Is this unprofessional?

[Midlifecrisisxamillion]

Is it unprofessional to drink a can of coke in a virtual work meeting?

Some say internal meeting ok.
Some say external meeting ok.
Some say external meeting ok but not with a 'more important' or newer client.
Others just say it's unprofessional and only water would be ok.

This has caused much debate at work today 😅

Wow, I am not “young”, have worked in several different countries and have drunk from a can in meetings in all of them. Only now am I hearing it might be unprofessional?! Mind blown! Obviously, I am on the side of it being absolutely fine to do. I’m in finance if that matters.

I wouldn't drink from a can.

I do drink tea in internal meetings, but wouldn't do it with externals or senior management.

I don’t think anyone where I work really gives a damn what people are drinking, or from what container, in meetings. The director of my department often drinks full fat Coke from a can in afternoon meetings.

Internal meeting would be ok - but not a senior management meeting. I don’t drink anything on client meetings unless they’re very long and then it’s water from a glass only.

It does look unprofessional yes.

Same. And I’m senior management.

Not even tea?! Christ

Surely that’s illegal?!

Only during online meetings and court. I am mainlining tea most of the day!

OK I would not drink it out of a can. Having said that I rarely drink fizzy drinks and never in meetings as they make me belch.

There's something about it that doesn't seem right in a professional meeting. I'd expect a trainee to do it rather than someone older. I associate it with free time, I suppose, rather than work time.

I work in financial services with a lot of external clients and can confidently say I'd have no issue with this. I really can't see why people care so much about little things like that in professional environments - especially if someone is wfh.

In fact, our director is notorious for always having an open can of diet coke in every single meeting! Last week she opened a second one half way through a call.

I'd say unprofessional. Glass of water.

Sometimes I have online meetings, I run my own business, and have it with people I collaborate with, I'll either have a glass of water or blackcurrant cordial, or a mug of tea. But they are casual meetings. If it was with a client, I'd stick with a glass of water.

Drinking out of a can just seems so immature and unprofessional.

Sounds silly but if in doubt, pour it into a mug.

It’s fine. Do you work with someone who has the initials JS by any chance? 🤣

God no! And I am old and remember a time when all sorts of things that are fine today would have been considered unprofessional back in the day.

What's on earth is wrong with drinking from a can of Coke?

If it was a can of Stella Artois, yep, I get that, but Coke?

I would not drink out of a can for an external meeting, I would decant it into my thermal water bottle though and drink that way. I would drink tea / coffee internally and externally from my thermal mug in meetings.

Good God. So glad I am out of the corporate world.

WTF?? Had you been warned not to

I agree about using a glass or mug andnot a can or bottle.

I think grown adults drinking sugary fizzy juice always looks immature. Like sitting eating a Flump. I wouldn’t say it’s “unprofessional” but it always looks a little childish to me. But I've never understood the concept of drinking things like Coke. It just doesn’t appeal to me in anyway what so ever.

Glass of wine in wine glass = No
Glass of wine in a tea cup = Yes

At least if it is in a can instead of a glass, people won't be wondering whether there's vodka in there as well..

What if you drink out of a can through a straw? Is that acceptable? If so, should the straw be paper, bamboo, metal, reusable plastic or...the other type?

Don't think I'd drink it out of a can, out of a glass or mug I would.
I think it's because a can seems very casual.

Not that I know of.