Lunchtime Pints at work, why not in Ireland?

ISOP · 05-06-2015 12:50pm

Irish people can't control themselves when it comes to drinking.

Your Superior · 05-06-2015 12:51pm

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Being able to do your job and doing your job to the best of your ability are two different things.

And people are more likely to perform to the best of their ability in an environment that treats them as adults. I've had a business for over 20 years, and that philosophy seems to have served me well so far.

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo · 05-06-2015 12:53pm

I would never want to drink and work.

I'm either all in or I'm all out.

The Backwards Man · 05-06-2015 12:54pm

Your Superior wrote: »

And people are more likely to perform to the best of their ability in an environment that treats them as adults. I've had a business for over 20 years, and that philosophy seems to have served me well so far.

As an adult, I like to think that I am mature enough to abstain from mind altering substances when I'm on the clock. But that's just me.

Your Superior · 05-06-2015 12:57pm

The Backwards Man wrote: »

As an adult, I like to think that I am mature enough to abstain from mind altering substances when I'm on the clock. But that's just me.

Yeah, we should stop people having coffee too...

Paramite Pie · 05-06-2015 12:58pm

The Backwards Man wrote: »

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.

It's that attitude that's our problem - separation. Drinking shouldn't be an event in itself, it should be integrated more as part of social events rather than the main attraction.

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.

A pint can be very refreshing on a summers day. I can drink one pint and stop there, doesn't feel like a waste to me if I enjoy it. The effects of alcohol can also be subtle and relaxing.

The idea that you can only drink for the buzz is not only a childish one but also a worrying one. Let's face it, most people don't stop when their buzzing... they keep going until they're absolutely sh*tfaced.

The Moldy Gowl · 05-06-2015 1:00pm

I have pondered it long and hard over water.

If it was nice beer that's enjoyable to drink, then half a pint would be pleasent.
A nice beer, not a heino or a bud. The drinks people drink to get drunk.

the dark phantom · 05-06-2015 1:02pm

William F wrote: »

It's the same reason we don't drink in parks or by the river, with the exception of Portobello Bridge or the Spanish Arch at summer, it's because there's a cultural awareness of our destructive drinking habit.

Ah now, Loads of folk drink in parks here. :pac:

keano_afc · 05-06-2015 1:13pm

I work in Blackrock and since Witherspoons have moved in my liquid lunch quota has gone from never to often.

MonkeyTennis · 05-06-2015 1:14pm

The Backwards Man wrote: »

As an adult, I like to think that I am mature enough to abstain from mind altering substances when I'm on the clock. But that's just me.

Ehm..Coffee?

valoren · 05-06-2015 1:23pm

Would you rather fly in a plane or ride in a Bus where you know the pilot/driver had (a) 3 cups of coffee or (b) 3 pints of Beer during their lunch break?

Valetta · 05-06-2015 1:24pm

I would have thought coffee was more a "body altering" substance than "mind altering".

Big difference.

Your Superior · 05-06-2015 1:27pm

valoren wrote: »

Would you rather fly in a plane or ride in a Bus where you know the pilot/driver had (a) 3 cups of coffee or (b) 3 pints of Beer during their lunch break?

Yeah, I'm not really talking about jobs where it is forbidden for obvious safety reasons.

crybaby · 05-06-2015 1:32pm

Don't see the attraction of a pint in the middle of a work day at all, just go for a pint at the end of the day when you can relax properly makes more sense to me. Also I actually like doing a good job at work.

The_Valeyard · 05-06-2015 1:33pm

Just seems like a social taboo for me.. Could never see myself having a pint then back to work. Just seems odd.

K.O.Kiki · 05-06-2015 1:36pm

valoren wrote: »

Would you rather fly in a plane or ride in a Bus where you know the pilot/driver had (a) 3 cups of coffee or (b) 3 pints of Beer during their lunch break?

I'd be worried sitting next to anyone who drinks 3 pints in the space of 45 minutes...

Half pint would be nice with lunch actually.
Pity none of the good beers come in them!

Mehapoy · 05-06-2015 1:37pm

Your Superior wrote: »

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)?

Ya it's one thing that has struck me too, working abroad(in uk) the lunchtime pint of a Friday was accepted every week, where I work at the moment you'd be looked at funny if you ordered a drink at a farewell lunch, I think it's that irish attitude of 'all in', if you're drinking you have to have a skin full, also seen the way eating and drinking are very seperate activities here whereas other places they're much more common together...

The Backwards Man · 05-06-2015 1:38pm

MonkeyTennis wrote: »

Ehm..Coffee?

