3 ms·

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'v

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.

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.