Halal/ alcohol free social event

[MrsMarieMopps]

Just wondering what everyone thinks. I am attending a work related training event. Diversity is a key element of my role and also of the training. The organisers have arranged to go for a meal at the local pub afterwards but have arranged a separate event at a different venue for those who would not go to a pub in a different restaurant.
Would it not be more inclusive for all to go to the non licensed premises, with the option for those who wish to go out drinking afterwards? It seems a shame that the connections between Muslim and non Muslim colleagues will not be strengthened through this work event.

Devil's advocate for drinks - it's so much more flexible. People can stay however long suits and mingling works better. In a restaurant you are stuck there as long as the meal lasts (less inclusive for people with evening commitments who might have been able to pop into drinks for one) and you can only really interact with the people right by you unless you have a very small group.

This kind if silliness is why I dont work in the charity section, I always see threads on here about so much drama in charities that wouldn't fly in the corporate world.

OP - pizza express would be the perfect middle ground no? And also i have never (in london) come across an unlicesened venue that wasn't BYOB, they want people to visit!

My workplace has people who were born and raised all over the world (UK peeps in my dept less than 20%) and I have organised a variety of different venues, this has literally never come up. I state dietary reqs when preordering and make sure those people get the right food. Those not drinking get a jug of mocktail or "fancy" soda.

Diversity means some people will choose a glass if wine. Others will decline.

A restaurant that serves alcohol is not 'terrifying' for a Muslim woman. How patronising.

Maybe not terrifying but as a teetotal who has never drank, it can be extremely uncomfortable.

I’ve had male colleagues switch from ordinarily friendly people to men who after a few drinks, ask inappropriate questions, hold my hand for no reason and for longer than what’s comfortable, and exhortations from male and female colleagues to ‘just have a sip’ of their drink.

I’ve had beer spilled all over my clothes.

I’ve been so freaked out by an extremely drunk colleague’s manic and spaced out look on the tube that I didn’t even approach her.

These things are often completely outside our comfort zone as Muslims, but the culture is such that we are expected to grin and bear it.

If people see a meal in a restaurant with alcohol as too much of an adjustment to include Muslims, then it’s clear that all the expectation is on Muslims to put aside their own misgivings and fall in line. That isn’t diversity, that’s a mockery.

But OP is saying they should go to a non-licenced premise, so a resteraunt that serves alcohol wouldn't be good enough for them.

We always had a low turn out for pub drinks etc after large work meetings.
So management organised a picnic and old school style sports day event.

It was the traditonal egg and spoon, sack race, tug of war with staff split into teams
It was such a success with a brillant turn out too.
So much fun was had and was very inclusive.

This is exactly the kind of thing work events should always be. Fun, silly, relaxed, inclusive, and outdoors!

Indeed i recommend.
Luckily our events are always organised this way.

I think it all helps towards good work relationships we have.
Yes ,we have differnces in culture and práctices but theses events have help us to.come together rather than divide us.

Our employer has been doing them for many years. Those who leave or retire will often come back to join in.

The work related training event you’re doing has to be inclusive. The optional social afterwards has to be as enjoyable as possible for as many people as possible if the company is trying to get people to build strong work relationships.

Having two venues means that everyone is catered for. It’s a shame that religion might mean that not everyone can be catered for in the same place, but that’s just how it is.

Banning people from having a beer or glass of wine after a long day at a work event for the benefit of a minority of women is not going to create happy inclusive feelings for everybody. More likely it will lead to adults being made to feel as if they’re doing something wrong by wanting to engage in a perfectly normal activity that is in line with the law and culture in this country and being dictated to by their employer about what they should consume after work will build resentment.

For an employer to be inclusive in these circumstances they have to provide more than one option. Presumably everyone will be equally welcome at both venues.

Have events on 2 days.
So people can attend both should they wish instead of having to decide on one or the other.

What do you mean it’s not the end of the world?
the asking? Sure, I can ask. But to me and millions of people it IS the end of the world.

Realistically I wouldn’t be sacrificing this much for a work thing I’d probably not attend if the location is inconvenient or I’m dubious about the food preparation rather than inconvenience a large group of colleagues.
But the OP said that’s what she’s trying to avoid.

Could it be just your sample though?
Most Muslims I know including myself wouldn’t unless I felt pressured into it and felt like I had no other option.
it’s not JUST the food, it’s also the environment.
Them if you’re wearing the hijab and an abaya you couldn’t live it down because people will stare at you like you’ve got 5heads.

That's your choice. Most people with various dietary requirements including muslims, that includes stricter ones not just lax, around me just simply ask.
In better restaurants you often don't even have to because it's all listed. I've seen alcohol noted on menu twice already. I liked that, hope it catches on

@321user123 yes, I guess it is my sample then! I wouldn't want to speak on behalf of the Muslim community anyway so forgive me if I came across as ignorant.

I'm teetotal and wouldn't want to spend an enormous amount of time hanging out in a pub that was just a drinking pub, but most pubs - if not all pubs - that I have frequented in the the last 10 years or so are mainly just restaurants... "Gastropubs". It's how the industry has managed to keep its head afloat. But anyway I digress. Being teetotal and being Muslim are obviously two different things!

No one should be forced to join an event they dont feel comfortable joining.

We shouldnt be made to be slaves to our salary.

Employers can think of inclusive events like i mentioned previously.

The pub culture wont appeal to everyone.

It is the employer who needs to recognise that.

Events should inclusive.

Noone should be made to feel like they are not a team player by not joining something in where they dont feel comfortable.

You really don’t get inclusion at all. I hope you are not a diversity lead.

Never going anywhere that is even licensed to sell alcohol seems restrictive though. Why should they be limited by the beliefs of a few? In a lot of places excluding anywhere that serves alcohol would leave very little choice.

The local pub is a really poor choice of venue if you have Muslims amongst your party, just like a steakhouse would be if there were several vegans on the guestlist. Segregating the social also not great.
An actual restaurant with wine/beer for drinkers wouldn't offend anyone. Muslims can merrily pick from a menu with fish and veggie options if it came to it so you don't even need halal restaurant to do a half arsed job of making it inclusive.

They can have the team building inclusive event first.

The pub/ meal could be a voluntary event which peole could chose to attend but noone should be made to feel they are not being social for making that choice.

We have a vegan who refuses to eat in any meat, fish,dairy,milk, yogurt, egg, honey etc serving resturant.

There are plenty of team building events that can be arranged.

The food and drink establishments are an option at the end should individuals wish.

Isn't that what they're doing? According to the OP going to the training, and then going for a meal at a pub, with an alternate meal at a different resteraunt.

According to OP, a resteraunt serving wine and beer is still not acceptable.

Just have it at a restaurant that serves alcohol for those who want it, meat and veggie options? Job done. Sounds very confusing!

Nope, OP says it has to be unlicensed or it's not inclusive enough.