Yeah,, because a mug of coffee has the same effect on an average person as a glass of wine.

Hear that?

That's the sound of me applauding you.

stimpson · 05-06-2015 1:39pm

I used to work for a games company. If it was reasonably quiet we'd go for a pint at lunchtime. It was never a problem. You'd often see management in there doing likewise. I've had some of my best ideas after a few pints.

Likewise I used to have a cheeky spliff in work too. Once I had no meetings it was grand. Headphones on and I'd get the head down and work away quite happily for an afternoon. It always had a positive impact on my productivity.

Your Superior · 05-06-2015 1:40pm

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Yeah,, because a mug of coffee has the same effect on an average person as a glass of wine.

Hear that?

That's the sound of me applauding you.

You often post on here late at night and seemingly inebriated. Would you say that your relationship with alcohol is healthier than that of someone who has a glass of wine with their lunch at work and stays sober?

The Backwards Man · 05-06-2015 1:40pm

Your Superior wrote: »

Yeah, I'm not really talking about jobs where it is forbidden for obvious safety reasons.

Why is it forbidden? I mean, considering one or two shouldn't affect your performance like you say?

realdanbreen · 05-06-2015 1:42pm

Your Superior wrote: »

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)?

More women in the workplace put a stop to that I'm afraid. Most men could go out and have a few but the women can't hold the drink and act all eejity when they get back to work.

Michael D Not Higgins · 05-06-2015 1:42pm

In the same way that having a few drinks and driving home used to be the norm, having a couple of drinks at lunch used to be the norm but has been slowly made taboo by a very successful implementation of the drugs and alcohol policy in workplaces. This isn't Mad Men, most people don't have a drinks cabinet in work.

Caliden · 05-06-2015 1:43pm

In the U.S. a company I used to work for always had beers Friday evening before driving home. It was a relatively young company (the majority were 28-35).

They are at least 5-10 years behind in terms of drink driving mentality. Scared the ever living shít out of me.

As for pints during lunch, never saw the appeal. Would much prefer to drive home and meet up and have a few.

Your Superior · 05-06-2015 1:43pm

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Why is it forbidden? I mean, considering one or two shouldn't affect your performance like you say?

What a ridiculous argument. Something you appear to specialise in.

MonkeyTennis · 05-06-2015 1:43pm

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Yeah,, because a mug of coffee has the same effect on an average person as a glass of wine.

Hear that?

That's the sound of me applauding you.

You said 'mind altering substances' and you also began your sentence with

'as an adult '

Applaud all you want

TheBeardedLady · 05-06-2015 1:43pm

Your Superior wrote: »

We have 4 offices worldwide, and each of them has a fridge with beer and wine stocked so that people can get a drink if they feel like it. Nobody abuses it. Only person that ever did was a young apprentice who started sneaking a few cans in to his back to take home, but that was 15 years ago. He got told not to take the piss, stopped and still works for us.

I think you're idealising it a little too much. I work in Spain and have talked to workers here about drinking at lunch. They've all told me they have a glass or two of wine at lunch once or twice a week but have all admitted they didn't do much once they're back at the office. Spain has the lowest productivity in Europe and I'd say it's at least partly down to this. That was the case when I worked in England too. Alcohol affects them just as much as it affects us. I drink for the taste and not just to get drunk but I know myself that even after one glass, I can't do my job 100% as well - I get drowsy and lazy and I'm not focused on the job. Pints after work - grand but not on my lunch break. I don't think it's professional, personally.

frag420 · 05-06-2015 1:44pm

As an Irish guy in London I can tell you its he norm here. In our office we have an american style fridge full of beer and wine, we can indulge whenever. As we are adults, we are treated as such and trusted not to abuse things.

Had a lovely lunch yesterday with a pint bottle of apple pishwater as it was scorching outside. As long as the work is done then we can come and go as we please, have a drink etc. This is something that I think is missing from Irish workplaces....

Edit> in my haste to post this I almost spilled my pint over my laptop!! The last time that happened I got a new one...........win win!!

Your Superior · 05-06-2015 1:45pm

frag420 wrote: »

As an Irish guy in London I can tell you its he norm here. In our office we have an american style fridge full of beer and wine, we can indulge whenever. As we are adults, we are treated as such and trusted not to abuse things.

Had a lovely lunch yesterday with a pint bottle of apple pishwater as it was scorching outside. As long as the work is done then we can come and go as we please, have a drink etc. This is something that I think is missing from Irish workplaces....

This is exactly what I am referring to.

