To think MPs shouldn’t be drinking while at work?

[greywildoceans]

There’s a big debate going on after new Green MP Hannah Smith has come out and said that you can smell the alcohol on MPs after lunchtime.

https://x.com/politicsjoe_uk/status/2048323140804100487?s=46

Of course all the usual lot are coming out saying it’s a British tradition to drink at work and she’s being “anti British”. I’ve worked in the public sector and the private sector and I have never encountered anyone who thought it was appropriate to drink while working. I’m confident that if anyone did, they’d be fired.

AIBU to say MPs should be banned from drinking while working?

If it’s during work hours, yes.

What’s the difference between an MP doing it or a surgeon or taxi driver having a pint in between jobs, while swearing it doesn’t impact them?

Drinking alcohol at lunchtimes in the middle of a working day is very 1990 - early 2k.

I've not known it happen for so long now, I struggle to remember when I last did it - probably in a non customer facing role at Norwich Union.

You'd be surprised how busy city centre pubs are with workers at lunchtime though; if a solicitors or some other non customer facing industry is particularly old school then a quick pint and a sandwich in a pub will be a regular thing.

It's like drink driving for some..couple of pints, no harm, won't make a difference - only it does. Any level of alcohol effects you.

Is Hannah Smith correct? obviously right wing voters and supporters will say no, it's harmless and she should stop being the fun police.

Personally I think MP's don't think any normal societal expectations apply to them so this will never end.

Are you seriously asking that?

Since when is banning alcohol AT WORK an act of flagellation?
I'm not anti alcohol at all but I don't think it is necessary to have a drink while working.

The hypocrisy of MN is astounding sometimes.
On any other thread someone saying they deserved to have a drink at work and shouldn't be expected to work late without having the opportunity to drink alcohol would be called an alcoholic.

In the early 80s, the Interpol office on the 14th floor of New Scotland Yard used to have a party every Wednesday afternoon. The coppers would pass the hat around, and at lunchtime head out to the off licence, returning with crates of booze. The answering machines would be switched on, faxes and modems ignored, and staff from other floors would flock in to join us. Drinking went on into the evening and often continued in local pubs. I know of at least one colleague who shagged someone in the photocopier room 🫣

I think she's right, but I'd have also thought that of all the things she could have used for her parlimentary time, she could have found something that would have more impact on people's lives, rather than just draw loads of attention. It's disappointing TBH.

Well I work in corporate office. Have done for 30 years. All my friends do in different companies

perfectly acceptable to have an alcoholic drink at lunch . Never been a problem, nor sackable. Nor should it. Of course if you’re turning up drunk everyday that’s a problem, but a drink on a Friday with colleagues, perfectly fine and not unusual at all

You keep talking about how we are paying MPs salaries. If we are going down that route then NHS workers shouldn't be sleeping on the job. Policeman shouldn't go on their personal phones whilst guarding a crime scene etc etc. Army cadets shouldn't be paid to go on ski trips.

There would be a hundred examples of this.

Plenty of deals and work gets decided over a drink. It's part of British culture and although that's died down in many sectors - not all!

Apologies all, here's the latest price list. Don't know when that one was from.

https://www.parliament.uk/globalassets/documents/commons-catering/transparency/2025/autumn-winter/strangers-bar-tariff-25.pdf

It's anachronistic and hypercritical of them but then many if the things our MPs do are.

Because you want to take something away from them that they enjoy. You may not think drinking at work is necessary but why does that matter? We don't ban things because they are unnecessary.

I do not think it is hypocrisy in the slightest. I don't think people working late must have scheduled alcohol breaks, but if the job role and duties allow for a break, and that person feels like they want to use that break to enjoy a drink before returning to duties I don't think that is a problem.

As previously mentioned, that doesn't extend to people driving, operating heavy machinery or performing surgery as drink clearly impedes a role where you have others lives literally there and then in your hands.

Many people have a positive relationship with alcohol and it has been part of British life for a long time. If individuals drink to the extent it affects their behaviour and ability to do the job, deal with them as individuals, don't use a hammer to crack a nut and remove an enjoyable pleasure from the majority.

Has she? I was looking for some examples recently and could find nothing beyond the odd clickbait statement. Nothing detailed or meaningful in terms of policy discussion and debate.

