Workplace bars

[jgw1]

AIBU to think that it is unusual to have a bar in a workplace?
Does that mean that all are employers are puritanical?

I wouldn’t say it’s the norm as in most places have one. But it’s not extremely rare either.

I have had 2 employers who have had a range of restaurants, cafes and/or bars on site.

I don’t think not having one makes someone puritanical though.

I do think it’s unusual, outside the hospitality industry.
In the industry I work in, it was fairly common back in the 198Os for management to keep alcohol in their offices for visitors/celebrations etc, but HS&E and a focus on improved workplace conditions put a stop to that, thankfully.
Have to say , in my experience, alcohol in the workplace led to a bunch of inappropriate behaviour, harassment (of both sexes) and poor decision making. So I can well understand why it’s being questioned in Westminster.

Almost all places I’ve worked in, big financial services firms, have had something. One place you could only go to the bar if with a client, at another the building lounge/coffee shop serves drinks after 4pm, most common seems to be that the company does a weekly drinks night in the staff canteen. Not having it doesn’t make an employer puritanical though!

I believe Weathersoons has a bar in most of its workspaces

In the industry I work in, it was fairly common back in the 198Os for management to keep alcohol in their offices for visitors/celebrations etc, but HS&E and a focus on improved workplace conditions put a stop to that, thankfully.

Same where I last worked (transport/travel industry).

Regardless of your workplace function drinking on the company premises was banned way back in the 80's, and even if off company property and even after working hours you were not meant to seen drinking alcohol if wearing company uniform and/or wearing an ID that could identify you as working for the company.

It used to be common in the past - probably up to the 1990s - but I don't know of anywhere that has one now.

normal back in the day now not so normal. Banks & law firms etc will have bars

It’s unusual to have a workplace bar. YABU to leap to it being puritanical though! More like employers don’t want their employees to be working when drunk. Although apparently it’s fine for MPs but we all know that normal rules don’t apply to those who make them don’t we?

It's a bit 1990s, but I think our office (financial sector) has a stock of beer and champagne in the catering fridge (not the one in the employee's kitchen) for emergencies , and we don't have a strict "no alcohol at lunchtime" rule, so if we were all out to a leaving do it's not completely unknown for people (/men) to have a pint or two at a local bar and then come back to the office for the afternoon.

Back in the day it was absolutely routine, and I really stood out for having a personal "no alcohol at lunchtime" rule (I didn't want to pick the DC up from nursery/after school club with alcohol on my breath).

I've never worked anywhere that had a bar for employees in 30 years. I'm public sector now and we would get into trouble if we had alcohol on our lunch break.
Our local big police station did have a bar until the early 90s though.

Investment Bank. About ten years ago. Free bar for staff after 4pm on Fridays. I’m surprised to say that I don’t think it was abused.

The civil service department had one when I worked there early 90s. It had gone by the time my DH started working there in the late 90s. We had a Christening party in the police station bar in the late 90s too but that had gone by the time DS2 arrived.

Puritanical?! Not to have a bar at work? Yes YABVVVVU to think that. They're not forbidding you from drinking outside work, banning Christmas, or stopping you listening to music. They are just thinking that when you're at work maybe you should be mostly sober...

Always had one, yes sir depends on industry.

I was merely repeating the argument being presented by a government minister for keeping bars in his workplace.

When I joined the police in 1993 the larger stations had a bar, that would be open in the evening but they were all shut by at least 2000.
County Hall used to have the NALGO club too.
I think it is completely inappropriate nowadays to serve alcohol in any work place bar hospitality.
no reason why Parliament should be any different.