The Backwards Man · 05-06-2015 1:46pm

Your Superior wrote: »

You often post on here late at night and seemingly inebriated. Would you say that your relationship with alcohol is healthier than that of someone who has a glass of wine with their lunch at work and stays sober?

Ah, but when I'm working I will be sober, and the person going back to work with wine in them will have alcohol in their system.

The Backwards Man · 05-06-2015 1:48pm

Your Superior wrote: »

What a ridiculous argument. Something you appear to specialise in.

That's your argument, not mine!

Your Superior · 05-06-2015 1:48pm

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Ah, but when I'm working I will be sober, and the person going back to work with wine in them will have alcohol in their system.

That in no way answers the question. As usual. As for sober, if you'd had a skinful at night, you'd have far more alcohol in your system the next morning than anyone who had had a drink with lunch.

Anyway, nearly 3pm, time for me to pop out for a couple of after work drinks now.

Penny Lane · 05-06-2015 1:49pm

I once worked in a place that had a fridge stocked with beer & wine - NOBODY ever drank from it. We also had a pool table that was never used. I just don't think alcohol and the Irish work culture fit.

jester77 · 05-06-2015 1:49pm

We have a fridge full of beer here, usually have a few beers the odd afternoon. If we have a longish meeting, we will bring in beers. Even though they are there in the fridge I wouldn't have some every day. Definitely be a few beers this afternoon to cool down.

moycullen14 · 05-06-2015 1:50pm

Mehapoy wrote: »

Ya it's one thing that has struck me too, working abroad(in uk) the lunchtime pint of a Friday was accepted every week, where I work at the moment you'd be looked at funny if you ordered a drink at a farewell lunch, I think it's that irish attitude of 'all in', if you're drinking you have to have a skin full, also seen the way eating and drinking are very seperate activities here whereas other places they're much more common together...

That would be my experience too. 15 years working in the UK and the lunch-time pint was very common. In fact, in the City the amount of work-related drinking was impressive.

Generally, the brits seem capable of having one or two drinks and then stopping, whereas here it seems you only stop drinking when you are thrown out of the pub (holy hour, anyone?) or you run out of money.

I've never come across any lunch-time drinking at work in Ireland.

I had two colleagues over from Manchester a few weeks back and we were in a busy pub at lunch-time. Trays and trays of water and not a single person drinking - except us! Ironic considering the reputation of the drunken Irish. Naturally we had 17 pints, pis**d on the carpet and then went and had a fight in the car-park.

mikemac1 · 05-06-2015 1:51pm

Worked in a dutch company in Ireland and we had free beer. The fridge in the canteen had all the most popular longnecks as well as minerals.

Now you wouldn't grab a beer everyday but if you're working late sure why not. I often had a longneck or two at 7pm tapping out emails at my desk.

I now work for an American company stiil in Ireland where this will never ever happen and we also get the legal minimum of annual leave. We do have stupid dress up completions, elections for heros and you can be assigned as training champion. They love their cheer leading

Booooo to the yanks

Chris_Bradley · 05-06-2015 1:51pm

Lunchtime drinking here = No afternoon work.

ScumLord · 05-06-2015 1:52pm

Work hours are for hangovers.

TheBeardedLady · 05-06-2015 1:53pm

realdanbreen wrote: »

More women in the workplace put a stop to that I'm afraid. Most men could go out and have a few but the women can't hold the drink and act all eejity when they get back to work.

People have varying tolerances to alcohol. You obviously can't allow those who can handle it to drink and those who can't to refrain - that'd be completely unworkable. I can drink most Spanish men under the table and can handle my drink but I know I'm not 100% after a glass of wine. My boyfriend is fairly baloobas on a two bottles of beer as he's not used. How do you control for varying tolerances? Plus there's always those who take the piddle and I've seen that outside of Ireland too.

circadian · 05-06-2015 1:53pm

I do enough drinking as it is.

Butterface · 05-06-2015 1:53pm

I think many people would refrain from drinking during lunch hour for health reasons too. Depending on the drink, there are a lot of calories in beer and wine. Add that to the pub lunch you get and you've probably consumed half, if not more, of your daily intake in one sitting.

