Lunchtime Pints at work, why not in Ireland?

Your Superior · 05-06-2015 1:00pm #1

Working in Manchester and London this week, and most days the people I am working or meeting with go out for a pint or two(or a glass of wine) at lunchtime before going back to work for the afternoon. To me this has always been the norm, but it also made me realise that in about 25 years of work visits to Ireland, I've never known anyone to go to the pub for a swift lunchtime drink and meal.

Why is this? Does nobody pop out just for one or two drinks(well, usually 4 or 5 on a friday)?

xhoundx · 05-06-2015 1:03pm

Anytime I used to go for a liquid lunch it always lead to a half day work

Captain Chaos · 05-06-2015 1:05pm

I'd be sacked if there was any indication I had any drink on me in work. That and I only get one 20min lunch break a day. Basically don't have time to leave the office car park and get back so I sit at my desk. Also there are no pubs in walking distance of where I work, probably about 3-4 miles away to the nearest one.

Your Superior · 05-06-2015 1:06pm

is that the issue? Funnily I've had one or two of my Irish friends say pretty much the same thing. They same the same about driving to the pub and just having one drink too, that they just can't do it as they always want more.

stmol32 · 05-06-2015 1:08pm

Yeah it's weird alright, it's the one aspect of alcohol where we're surprisingly disciplined.

Captain Chaos · 05-06-2015 1:08pm

Your Superior wrote: »

is that the issue? Funnily I've had one or two of my Irish friends say pretty much the same thing. They same the same about driving to the pub and just having one drink too, that they just can't do it as they always want more.

Well one pint and you are over the limit to drive.

Grayson · 05-06-2015 1:10pm

About 15 years ago I worked in Dell. People used to pop down to the silver tassie at lunch for a carvery and a pint. Last place I worked you would have gotten fired. Things have changed in the last few years.

somesoldiers · 05-06-2015 1:12pm

Personally I don't see the point, a couple of pints at lunch = falling asleep by 3 o'clock.... we have a fridge full of beer in our office though I only ever see anyone have one on a Friday evening.

The Moldy Gowl · 05-06-2015 1:12pm

Because how would it look if you leaned over to your neighbour or boss and there was a smell of beer off your breath?

The Backwards Man · 05-06-2015 1:12pm

Work when you're working, drink when you're drinking. If you can't separate them it's time to give one of them up.

Butterface · 05-06-2015 1:12pm

Have done it a few times over the years.. between the rushing to and from lunch and not drinking your pint/glass of wine at a relaxing pace because you're watching the clock.. it just left me feeling flushed going back to work.

hynesie08 · 05-06-2015 1:12pm

I often used to have a half pint/bottle of beer with my lunch, just because it went well with the food. Always lead to funny looks when people found out.

somesoldiers · 05-06-2015 1:14pm

Yeah I actually drink to get drunk, not really because I enjoy the taste or it improves the taste of my food, binge baby, so wouldn't see the point in one or two!

henryporter · 05-06-2015 1:14pm

and they have the cheek to refer to us as drunken Paddies - they even have several TV soaps dedicated to life in the pub and yet think we have more a drink problem than they do

Tony Beetroot · 05-06-2015 1:15pm

Nothing wrong with having a few bulmers in the tractor at the silage.

Your Superior · 05-06-2015 1:15pm

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Work when you're working, drink when you're drinking. If you haven't time to separate them it's time to give one of them up.

a nonsensical attitude. why does "drinking" have to mean having a skinful? In the UK and mainland Europe millions of people are quite happy to have on or two drinks at lunch without the need to be "drinking". I'd say that if you don't have the strength to just have on or two and then stop because "if you're drinking, you're drinking", it's then that you need to give up.

Conall Cernach · 05-06-2015 1:16pm

Maybe in Ireland 1 or 2 pints is seen as a waste unless it is followed by several more. You're paying around a fiver for what is a beverage to wash down your dinner.

Your Superior · 05-06-2015 1:17pm

somesoldiers wrote: »

Yeah I actually drink to get drunk, not really because I enjoy the taste or it improves the taste of my food, binge baby, so wouldn't see the point in one or two!

xhoundx wrote: »

Anytime I used to go for a liquid lunch it always lead to a half day work

henryporter wrote: »

and they have the cheek to refer to us as drunken Paddies - they even have several TV soaps dedicated to life in the pub and yet think we have more a drink problem than they do

Yeah, can't see why anyone would make that assumption...

Your Superior · 05-06-2015 1:19pm

Conall Cernach wrote: »

Maybe in Ireland 1 or 2 pints is seen as a waste unless it is followed by several more. You're paying around a fiver for what is a beverage to wash down your dinner.

