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Original poster

Do you think it’s a problem to drink an alcohol free beer or wine in work?

43 replies

Isitaproblemyes · 30/01/2025 19:27

We had this discussion today in the office and most people think it’s unacceptable despite the fact the drink is completely alcohol free.

What do you think?

OP posts:
Sux2buthen · 30/01/2025 19:29

One of those things that feel illegal but isn't Grin

AppleKatie · 30/01/2025 19:30

I think it’s culturally unacceptable but I can’t really explain why,

for the same reason I won’t let my DS drink alcohol free cider in restaurants it just feels wrong!

MounjaroOnMyMind · 30/01/2025 19:31

I'd wonder why they were doing it and whether they had a drinking problem.

SnidelyWhiplash · 30/01/2025 19:31

That would be incredibly weird.

NerrSnerr · 30/01/2025 19:33

I've discussed with my husband what would happen if one of us did this on a teams meeting at 9am. It's not wrong but definitely feels it (we haven't done it).

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 30/01/2025 19:34

It's just the connotations. Even though it's not wrong, it feels it doesn't it! It's like as a pregnant woman you'd feel like you were being watched if you had an alcohol free beer or wine when out and about even though you know its alcohol free other people would be making assumptions!

Original poster
Isitaproblemyes · 30/01/2025 19:34

I feel the same! I love the taste of Guinness and some afternoons I’d love to crack a zero alcohol one and sip it all afternoon 😂

OP posts:
Iamblossom · 30/01/2025 19:34

A friend's daughter reported her school bus driver for drinking an alcohol free beer whilst driving them to school. He got fired.

Icanttakethisanymore · 30/01/2025 19:35

like having an alcohol free beer in the morning!

HundredPercentUnsure · 30/01/2025 19:36

MounjaroOnMyMind · 30/01/2025 19:31

I'd wonder why they were doing it and whether they had a drinking problem.

Same. I wouldn't think it looks professional, either. Not a great image really imo.

festivemouse · 30/01/2025 19:36

I thought even "alcohol free" beer could be up to 0.5%? That definitely shouldn't be consumed in work!

I think it's probably similar to vaping - you can't do that in an office even if it isn't really smoking, so you can't drink AF wine or beer even if it isn't really drinking.

peekaboopumpkin · 30/01/2025 19:38

festivemouse · 30/01/2025 19:36

I thought even "alcohol free" beer could be up to 0.5%? That definitely shouldn't be consumed in work!

I think it's probably similar to vaping - you can't do that in an office even if it isn't really smoking, so you can't drink AF wine or beer even if it isn't really drinking.

Lots of drinks are 0.5% alcohol.
eg orange juice, Fentimans lemonade. Would you have a problem with someone drinking those at work?

ScottBakula · 30/01/2025 19:46

A few of us got a lot of earache during covid , we all worked together and would sometimes go out for a beer for people's birthdays but we obviously could do that so we all brought AF drinks, cake , and treats in to have at lunch time .

We are not normaly customer facing and on the rare occasion we'd need to deal with them they go into the waiting lounge and we go to them.. But we had none that day.
And yet we were 'unprofessional '

Bouledeneige · 30/01/2025 19:48

It's just that it would look like you're drinking alcohol and it would need explanation. It's not a good look.

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 30/01/2025 19:48

festivemouse · 30/01/2025 19:36

I thought even "alcohol free" beer could be up to 0.5%? That definitely shouldn't be consumed in work!

I think it's probably similar to vaping - you can't do that in an office even if it isn't really smoking, so you can't drink AF wine or beer even if it isn't really drinking.

Vaping affects other people though whereas imbibing a liquid does not. Even though the vapour emitted isn't real "smoke" it can be really aggravating to asthmatics, contact lens wearers or people with allergies

fanaticalfairy · 30/01/2025 19:50

festivemouse · 30/01/2025 19:36

I thought even "alcohol free" beer could be up to 0.5%? That definitely shouldn't be consumed in work!

I think it's probably similar to vaping - you can't do that in an office even if it isn't really smoking, so you can't drink AF wine or beer even if it isn't really drinking.

Drinking a soft drink is not the same as vaping in a y way shape or form! Vaping effects every single person in the area with the smells and fumes.

Yourfootisinmysirachamayo · 30/01/2025 19:50

I think it would be weird but, I guess there's no actual reason not to.

Kokomjolk · 30/01/2025 19:54

Iamblossom · 30/01/2025 19:34

A friend's daughter reported her school bus driver for drinking an alcohol free beer whilst driving them to school. He got fired.

Did she think it was alcoholic??

If not that is a real dick move. It's not different to drinking a bottle of juice.

eightIsNewNine · 30/01/2025 19:56

At my work alcohol free beer is often provided at internal events (like office pizza lunch). It might be part of the self service fridge offering as well.

SpringBunnyHopHop · 30/01/2025 19:59

It doesn’t look great and I’d be wondering why you needed to imitate drinking alcohol during work hours. I’d be curious if you had a problem and were switching to the alcoholic version at 5pm.

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 30/01/2025 20:00

Kokomjolk · 30/01/2025 19:54

Did she think it was alcoholic??

If not that is a real dick move. It's not different to drinking a bottle of juice.

Show quote history

Its promoting alcoholic drinks in a children's setting though, even if that was an alcohol free Carling etc he's basically advertising an alcohol brand

Kokomjolk · 30/01/2025 20:08

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 30/01/2025 20:00

Its promoting alcoholic drinks in a children's setting though, even if that was an alcohol free Carling etc he's basically advertising an alcohol brand

Show quote history

She must have already known the brand to think of reporting it. I assume she must have thought it was alcoholic, which is a reasonable assumption and of course worth reporting if there's a suspicion there.

I don't think this should be a sackable offence at all. It's just a hop flavoured soft drink. I would think having a word to suggest he chooses a different drink to avoid further mistaken reports would be quite sufficient.

Funkyslippers · 30/01/2025 20:13

AppleKatie · 30/01/2025 19:30

I think it’s culturally unacceptable but I can’t really explain why,

for the same reason I won’t let my DS drink alcohol free cider in restaurants it just feels wrong!

How old is he? It's illegal to sell even alcohol free drinks to under 18s

AppleKatie · 30/01/2025 20:23

No it isn’t!

some shops choose to age restrict but this is a cultural preference not a law.

mindutopia · 30/01/2025 20:23

Considering how many people drink actual alcohol while working (you wouldn’t believe the wine in coffee mugs on Teams), I mean realistically it’s fine. But I probably wouldn’t do it. I did once have a colleague drinking an AF beer on Teams and he apologised because it was the only thing in the fridge that was cold and it was like 28c that day and we were all dying. It was fine, but it definitely felt a bit funny. I say this as someone who is sober and drinks a lot of AF beer.