Apart from feeling flushed and less productive once I'd return to work after lunch, I'd also rather not drink alcohol when I'm not in a relaxed mood. Maybe the Brits have a problem with drink so? They can't possibly wait an extra 3/4 hours until work finishes to have a relaxing pint?

smurfjed · 05-06-2015 1:54pm

Would you rather fly in a plane or ride in a Bus where you know the pilot/driver

We are not allowed to enter a bar in uniform for a coffee, let alone one pint!

jimgoose · 05-06-2015 1:55pm

Wouldn't interest me. I likes my pints like I likes my chump-chops - around tea-time, and with a few more.

moycullen14 · 05-06-2015 1:59pm

mikemac1 wrote: »

Worked in a dutch company in Ireland and we had free beer. The fridge in the canteen had all the most popular longnecks as well as minerals.

Now you wouldn't grab a beer everyday but if you're working late sure why not. I often had a longneck or two at 7pm tapping out emails at my desk.

I now work for an American company stiil in Ireland where this will never ever happen and we also get the legal minimum of annual leave. We do have stupid dress up completions, elections for heros and you can be assigned as training champion. They love their cheer leading

Booooo to the yanks

Amen to that!

They really are the most miserable shower to work for. There is something quite eerie about the forced, false bonhomie you get from the yanks and, boy, do they want to get their pound of flesh from their 'workers'

I've often thought that the reason there are so many American companies in Ireland is that they get off on our natural subservience to our betters.

The English have a much healthier attitude towards Americans - a sort of understated superiority, resulting in far less 'scabby' behaviour by the sceptics.

mikemac1 · 05-06-2015 1:59pm

realdanbreen wrote: »

More women in the workplace put a stop to that I'm afraid. Most men could go out and have a few but the women can't hold the drink and act all eejity when they get back to work.

That's the barmans fault

The women should be in the snug and be served only one sherry

frag420 · 05-06-2015 2:02pm

smurfjed wrote: »

We are not allowed to enter a bar in uniform for a coffee, let alone one pint!

Yes Garda!!

imitation · 05-06-2015 2:03pm

Its not practical in alot of places too, theres strict no booze policys on most plants and industrial sites for obvious reasons. Plus lets face, going for the one in ireland is a mythical legend.

And to be honest, if you have a afternoon of stuff to get through so you can get home on time, being slightly tipsy is no help at all.

Wompa1 · 05-06-2015 2:04pm

mikemac1 wrote: »

I now work for an American company stiil in Ireland where this will never ever happen and we also get the legal minimum of annual leave. We do have stupid dress up completions, elections for heros and you can be assigned as training champion. They love their cheer leading

Booooo to the yanks

In my first job in the US, I worked in IT for an insurance company. Every Thursday I would be the designated driver for lunch. I'd bring three of my co-workers to a Mexican place for Tacos and $1 Margaritas. They would get well buzzed!

So, it's not a Yanks thing. More like a well run company thing..

crybaby · 05-06-2015 2:08pm

Your Superior wrote: »

You often post on here late at night and seemingly inebriated. Would you say that your relationship with alcohol is healthier than that of someone who has a glass of wine with their lunch at work and stays sober?

We're not really discussing people having glasses of wine to compliment their gourmet lunch though are we? Even the thread title is talking about going for pints.

We're talking about lads that work in offices going specifically to pubs for their lunch so they can get a couple of pints in before they go back to the grind.That doesn't sound like a healthy relationship with alcohol to me, regardless of it being only 2 pints or not. If you are having a couple of alcoholic drinks in the middle of the day on a regular basis that doesn't sound like a healthy relationship with alcohol to me at all.

I just don't see the enjoyment in having a couple of pints and then going straight back to work. Drinking alcohol for me isn't about getting hammered, it's about having a laugh with your mates and relaxing AFTER a hard day of work just the thought of having three pints and then sitting in front of a computer for 4 hours seems depressing and very unprofessional. At lunchtime, a plate of food, a cup of tea and a bit of chat with some colleagues will do me just grand.

You seem to be banging on about how people not drinking at lunch is some great example of Irish people's inability to deal with alcohol. All I see iare responsible adults getting on with their day's work without feeling the need to lash a pint of Bulmers down them at half twelve in the day just because its a whopping 20 degrees outside.

05-06-2015 2:08pm

Rarely enough I would do it, most times Ive done it are needing pint or two for the cure to get through the afternoon after a heavy night. Once or twice too where it ended up turning into a half day as one a lunch turned into leaving at closing time.

It wouldn't bother me in the least doing it, come in to work after heavy nights out regularly where I would be much drunker than having one or two at lunch (which would have no effect on me whatsoever) but usually I wouldn't be in the mood for a pint if I have to go back to work after.

Might have a shot or two alright from the stock of spirits we keep in our drawers at work if we are working late and having dinner in the office, that would be more common than a pint at lunch.

Lunchtime Pints at work, why not in Ireland?

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