To ask what you’d think of a colleague drinking 0% beverages at work?

[intheheatofjuly]

Inspired by a LinkedIn post I’ve seen, not a situation I’m in! It’s really made me think because I suppose technically there is a marginal % of alcohol in them and they’re designed to mimic alcoholic drinks.

But in my mind it’s fine because it’s not alcohol! So I thought I’d ask

YABU - they’re not appropriate for the workplace.

YANBU - they’re basically just fizzy juice.

It's an odd one. I wouldn't drink a 0% beer at work, it would feel not right.

But I'd happily drink a can of shandy bass (if they still made it!) and not think anything of it.

I wouldn't give a child a glass of 0% Heineken, and I don't think a pub would allow it. But no one would blink twice at a child drinking a supermarket version of shandy flavoured pop.

I think that's the difference, but I'm not sure why the difference exists. I have considered drinking 0% beer when wfh, and have never actually done it because it feels wrong.

I’d find it a bit bizarre personally. I know it’s 0% and technically not alcohol, but it’s still made to look and taste like an alcoholic drink, so sitting at your desk with a bottle of 0% beer or a glass of alcohol-free wine would just seem odd to me.

I wouldn’t necessarily think they were doing anything wrong, but I’d definitely wonder why they couldn’t just have water or soft drink while they were at work.

I think it's fine, wouldn't want to do my job sober but I'm not going to judge those who do.

There's probably more alcohol in a loaf of bread. Ignore.

I’ve given up drinking and drink a lot of 0% stuff but I would feel uncomfortable to drink them at work . Not sure why though . Good question though.

During the work day? Inappropriate.
Evening work socials? Probably wiser than alcoholic ones.

I think it’s fine on certain occasions like we have had non alcoholic Prosecco as a group at work celebrations. But sitting at the desk randomly drinking one or at a meeting ? No way . It’s just unprofessional. It mirrors what people do in the pub and looks wrong at work

Certain places would be less appropriate. Say a school or GP surgery. I can’t even drink my beloved Diet Coke out of the can in the classroom! I suppose it just looks a bit unprofessional in any work environment as they are supposed to look like alcohol.

Yes, there are definitely energy drinks that look like cans of lager.

But apparently it's fine to drink a shitey sugary drink that looks like a can of lager.

But it's not OK to drink something that looks like lager and isn't anywhere near as bad for health if it also tastes like lager but is alcohol free. Very odd.

There are reasons 0% versions of alcohol are an age restricted product and are sold alongside alcoholic versions. It would be completely inappropriate in a work situation if the alcoholic version was inappropriate.

Whilst it wouldn’t bother me I do think it’s really weird

Thing is alcohol free beer tastes like beer, so it means the person's breath will smell like beer and if public or client facing in particular that's not really appropriate

I suppose as it's alcohol free then they're not breaking any rules like others have said I'd find it very odd, though.

Surely it's the sort of thing you'd have outside of work?

Are they trying to be provocative? Get sacked and go to a tribunal?
It's just weird.

I would think it very weird. I feel like 0% drinks are for situations when it’s a social event where people are drinking , so you want to feel included but without the alcohol. Would be very odd to see someone at work with a beer - you wouldn’t know it was 0% unless you looked close

This is no different from vaping at work (or in the pub) is it?

Gnerally those places that forbid you from smoking nicotine also forbid you from vaping

If you can't drink alcohol at work you shouldn't drink 0% either.

I would possibly do a double take and initially think it was normal beer. In which case I'd assume it was acceptable to drink beer at work and I'd go and look for one in the office fridge.

If it was obvious it wasn't or I stopped to check then I'd feel a bit disappointed I wasn't going to be able to also get away with drinking!

I guess it's because non alcoholic drinks are supposed to be a substitute for the "real" thing, and people would wonder why you wanted something that tasted, smelt and looked like beer or wine at your work desk. I think that's a pretty normal reaction but not necessarily right. Although it does seem a bit attention seeking.

I would be concerned that it would make it easier to disguise alcohol. I know that people can do this in a variety of ways (I have personally been involved in sacking someone whose water bottle turned out to be full of vodka every day, and another whose lattes were actually full of booze) but its opening another door to make it easier to normalize and disguise this potential behaviour.

But over and above that, I think it is problematic in how it appears. Those drinks are not just sold as aids to hydration, they have a purpose and it is incompatible with working.

Intrigued to know what this job is🤔😂

But no, the patients would be able to smell beer on your breath and wouldn't know it was non alcoholic, so not appropriate !!

We tried to order a mocktail at Miller and Carter for my 14 year old DD the other day and were told they weren’t allowed to serve mocktails to under 18s because they are designed to replicate mocktails.

If customer facing, I wouldn't like to see staff drinking out of cans, cartons or bottles of anything. If its in a cup or a glass, then how would I know?

It would definitely be challenged in the school i work in! SLT would have a fit 🤣

From experience of some people, the 0% one was present purely for an attempt at plausible deniability. The other drinks they consumed during the working day were all full strength.

I’m finding the reactions of many people saying it’s not ok to be an illogical gut reaction.
I don't much like sweet drinks nowadays, and barely drink alcohol - usually drink tea. But if I want something cold then a zero IPA or Guinness zero can really hit the spot.
Fortunately I’m retired so I can have the non alcoholic beverage of my choice whenever I want.

I don’t manage people so I couldn’t care less but I don’t know how you’d deal with it as a manager because on paper it’s fine right?