5 ms·

It used to be much more ingrained. Factory or construction workers used to drink during work, and if those old movies are to believe men would pour themselves d

It used to be much more ingrained. Factory or construction workers used to drink during work, and if those old movies are to believe men would pour themselves drinks all the times. These days it is mostly acceptable to decline alcohol.

StevePerkins 8y ago
It's interesting that you cite factory or construction workers. I'm a first-generation college graduate, who grew up around skilled (and unskilled) labor. I've never heard of this being prevalent, even from old-timers discussing how things used to be way back when. Quitting time is one thing... but the last environment on earth in which you'd want to drink alcohol is around power tools or heavy machinery! My own first thought was "Mad Men"'s portrayal of privileged office workers in the mid-20th century. Of course, my second thought was my own office in the present day. Has this culture ever really gone away? I work for a tech startup, and there's a fully-stocked beer fridge and cocktail bar setup at all times. They're one of the first things that recruiters show off when I go on interviews to other similar companies. Every single company event, or small group outing, basically revolves around alcohol. I'm not a teetotaler, but I am a parent in my 40's who has kinda lost interest in drinking, and I'm starting to feel alienated by that part of the industry's culture. I don't want to feel like I have accept the beer you're offering me in order to fit in with a team, or give up my evening with my family to go watch you stand in a circle and get shit-faced in front of your co-workers. This is 2019, in our own industry.
- pnutjam 8y ago
  Same here, my company has a keg on tap and they love showing it off. I've had one beer in the two years I've worked there. Just not that interested in alcohol.
- fragmede 8y ago
  > Has this culture ever really gone away? It's possible I'm being naive as to what my coworkers are up to, but the "Man Men", 3 martini lunch culture has certainly gone away. It's fair to complain that a company's social events revolve around alcohol, but, explicitly, when people talk about "company culture" and "good fit", internal company norms around alcohol are a huge part of it. There are workplaces that are basically a continuation of college frat houses, down to the levels of sexual harassment that make Uber look hospitable. There are also workplaces where everyone goes leaves at 5pm on the dot to get home to be with their partner/kids, and the Christmas party is a potluck with very limited amounts of wine. Pick your poison. The recruiter is there to, well, recruit you, and they can't know how a given candidate feels about alcohol consumption, so if they too-gleefully show off their bar - push back! Ask how much people actually drink - there's a difference between between zero and one beer after work with coworkers (I just drink a la croix/talking rain while my coworker who does drink, drinks a beer), vs drinking liquor to excess.
- tomjen3 8y ago
  I can't find the sources now, but based on what what I have been told the workers at the Danish beer producer Carlsberg were, per union agreement, to be paid a certain number of beers (4?) per day, up until the 1990ish. Before there were any special taxes on liquer in Denmark, it wasn't uncommon to buy a bottle before work, and finish it through the day (this would be just after the Victorian age, so those workers probably needed) and of course the Gin Wagons in the UK are legendary for a reason.
Starwatcher2001 8y ago
I concur. I used to work in a plastic factory in the 70's and at lunchtime there was a fair stream of machine operators who's make a beeline for the pub opposite. Pint or two of beer and a pie was the standard lunch.
xfitm3 8y ago
It used to be acceptable and widespread to drink at lunch in white collar jobs, too.
- matwood 8y ago
  A buddy of mine's dad was an on the floor stock trader in the 70s/80s, and he joked that he made all his money taking advantage of the drunk people after lunch. Whether or not that part is true, he was serious when he said it was common for people to 2-3-4 martinis at lunch. He didn't drink, and still doesn't.
Nexxxeh 8y ago
While I'm guessing you probably know, for those outside of the UK - The story of one of Scotland's national drinks, Irn-Bru, is somewhat related. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irn-Bru https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irn-Bru Unfortunately the sugar tax, a tax on sugar-laded drinks, has resulted in them changing the recipe and now it's disgusting tasting.
saghm 8y ago
Out of curiosity, do you drink? My experience as someone who doesn't drink is that people at best tend to react with confusion when I tell that that I don't drink (and not due to religious beliefs, a medical condition, or something similar). I think I'd agree that not drinking is considered socially acceptable, but I definitely feel that most people still consider complete abstention from alcohol at least abnormal.

