Is it bad these days to have a pint on your lunch?

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ukbot-nicolabot@reddit

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thatscotbird@reddit

My work has a strict policy against this… then again it’s also a law firm, so - can’t have alcohol induced decisions.

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exiledbloke@reddit

3x things that tell the truth: - drunks - children - leggings No wonder your employer wants you withholding the booze:)

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slimdrum@reddit

Curious what leggings are telling us

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takesthebiscuit@reddit

It’s changed since I used to watch Rumple of the Bailey!

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paleblooddaviey@reddit

I’d love if his name was Rumple 😂

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Hell0imjonEcache@reddit

Unless he meant Stiltskin? Forgotten 90’s band also

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Richard-c-b@reddit

What did you just say to me? This deposition is over

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Bluffwatcher@reddit

You. Can't. Handle. The. Booze.

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megatron420xoxo@reddit

My law firm does too. They also enjoy turning a blind eye to it given that all the directors visit the pub on a Friday afternoon.

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thatscotbird@reddit

Yes somehow all the partners seem to be exempt from this… funny that

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Asylum_Brews@reddit

Socially, having A pint at lunch is fine. What your employer my think is another matter. I've worked in jobs with a zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol, and employees were subject to random urine tests (which happened rarely, but could still happen). Failure in a test could result in loosing your safety certificate to work, and probably your job alongside it.

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LondonCycling@reddit

Unless you work a job where it's prohibited, like a railway engineer or a pilot, it's not in and of itself unlawful. Some health and safety at work legislation may mean it's not *really* allowed for some other roles also. It may also be company policy not to. After that, you're down to social acceptance. If you're an insurance broker working in the Square Mile, it's practically expected. If you're a hotel receptionist and you're smelling of ale, maybe less so, but a spritz of Hugo Boss and you're probably fine. If you're falling asleep at your office job desk, no chance. I agree with the other commenter that a good question to ask is, if your boss saw you having a pint at lunch, what would they think?

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UeharaNick@reddit

Legally, unless you are working with machinery, driving etc, then unless it's in your employment conditions that specifically states that you can't (and you signed that) then of course you can. I'm not advocating getting pissed, but a pint of Guinness at lunch is perfectly acceptable. I'm not sure when this didn't become 'socially acceptable'. That's just some Gen Z nonsense.

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VanderBrit@reddit

Go for a walk around the City Of London at lunch time. The boozers are full of people in suits necking pints. Every day of the week. Even during COVID. If you want to do it, it’s up to you. Whether it’s a good idea to make this a regular habit is a question you should ask your boss and/or doctor.

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leviticusreeves@reddit

Used to be totally normal and I still do it regularly, but people are getting increasingly weird about it.

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Kaiserlongbone@reddit

If you look in the pubs at lunchtime, it's mainly a group of people from the office out for a drink and nobody bothers about that. But the lone drinker standing on his own at the bar is going to raise some eyebrows/questions. Solitary daytime drinking is not seen as a "good thing".

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CoffeeIgnoramus@reddit

Legally, depends on your sector and your company's policy. Socially, it's less and less acceptable.

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portinuk@reddit

I think it’s important to mention that the reason why it’s becoming less and less acceptable is because the boundaries of alcoholism are shrinking. As a nation we do have a strong drinking culture and I remember my dad drinking pretty much every day. Today, even though I love a good pint, I don’t do it because I understand that it’s not a good idea.

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highdon@reddit

Absolutely the most sensible approach. Personally if someone in my team showed up to work after a drink and I could tell/smell it on them, I'd be sending them home. It's not professional. I dont want to sit next to you smelling like a brewery. Yes, you can smell it when someone's had a pint. Why do you need to drink during working hours anyway? Come on...

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Breakwaterbot@reddit

And here we have an actual sensible answer that will get downvoted into oblivion because of Redditors being Reddity. I love beer more than the average person but there's no need for it at lunch time when you're working. Go after work.

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DameKumquat@reddit

Technically there's no need, ever. I think my work's policy is max one pint/2 units at lunch, occasionally, if you're sure it won't impair your work after, but I haven't actually checked in the last 15 years. Telling people they should go after work instead, just because of what other people will think, is the kind of Reddit censorship I think you're railing against?

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Artistic_Data9398@reddit

If you can't go 8 hours without having a drink, you have a problem. Also pretty sure you're not allowed to be under the influence of drug or alcohol at work, irrespective of your job.

