To be annoyed by no booze at IWD?

[jasminetea22]

I went to an International Women’s Day event in a small industrial northern town this evening. There were a couple of folk bands, a belly dancing group, and a local ‘poet’ who talked about South Indian culture. Their poems peddled tired and frankly offensive clichés about Asian women oppressed by dowry culture and selective abortion. There were fewer than 50 people in attendance. The event was held in the town’s only craft beer bar, but they had made the decision to only serve non-alcoholic drinks so that the event would ‘encourage people to join in’. 90% of people there were 60+ feminists who were desperate for a glass of wine. AIBU to be pissed off? When will feminism let us have a good night out?

Sounds like a badly organised do all-round! I wouldn't have gone.

It’s not feminism stopping you having wine - it’s those organisers.

I find IWD tokenistic and don’t think there’s much to celebrate, but if you go along to IWD things then in future just arrange your own and lay on some drinks.

But the purpose of feminism is to liberate women from the patriarchy - not to lay on parties.

Actually OP in hindsight I may have needed a large glass of malbec.
Saturday night is a good enough reason.

I don’t drink but that sounds hell,on earth I’d be bored stiff so wouldn’t go.

@WellThisWentWell

Why would you even need booze?

Did you even read the OP?

I don't drink much anymore, but that would have sent me looking for some to get through the evening!

OP my friends & I would have left fairly quickly, sounds awful! I'm not sure that even alcohol would have made it bearable!!

It sounds as though there was very little interest anyway, so the core group organised what they thought was a suitable event. Clearly they were trying to be inclusive. If alcohol was served, some women would have been unable to attend. (The venue itself is not necessarily a barrier, its the alcohol) I get it was a rubbish night, but its a shame to have a go at a group of women who are at least making an effort. Many next year people who want a different night should get involved in the planning, or stage a few different events to cater for varied interests.

I went to a school.comedy night that went on for 3 tedious hours. They had one brilliant local act, at the start. And then I think they'd allowed anyone who wanted to, to have a go. It was dire. Only made bearable by the fact they'd allowed us to bring our own booze.

One of the young women at the table in front of us got smashed very quickly then laughed hysterically at the bad comedy

It was obvious she was too drunk to know what she was laughing at as she wasn't laughing in the right places, it seemed she was laughing at the absurdness of it all, or possibly laughing at something else entirely, in her head. But, bizarrely, made it less awkward as if she hadn't been laughing the audience would have been silent.

They should have picked the least awful 2 acts, had them on, then the brilliant one, job done, instead of subjecting us to hours of dross.

I'm actually surprised tbh that anyone expects to go to any community event and have it reflect their own idea of a good night out. Generally they're organised to commemorate something so there is going to be some 'tedious' commemorating going on. Typically they're organised by amateurs, on the cheap and are full of compromises, and generally reflective of what the organiser thinks is most suitable/least off-putting to a very wide range of people, who would normally not socialise together. If it entertains you, that's a bonus, but I'd not expect it. I go to be supportive, and plan my own 'good' nights out.

I there 2 issues here: if you didn't like the event fair enough. Why do you feel you need alcohol?

Why do you feel you need alcohol?

It was in a craft beer bar! Choosing a venue that's all about booze than actively asking the bar not to serve alcohol is treating grown women like children!

If they wanted an alcohol free event, fair enough. Choose a venue that's not a bar!

Why is there this desperate need for alcohol at events...any events, not just this one.....OMG there is no drink! I Can't/Won't/Couldn't bear to go if there was no drink.

I think that is a little bit sad. If you want a drink that badly go to the pub.

If you want a drink that badly go to the pub.

Err. It was in a pub. That's the OP's point!

@Kite22

The thing is, the limited number of people who would be offended, or even uncomfortable about people drinking at the same event as they are, wouldn't attend an event in a craft beer bar anyway.

If it needed to be alcohol free to encourage some folk to attend, then it needed to be in a different venue.

Came here to say exactly this. Don't need to bother now!

I'd expect that people who avoid being around alcohol for religious or cultural reasons would be unlikely to attend an event in a bar whether alcohol was on sale or not. This sounds like a badly thought through attempt at widening participation. I wonder if they'd asked the groups they were trying to encourage to attend they may have got some ideas about how to make this more accessible. It all sounds a bit tokenistic.

Exactly Brimfulloffasha

That is a BAD evening out

Feminists need a disco and beer