StevePerkins 8y ago

It's interesting that you cite factory or construction workers. I'm a first-generation college graduate, who grew up around skilled (and unskilled) labor. I've never heard of this being prevalent, even from old-timers discussing how things used to be way back when. Quitting time is one thing... but the last environment on earth in which you'd want to drink alcohol is around power tools or heavy machinery! My own first thought was "Mad Men"'s portrayal of privileged office workers in the mid-20th century. Of course, my second thought was my own office in the present day. Has this culture ever really gone away? I work for a tech startup, and there's a fully-stocked beer fridge and cocktail bar setup at all times. They're one of the first things that recruiters show off when I go on interviews to other similar companies. Every single company event, or small group outing, basically revolves around alcohol. I'm not a teetotaler, but I am a parent in my 40's who has kinda lost interest in drinking, and I'm starting to feel alienated by that part of the industry's culture. I don't want to feel like I have accept the beer you're offering me in order to fit in with a team, or give up my evening with my family to go watch you stand in a circle and get shit-faced in front of your co-workers. This is 2019, in our own industry.

pnutjam 8y ago
Same here, my company has a keg on tap and they love showing it off. I've had one beer in the two years I've worked there. Just not that interested in alcohol.
fragmede 8y ago
> Has this culture ever really gone away? It's possible I'm being naive as to what my coworkers are up to, but the "Man Men", 3 martini lunch culture has certainly gone away. It's fair to complain that a company's social events revolve around alcohol, but, explicitly, when people talk about "company culture" and "good fit", internal company norms around alcohol are a huge part of it. There are workplaces that are basically a continuation of college frat houses, down to the levels of sexual harassment that make Uber look hospitable. There are also workplaces where everyone goes leaves at 5pm on the dot to get home to be with their partner/kids, and the Christmas party is a potluck with very limited amounts of wine. Pick your poison. The recruiter is there to, well, recruit you, and they can't know how a given candidate feels about alcohol consumption, so if they too-gleefully show off their bar - push back! Ask how much people actually drink - there's a difference between between zero and one beer after work with coworkers (I just drink a la croix/talking rain while my coworker who does drink, drinks a beer), vs drinking liquor to excess.
tomjen3 8y ago
I can't find the sources now, but based on what what I have been told the workers at the Danish beer producer Carlsberg were, per union agreement, to be paid a certain number of beers (4?) per day, up until the 1990ish. Before there were any special taxes on liquer in Denmark, it wasn't uncommon to buy a bottle before work, and finish it through the day (this would be just after the Victorian age, so those workers probably needed) and of course the Gin Wagons in the UK are legendary for a reason.

Starwatcher2001 8y ago

I concur. I used to work in a plastic factory in the 70's and at lunchtime there was a fair stream of machine operators who's make a beeline for the pub opposite. Pint or two of beer and a pie was the standard lunch.

xfitm3 8y ago

It used to be acceptable and widespread to drink at lunch in white collar jobs, too.

matwood 8y ago
A buddy of mine's dad was an on the floor stock trader in the 70s/80s, and he joked that he made all his money taking advantage of the drunk people after lunch. Whether or not that part is true, he was serious when he said it was common for people to 2-3-4 martinis at lunch. He didn't drink, and still doesn't.

Nexxxeh 8y ago

While I'm guessing you probably know, for those outside of the UK - The story of one of Scotland's national drinks, Irn-Bru, is somewhat related. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irn-Bru https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irn-Bru Unfortunately the sugar tax, a tax on sugar-laded drinks, has resulted in them changing the recipe and now it's disgusting tasting.

saghm 8y ago

Out of curiosity, do you drink? My experience as someone who doesn't drink is that people at best tend to react with confusion when I tell that that I don't drink (and not due to religious beliefs, a medical condition, or something similar). I think I'd agree that not drinking is considered socially acceptable, but I definitely feel that most people still consider complete abstention from alcohol at least abnormal.