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PrimeValuable@reddit

Yes it’s acceptable and fuck anyone who says otherwise lol

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MercuryJellyfish@reddit

I've never worked anywhere in the last 20 years who thought that was ok. However, the general attitude seems to be that if you are able to do your work and aren't impaired, it's not something they investigate.

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HistoricalPickle@reddit

As folk have been saying it depends, if you work in an office but also have site/warehouse etc based staff there is likely a zero tolerance policy which you would also be subject to.

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Valuable_K@reddit

On a Friday it's a lot more socially accepted

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VanJack@reddit

This would entirely depend on your workplace. A fun, casual creative office? Probably not a problem. A highly corporate, client facing job? Probably an issue. As long as it doesn’t interfere with your work performance and you don’t stink of booze, you’re probably going to be fine. If you’re operating any sort of vehicle or machinery, absolutely not a single drop of alcohol.

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Apoc525@reddit

Considered getting help to stop being an alcoholic?

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Ze_Gremlin@reddit

I work un Bristol City, the office is surrounded by pubs, bars, all sorts. They're always packed at lunchtimes with people drinking. Business dressed professionals sat outside having a pint, or enjoying bottomless cocktails.

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Berookes@reddit

I go for a pint at the hatchet every Friday lunch time

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durkheim98@reddit

Yeah I used to work central. The Bank Tavern, Old Fish Market, the Seven Stars always had tradies and the office crowd rock up at lunch time.

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Breakwaterbot@reddit

That's great but it's absolutely not the norm in the vast majority of places and massively depends on your work situation.

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Albert_Herring@reddit

I used to have a glass of wine with lunch in the office canteen. That wasn't these days or this country, though. And I had a proper office with a door where I could take a 10 minute power nap with my head on the keyboard (which I often need even if I drink nothing but coffee). I'd probably avoid it these days (I mean, I don't drink at lunchtime even though I'm self employed, working at home in a role where a pint wouldn't occasion any particular risks in an office with a reasonably well stocked liquor cabinet).

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GloomySwitch6297@reddit

socially acceptable? No. legally? depends on where you work. We have in our office the keg/Philips/PerfectDraught. It is acceptable that on Friday at 4:45pm, we have 15 minutes to have one before going home. But thats it. If I would go on lunch break and I would be spotted sitting with a pint, I would most likely be fired immediately, Not even mentioning, that socially that shouldn't be acceptable at all (to drink and work)

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monkeyclaw77@reddit

Depends, are you a bus driver?

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cmitch922@reddit (OP)

Yeah, I drive the bus around the office …

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VerbingNoun413@reddit

Probably cause you drank too much at lunch.

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UberMushroom@reddit

Unless your work has a zero alcohol policy, like driving trains, buses or certain firms where critical decisions are made, then no: why would it be? I often have a pint at lunch and still manage to do my afternoon work.

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e-pancake@reddit

*on* your lunch? won’t it get soggy?

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Breakwaterbot@reddit

Just no need for it. Go for a pint after work.

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Zestyclose_Key_6964@reddit

maybe OP drives forklift better after a Guinness or two?

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SlySquire@reddit

Used to work in a small family run business with a warehouse attached to it. On a Friday we'd go down the pub with the boss. He's pay for lunch and a pint or two each. Then back to work on the forklift in the afternoon.

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generic-username9067@reddit

I find it stops the scalpel from shaking so much when I'm operating, each to their own really

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Repulsive-Echidna-74@reddit

Misery

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bleach1969@reddit

Theres a need at some of the places i’ve had the misfortune to work in!

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PlasteeqDNA@reddit

I'm not in the UK but in my country if you were a businessman you could go on a boozy lunch but heaven help the secretary who decided to have a drink at lunchtime.

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buginarugsnug@reddit

It depends on the culture at your workplace, and your workplace contract. It wouldn't be allowed where I work but as another commenter said, there is some workplaces that are much more lax. If you're unsure as to your workplace policy on it, I would steer clear and just have it after work instead.

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Cultural_Tank_6947@reddit

Legally - maybe, maybe not. Unless you drive for a living, or have another one of a few specific jobs, it's not legally restricted in the sense that the police would be interested. Contractually may have a very different provision and depends on whether being "drunk" constitutes gross indiscipline. Not having seen your contract or employee handbook, I don't officially know the answer. Socially - I don't know who your colleagues are, but chances are, just looking at society in general, there will be some people who find it unacceptable. Whether those people choose to create a fuss or have the power to get you in trouble, who knows. Full disclosure, I have had a cheeky lunch time pint on more than one occasion but it was because I knew that it was socially acceptable at my workplace. This happens probably once a year at best.