Why is it a waste to have a drink of something you enjoy? Is alcohol just something that people in Ireland use to get drunk? Does nobody just like sitting back with a glass of wine or beer and relaxing as they have lunch? Seems crazy to me, but perhaps it's just a cultural difference. It's definitely not something I've experienced outside Ireland.

BizzyC · 05-06-2015 1:20pm

I work in London and it's not at all common in my office.

Sure, if you're meeting with a client it's a done thing, but a random lunchtime pint, doesn't happen and would be frowned on.

sbsquarepants · 05-06-2015 1:21pm

Your Superior wrote: »

a nonsensical attitude. why does "drinking" have to mean having a skinful? In the UK and mainland Europe millions of people are quite happy to have on or two drinks at lunch without the need to be "drinking". I'd say that if you don't have the strength to just have on or two and then stop because "if you're drinking, you're drinking", it's then that you need to give up.

I think that's the nonsensical attitude to be honest. Alcohol is a drug, the point in taking any drug is to feel it's effects - if you aren't going to feel the effect you may as well drink water or a cup of tea.

Your Superior · 05-06-2015 1:21pm

sbsquarepants wrote: »

I think that's the nonsensical attitude to be honest. Alcohol is a drug, the point in taking any drug is to feel it's effects - if you aren't going to feel the effect you may as well drink water or a cup of tea.

Feeling the effects doesn't have to mean getting paralytic, though. I'd never realised the strange relationship between the Irish and alcohol. I suppose one big difference is the way the Irish talk about having "Taken a few drinks" or "having alcohol taken", never hear it referred to like that elsewhere.

The Backwards Man · 05-06-2015 1:22pm

Your Superior wrote: »

a nonsensical attitude. why does "drinking" have to mean having a skinful? In the UK and mainland Europe millions of people are quite happy to have on or two drinks at lunch without the need to be "drinking". I'd say that if you don't have the strength to just have on or two and then stop because "if you're drinking, you're drinking", it's then that you need to give up.

I'm not talking about a skinful, I'm not even talking about one. I'm talking about any trace of alcohol at all. Drink away when you're off duty, but I don't want to be conducting with anybody under the influence. And you can argue till the cows come home, even a mouthful of a pint impairs your judgment.

hynesie08 · 05-06-2015 1:22pm

Conall Cernach wrote: »

You're paying around a fiver for what is a beverage to wash down your dinner.

You'll pay that for a pint of coke in a lot of places, might as well get something to complement the food.

sbsquarepants · 05-06-2015 1:24pm

Your Superior wrote: »

Feeling the effects doesn't have to mean getting paralytic, though.

Not paralytic no. But one pint - or half pint if the English soaps are to be believed, is just an exercise in pure futility.
You may as well just burn a fiver and drink a can of coke!

listermint · 05-06-2015 1:24pm

Your Superior wrote: »

Feeling the effects doesn't have to mean getting paralytic, though. I'd never realised the strange relationship between the Irish and alcohol. I suppose one big difference is the way the Irish talk about having "Taken a few drinks" or "having alcohol taken", never hear it referred to like that elsewhere.

Im glad you speak for everyone ...

Your Superior · 05-06-2015 1:25pm

sbsquarepants wrote: »

Not paralytic no. But one pint - or half pint if the English soaps are to be believed, is just an exercise in pure futility.
You may as well just burn a fiver and drink a can of coke!

It's £2.20 a pint here.

fleet_admiral · 05-06-2015 1:25pm

The pub I work in doesnt allow us to drink or even eat there when we are off duty. One barman a while ago pulled himself a sneaky pint when he was finished ork and hid behind a massive bamboo tree in the beer garden to drink it but was sacked on the spot as he was on camera, even though he as off duty.

riffmongous · 05-06-2015 1:25pm

No harm in having one with lunch, or maybe a radler on a hot day, very relaxing way to spend lunchtime. Just as cheap as a soft drink too if it's a lager

Your Superior · 05-06-2015 1:26pm

listermint wrote: »

Im glad you speak for everyone ...

It's a way of speaking only used in Ireland, so yes, it's the Irish that say it. Doesn't mean all Irish people do.

Your Superior · 05-06-2015 1:27pm

The Backwards Man wrote: »

I'm not talking about a skinful, I'm not even talking about one. I'm talking about any trace of alcohol at all. Drink away when you're off duty, but I don't want to be conducting with anybody under the influence. And you can argue till the cows come home, even a mouthful of a pint impairs your judgment.

What an absolute load of codswallop.

Lunchtime Pints at work, why not in Ireland?

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