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Lunchtime Pints at work, why not in Ireland?

Your Superior

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)?

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ScumLord

Work hours are for hangovers.

Chris_Bradley

Lunchtime drinking here = No afternoon work.

mikemac1

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

moycullen14

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.

jester77

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.

Penny Lane

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.

Your Superior

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.

The Backwards Man

Your Superior wrote: »

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

That's your argument, not mine!

The Backwards Man

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.

Your Superior

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.

frag420

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!!

TheBeardedLady

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.

MonkeyTennis

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

Your Superior

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.

Caliden

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.

Michael D Not Higgins

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.

realdanbreen

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.

The Backwards Man

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?

Your Superior

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?

stimpson

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.

The Backwards Man

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.

Mehapoy

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...

K.O.Kiki

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!

The_Valeyard

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

crybaby

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.

Your Superior

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.

Valetta

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

Big difference.

valoren

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?

MonkeyTennis

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?

keano_afc

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