd drinks party, Christmas work events that sort of thing. No one would get drink, just a glass of fizz or two

SarahAndQuack · 19/05/2022 13:26

I just left academia; there I'd say it's very normalised, although there's recognition this isn't ideal in some areas. In one job (2017-18, not decades ago) I had what was informally called a 'sherry budget' and formally an 'entertainment budget,' out of which to buy drinks/nibbles for end-of-term celebrations. Seminars always had drinks after or during. In US/UK academia I think people were starting to recognise this wasn't great for all sorts of reasons, but my most recent job was in Ireland. We all - postgraduate students and faculty - were meant to go to the pub to socialise after weekly seminars. I queried this when we were due to have a Muslim speaker and was met with total incomprehension from most people. I really hated it - it wasn't a nice pub and quite loud with a lot of men making comments at the bar - and if you were drinking water or juice you would inevitably be asked why.

LetitiaLeghorn · 19/05/2022 13:30

I've had 3 jobs of significant length. Large international company, charity, teaching. I could drink at any of them. But I wouldn't be allowed to get drunk and work. Or even still keep my job! I don't understand what the problem is of mps having a bar at work. I would understand a problem with an mp falling over drunk whilst giving a speech in the HoC. Surely its all about appropriacy for the situation. Is Parliament saying its OK for MPs to get lashed or something?

OuiWeeOui · 19/05/2022 13:32

The top management never came for drinks but paid for them
The middle management pretended they'd paid for them to show they 'appreciated' everyone
The underlings had one drink only and went back to work because they knew what the middle management was like
Middle management carried on drinking, especially on a Friday

loislovesstewie · 19/05/2022 13:32

I'm a retired local government officer; we were not allowed alcohol on the premises, and it was accepted that we didn't drink at lunchtime. Actually getting a 30-minute lunch break was fairly hit-and-miss, so in reality the whole lunchtime drink thing didn't come into it.

Hrpuffnstuff1 · 19/05/2022 13:33

Drinks after work was a regular Friday event, and a pint at lunch occasionally.

As a business owner, there is a zero-tolerance policy to either drinking during working hrs or turning up half-cut from the night before.

MayorDusty · 19/05/2022 13:36

@LetitiaLeghorn apparently it's standard practice for lobbyists to get MPs pissed it's part of the culture and with the recent talk of all the shocking behaviour it's probably a bad thing to have unlimited alcohol.

OP posts:
LetitiaLeghorn · 19/05/2022 13:37

I queried this when we were due to have a Muslim speaker and was met with total incomprehension from most people.

I used to work with a lot of Muslims and leaving aside those who happily imbibe, they were not bothered about people drinking around them, they just didn't drink themselves. I never heard any of them express that others shouldn't drink. Although I wouldn't take anyone to a pub that was unpleasant as your sounded to be. Sympathies over that.

RunnerDown · 19/05/2022 13:45

NHS - so absolutely not.
Andwe didn’t get fancy subsidised food.
And if anyone was accused of sexual misconduct they were immediately suspended pending investigation.
The culture at Westminster needs to be brought into the 21st Century

Figstar4eva · 19/05/2022 13:46

Finance (not in the city). We have Friday drinks in the office, in the afternoon a trolley comes round with beer or wine. Acceptable to have a drink at lunch if out of the office.

LetitiaLeghorn · 19/05/2022 13:48

So are you saying lobbyists get invited into Westminster and then get MPs pissed on free booze? If the booze is free and an MP was prone to getting pissed, why do they need a lobbyist? It all sounds a load of hooey to me. As far as I know alcohol is subsidised, which I don't agree with - pay the full price, you scroungers. That doesn't mean all the MPs are pissed all the time.

Fupoffyagrasshole · 19/05/2022 13:50

Any office I’ve ever worked in London has beer available - at the very least on a Friday!

lameasahorse · 19/05/2022 13:52

This reply has been withdrawn

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MayorDusty · 19/05/2022 13:52

It was someone from the HoL a former cabinet member of MrsT. I don't have personal information but I've no reason to think it was a smear on the current set up. It's being widely reported by both colours of the media.

OP posts: