Work and drinking culture

"HR should simply be responsible for setting some parameters around what is acceptable and what is not, when it comes to drinking at work. However, like politicians, employees are grown-ups and should know what is acceptable and what is not. It's not acceptable to blame someone else for your lack of judgement - therein seems to lie the problem."

"Whilst Boris lambasts hybrid workers for necking coffee and snaffling cheese from the fridge, he also appears under the illusion that its normal for employees to neck beer and whisky chasers in the workplace. For most employees drinking at work is simply an alien concept. And why so many are aghast at the endemic drinking culture at No. 10. In terms of HR's role, employees are adults, and should be trusted to make the right decision about what is appropriate for the specific work context. HR shouldn't need to get involved to explain what is".

After spending years working in the recruitment industry previously, I almost feel numb to drinking cultures in workplaces now. I remember a work event I went to on my first day in a new role, and the founder of the company sat a bottle of champagne down in front of me with a straw and told me to drink it. It was almost like a hazing process. I think recruitment is similar to politics where it's like an old boys club. I'm sure there are places that aren't like that, but I'd argue the majority are.