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HelloReddit54321@reddit

I thought you said 5 pints with these responses

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thombthumb84@reddit

We used to have 3 bars and 2 pubs onsite. Now down to 1 bar - sad times.

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Boldboy72@reddit

a pint a lunch is still very common in London. I rarely do it myself these days but most of my colleagues do.

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TheSilkyBat@reddit

I don't think there's anything wrong with having a boozy brunch. When it comes to alcohol, I think the only problem is drinking specifically to change the way you feel.

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UK_FinHouAcc@reddit

" I think the only problem is drinking specifically to change the way you feel." Why else would you drink it?

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TheSilkyBat@reddit

It's the intention behind what you are doing that is key. There is a difference between having a drink because it's a hot day and you feel like sipping a fruity cocktail, and using alcoholic drinks to get buzzed and improve your mood. One is enjoying the taste of the drink, the other is enjoying the effects of the drink.

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OffMyDave@reddit

This guy drinks

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infieldcookie@reddit

Depends on your job really. I’ve worked in one where it was pretty much encouraged to go out for a pint at lunch, even the senior managers would be there. Doesn’t seem to be as common post covid now or in my current job.

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NorthbankN5@reddit

We have a beer tap in our office from 3pm everyday. Depends on your office.

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durkheim98@reddit

Yeah that's fine, it's only a pint. Me and a couple of my colleagues go for a cheeky pint once or twice a week. That said, knowing some of the wet blankets on this sub, that makes you an alcoholic 😉

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Mumique@reddit

It depends on *their* workplace though. I agree that a Friday pub lunch with a single pint sounds perfectly acceptable unless you're handling heavy machinery, but that doesn't mean their boss will.

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Small-External4419@reddit

Depends on what your job is. If you’re a professional booze taster, then fine, crack on. If you operate a 40 tonne excavator in a kindergarten, then maybe it’s not such a good idea.

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maht90@reddit

I could totally see a situation where I just don't go back to work after lunch if I did this.

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Ill_Refrigerator_593@reddit

I used to go for one or two. Problem was it always made me feel a bit sleepy in the afternoon.

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Opening-Abrocoma4210@reddit

I worked in places where going for a drink at lunch was rife, although I never did it.* If I did it in my current place I would be sacked. Ask yourself if anyone else does it, or what would you think if you heard of anyone doing it? *And just another point, the people I knew doing it regularly had broader problems with the drink

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SaltPomegranate4@reddit

I wouldn’t want to because who wants to go back to work after you’ve had a pint? I did once last summer go to a pub beer garden and have an NA beer at lunch though. I have no garden so I thought it was a good way to relax in the sun.

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Dissidant@reddit

Think its irresponsible. When I first started working full time people did that at my first job Its never just the one pint. Its not just unpleasant being around people who outright stink (I was 17 when I started that job), its fucking dangerous as well because it was an environment with industrial scale machinery, forklifts etc

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Crinkez@reddit

A pint a day for many years in a row is going to substantially increase chance of liver failure. I suggest going with moderation or not at all.

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megatron420xoxo@reddit

Your employee handbook (or something similar) likely states that you cannot consume alcohol during the working day. I would think that your employer would turn a blind eye to drinking on lunch unless you came back absolutely smashed. I would say it is socially acceptable and have known many colleagues to do this throughout the week.

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WorhummerWoy@reddit

Highly illegal, where do you work? I'll be filing a police report.

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sock_cooker@reddit

If I want a couple of stiffeners at lunch then I will, and if anyone's got a problem with it they don't have to board my flight

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Valuable-Wallaby-167@reddit

You know where you work better than we do. Some employers wouldn't care, with some jobs it'd get you fired.

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ratscabs@reddit

Depends on your office, and what you do. In the office I worked in, I can’t remember whether it was actually forbidden to drink alcohol during working hours, but sure as hell management would have taken an extremely dim view of anyone with alcohol on their breath. It just wasn’t a thing.

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JohnRCC@reddit

"Legally" there is nothing stopping you having a pint with your lunch, but socially and professionally it's really going to depend on your employer. If I turned up at the office with Guinness on my breath I'd be out the door. If working from home you could possibly get away with it but it's nowhere near as socially acceptable now as it used to be.

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Jdaniels1337@reddit

Absolutely fine. Ignore the naysayers and pearl clutching!

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knight-under-stars@reddit

Your concern should be whether it is acceptable to your employer or not. Beyond that it is acceptable if you deem it so, you are an adult and can have a pint at lunch if you want to and it does not impact your work.

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