Drinking during lunchbreak

mikemac · 19-03-2011 04:59PM

Yeah saw this in Belfast too, just up the road but different culture.
Hope I won't get picked apart for that over some politics nonsense. Just my experience. Was doing work with people from all over NI and they'd be bringing me for pints at lunch

Anyways. When I was in a Dublin branch of a Dutch company there was a fridge full of beer, longnecks of all the main brands.
We didn't drink at lunch but Friday evening or maybe before a staff night out or even peak times and you're there at 8pm.
The managing director to the lowly serfs like me all did it. Seems to be common in Dutch companies

ascanbe · 19-03-2011 05:15PM

Ryann Unimportant Scalp wrote: »

I don't agree. While the English certainly drink more than the French/Spanish/Belgians, City types and stockbrokers are an exception. I often go out for drinks after work with people my age in London and most of the time, people have 3 or 4 drinks over 3+ hours and head home. The same type of people back home would have 10+ pints, skip dinner and go home at 1am completely p!ssed. It's always, always the Irish ones over here who say 'let's just have one more'. Most of the time when I meet English/Spanish/Colombian friends here for a pint, it really is only one pint.

That's how we roll.

Laisurg · 19-03-2011 05:18PM

I'd say i'd be sacked on the spot even for one, may as well do it now though since i'm getting laid off next week.

Nodin · 19-03-2011 05:26PM

No bar on it anywhere I worked, as long as you didn't come back pissed. Generally it was avoided though, because the last thing most wanted to do was go back after getting comfortable with a nice jar, particularily in times of stress/evil management.

Also, it depends what size of a lunch you eat. You wouldn't notice a pint after a big feed.

Eve_Dublin · 19-03-2011 05:33PM

Ryann Unimportant Scalp wrote: »

I don't agree. While the English certainly drink more than the French/Spanish/Belgians, City types and stockbrokers are an exception. I often go out for drinks after work with people my age in London and most of the time, people have 3 or 4 drinks over 3+ hours and head home. The same type of people back home would have 10+ pints, skip dinner and go home at 1am completely p!ssed. It's always, always the Irish ones over here who say 'let's just have one more'. Most of the time when I meet English/Spanish/Colombian friends here for a pint, it really is only one pint.

Well we'll have to agree to disagree then. Not defending how much the Irish consume but to put the English in the same bracket as the Spanish and the French is laughable and I think the French and Spanish would probably join in on the laughter if they heard that.

Doublin · 19-03-2011 05:35PM

When I worked in London, it was par for the course to head to the pub for lunch, especially Friday when it became a game of stay in the pub as long as possible before you have to head back to the office to complete the end of day stuff (edit, this was late 90's).When we moved the functions to Dublin, the first thing the manager did was ban the practice of going to the pub at lunchtime. IMO the English have as bad a relationship with alcohol as us.

When I was in Holland, drinking during lunch was frowned upon if regular, ok if not, but having a beer after work was normal.

Germany, in certain industries I understand, drinking during the working day is normal. Again, I understand working while 'pissed' is not on, although I've spoken with lads who swore to knocking back bottles of JD/Vodka in the morning while working on construction sites in East Germany..

ejmaztec · 19-03-2011 05:44PM

In Ireland, people leave the pub to go home for lunch, then go back to the pub afterwards.:pac:

Acoshla · 19-03-2011 05:45PM

I've worked places that we'd go eat in a pub at lunch but I've never known anyone to drink, mainly I would say because I've always worked in retail type jobs and dealing with the public while possibly smelling of drink would get you in serious trouble.

I personally would never have a drink at lunch because it wouldn't even occur to me for a start, not that big a drinker, and I'm a terror for getting a bit giddy after one drink (the joys of not drinking much/often, I'm a seriously cheap date) so I know I personally wouldn't be able to be as professional after a drink.

ejmaztec · 19-03-2011 05:53PM

One of the guys who I worked with in England, used to take off to the pub for a skinful every day. Mid afternoon he would be coming out of one of the office toilets and saying "Don't go in there mate, dead rats". At half-four, he'd be nodding off.

I don't know how he managed not to get nailed by the cops when he drove 20 miles home every evening.

whydoibother? · 19-03-2011 07:05PM

I'd never do it.

Firstly, genuinely don't think I could do even the simplest job after alcohol. Two drinks affects me.:o

Secondly, scared of being fired.

the groutch · 19-03-2011 08:12PM

If a company is providing you with a job, you should have the common decency to be able to stay sober til after you're finished for the day

TeddyTedson · 19-03-2011 08:26PM

Ryann Unimportant Scalp wrote: »

Why? Why can you not just enjoy one or two? (Not being snotty BTW, am genuinely curious!)

I would just prefer to stay 100% sober rather than have one or two. I know they wouldn't really affect me much but I've done it before (not in work mind) and hated it. I like the taste of a pint too so I'm not just drinking to get smashed all the time, although tonight and most Saturdays that's what I'll be doing.
Try going in to town (Dublin before the culchies bite my head off:D) and have 2 pints or so and then try do a few hours shopping, if your anything like me you'll hate it. I enjoy being sober most of the time

.

Poor Craythur · 19-03-2011 09:15PM

Alcohol makes me dreadfully tired at any time, so I would never want to drink at lunchtime.

Poor Craythur · 19-03-2011 09:16PM

Eve_Dublin wrote: »

Personally I can't do anything that involves any degree of responsibility even after one beer.

This.

Poor Craythur · 19-03-2011 09:17PM

Ryann Unimportant Scalp wrote: »

I always found it weird that drinking at lunchtime was so taboo in Ireland, but I think it's because so many Irish people aren't capable of just enjoying one drink. It always has to turn into a massive session.

It's not that for me, alcohol just really exhausts me, even just one.

Dyr · 19-03-2011 09:37PM

It'd be a bit like going to see the first 20 minutes of a film over lunch..sure what's the point?

Odysseus · 19-03-2011 09:40PM

Have to cut back on eating out at lunch. However on my late shift I use to go a for an curry for lunch; if I was seeing clients in the afternoon I use only have a 1/4 bottle of wine. However, I would often book in paperwoek for the afternnon and not see clients until about 5. On those occassions I would sometimes have a 1/2 with my meal.

Having done this in a while though. When I worked on sites 15-20 years ago in the uk, it would be a pint with your breakfast, two at lunch then a few after work. I wouldn't do that now; but that was the culture I was in at the time.

SoulTrader · 19-03-2011 10:01PM

I'd have a glass of wine if I was having lunch with a client, and that's ok with our company's policy. Wouldn't be bothered with any more than that though, I'd be falling asleep at my desk by 3pm if I did.

Sonics2k · 19-03-2011 10:15PM

Ah crap, I meant to answer this thread when I got back from lunch, must of been to hammered to remember.

Drinking during lunchbreak

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