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>I’m calling out the alcohol obsession we have in the tech industry Having worked in the tech industry, publishing, academia, and medicine, I'd like to offer a

by scythe 4y ago

>I’m calling out the alcohol obsession we have in the tech industry Having worked in the tech industry, publishing, academia, and medicine, I'd like to offer a correction. The tech industry does not have an alcohol obsession. The United States has an alcohol obsession. Drinking was certainly pervasive in tech, but no more than anywhere else. >Having an event in a bar or a pub is problematic in and of itself. Likewise, there is simply a lack of public social gathering places, in American cities period, that are not bars. And I don't particularly like bowling. >If one needs alcohol to have a good time, then there’s a bigger problem to deal with. My hypothesis is that alcohol supports a rapid transition from work to relaxation, in much the same way that caffeine supports a rapid transition from sleep to work. Under "normal" conditions, the mind is more "sticky".

wizofaus 4y ago
The USA has fairly moderate alcohol consumption and cultural expectation of drinking compared to many other countries (it's something like 40th in a list ranking >100 countries by litres consumed per day per capita). Among English speaking developed countries only Canadians drink less, as far as I can tell.
RockRobotRock 4y ago
Not to pull a "whatabout"ism, but I can only imagine it would be a lot harder to not drink as a Japanese salaryman. Very difficult to bond with your coworkers if you can't participate at nomikai, the only time they can let their guard down and speak their true feelings. I can't speak for how it is in China, Taiwan, or other east Asian countries, but from what I've heard the drinking is more intense than it is in America.
al_mandi 4y ago
> My hypothesis is that alcohol supports a rapid transition from work to relaxation In cultures that do not drink alcohol, we gather up around non-alcoholic drinks like tea (especially more involved brews like Karak or Kashmiri), and that in itself is relaxing, regardless of the caffeine content of the drink. It's mostly about the setting and atmosphere. Time and time again, studies and anecdotes are showing the destructive power of alcohol on so many different levels, from individual health to society.
bena 4y ago
Yes, I work in professional sports. We recently had our technology conference. There was a welcome reception the first night. Where they had an free, open bar. The only real limit was how much you could drink before the event was over. Another night, there was an event held at a brewery and catered by a bbq place. It was another free, open bar. No limits. It was more difficult to get food than a drink. Some people went karaoke after the event. Another night, we were taken to dinner by a vendor rep. We had drinks before. We had drinks during. He left to go to a bar or club with another group and we stayed at the hotel we were at and had more drinks. And I mean "we" as a group had more drinks. I personally was only getting a drink every second or third round as I did not want to pass out. And I have nothing against drinking. It's just something that doesn't occur to me to do very often. But it was every night with this event.

by scythe 4y ago

wizofaus 4y ago

The USA has fairly moderate alcohol consumption and cultural expectation of drinking compared to many other countries (it's something like 40th in a list ranking >100 countries by litres consumed per day per capita). Among English speaking developed countries only Canadians drink less, as far as I can tell.

RockRobotRock 4y ago

Not to pull a "whatabout"ism, but I can only imagine it would be a lot harder to not drink as a Japanese salaryman. Very difficult to bond with your coworkers if you can't participate at nomikai, the only time they can let their guard down and speak their true feelings. I can't speak for how it is in China, Taiwan, or other east Asian countries, but from what I've heard the drinking is more intense than it is in America.

al_mandi 4y ago

> My hypothesis is that alcohol supports a rapid transition from work to relaxation In cultures that do not drink alcohol, we gather up around non-alcoholic drinks like tea (especially more involved brews like Karak or Kashmiri), and that in itself is relaxing, regardless of the caffeine content of the drink. It's mostly about the setting and atmosphere. Time and time again, studies and anecdotes are showing the destructive power of alcohol on so many different levels, from individual health to society.

bena 4y ago

Yes, I work in professional sports. We recently had our technology conference. There was a welcome reception the first night. Where they had an free, open bar. The only real limit was how much you could drink before the event was over. Another night, there was an event held at a brewery and catered by a bbq place. It was another free, open bar. No limits. It was more difficult to get food than a drink. Some people went karaoke after the event. Another night, we were taken to dinner by a vendor rep. We had drinks before. We had drinks during. He left to go to a bar or club with another group and we stayed at the hotel we were at and had more drinks. And I mean "we" as a group had more drinks. I personally was only getting a drink every second or third round as I did not want to pass out. And I have nothing against drinking. It's just something that doesn't occur to me to do very often. But it was every night with this event.