I find it fascinating that he is with the Greens. Tories, Liberal or Labour would all have grabbed her - a local, personable and photogenic candidate, already on the council, started her own business and made a pile of money and very personable. She used to promote buy to let as a business model, not sure if she is still involved in that. She also seems to rack up a hell of a lot of airmiles every year - very unlike our own dear Caroline. Her acceptance speech was all about how its impossible for young people these days (despite being living proof of the opposite). So I figured that maybe she is taking the opportunism that the party now represents rather than pursuing and interest in environmental and sustainable policies. Time will tell I guess.

On the subject of “drinking at work" - if I have a team working late into the evening then yes, the food is ordered in and if they want a beer with that they can have it. If teams are working away from home they will go for dinner (and yes, some have a beer or a glass of wine) and then often carry on the work discussions after.

MPs are in much the same situation. If they have to wait around for a late vote I see no reason why they shouldn’t go down to the restaurants for dinner and a glass of wine or beer.

Should they be drunk? No obviously not but all this “thou shalt not have a glass of wine with dinner” smacked of clickbait puritanism, especially from the party espousing class 1 drugs available for all.

Having on site facilities seens sensible as they can’t just pop out to boots for a meal deal and you don’t want them sat in local pizza express discussing anything that can be overheard.

it should be priced like a decent work canteen is -though it may well make a loss like a work canteen may.

Do I think MPs actually do their jobs? Honestly, no. But just because they aren’t good at it doesn’t give them license to be drunk.

There are lots of things people enjoy which are not appropriate for the workplace. Why does alcohol deserve a special dispensation?

Yes it smacks of puritanical attention seeking. I’d be interested to hear more from the Greens on economically literate and sustainable grown policies but obviously this shit goes down better on TikTok.

In fairness this nonsense is a well trodden path from younger, new MPs to of all parties trying to grab their five minutes of airtime.

Because they are adults and the vast majority enjoy it responsibly.

There are ~600 MPs. There are also thousands of parliamentary staff, many on very ordinary salaries, who benefit from the subsidised catering

That doesn't explain why it's appropriate in the workplace though does it?

Well why is it inappropriate? It has been deemed appropriate by the state for hundreds of years. Do you have history with alcohol? Some kind of unresolved trauma? Or is your instinct to ban things?

A sensible employer, especially a sensible employer who expects their staff to stay late into the evenings and spend prolonged periods away from home would look at actual evidence of a problem before banning staff from a beer or glass of wine with their dinner.

I realise actual evidence and data are considered optional by the current Green party but where is the evidence that MPs are failing to do their jobs because of excessive alcohol? Or have we become so puritanical and judgmental that we have lost the ability to discriminate between “a drink with dinner” and excess alcohol?

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I wouldn't argue that it is that abnormal in some sectors. Completely abnormal in the public sector of course l.

Haha nice try. I have a very healthy relationship with alcohol and no, my instinct is not to ban things. People are allowed to challenge things and have a different opinion to you!

Using 'it's what's always been done' isn't a good enough argument. Policies and procedures change all of the time and I just think that it is time to review this one. You used to be allowed to smoke in the office and there was a time when women were banned from being an MP but times change. Just because something has been a particular way for years doesn't mean it shouldn't be challenged.

Is subsidised alcohol during work a good use of tax payer money? I don't think so. You are obviously happy for public funds to be used in this way. As is your prerogative.

I also think that it is inappropriate for people working in this type of role to be drinking alcohol while at work. Again, you obviously disagree.

I think the fact that it has always been done puts the burden of proof on the suggestion things should be changed. In the case of smoking, science proved that passive smoking affected people's health - so it went. Passive drinking isn't really a thing. And I have yet to see any evidence that alcohol consumption in the commons is a problem. If you have any research or articles that suggest otherwise other than opinion or conjecture, please, lets see it.

You can make a very good argument that alcohol should not be subsidised, however, looking at the pricelist posted earlier, I don't think the subsidy is that high, when the prices are compared to private clubs such as legions, social clubs etc. If they paid full price, would that make you happier?

The commons is not comparable to a normal workplace. The hours are irregular, the work is intensive for short bursts then there is a lot of hanging around and I don't see what is to be gained by being puritanical.

I personally think that the use of £5.8 million of tax payers money per year is significant enough to warrant a review. I work in the education sector which is on its knees thanks to significant reductions in government funding.

Just because have different views to you doesn't make me puritanical ( or mean I have an alcohol problem) .Can't you have a debate or discussion without resorting to personal insults?

I'm aware that it's not a 'normal' workplace. And perhaps that's another reason to review it all? If your working practices mean that you are in position where all your staff are just hanging around having a drink then something probably needs looking at. And who knows? A radical change in working practices might encourage more women as it would feel less of an 'old boys club'.