New team commonly goes for a drink on Friday lunchtime - could attending this event negatively effect me?

The name of the pictureThe name of the pictureThe name of the pictureClash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP





.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;







up vote
7
down vote

favorite












I have recently moved to a new team in my company and they often go out for a drink during lunch hour on a Friday. It's only a single drink, but I'm not sure what the rules are regarding this.



In previous teams, I've never been for a drink during work hours (apart from Christmas lunches etc.) but this might have been due to the fact that my new team are friends and not just co-workers.



I'm quite confident that the manager is aware that this is happening but he hasn't attending any of these social events himself nor has he condoned them. I don't want to ask the team if this is acceptable as I don't feel I'm in a position the question this routine event.



I enjoy these events but also don't have a problem with going and having a soft drink or not going at all. I don't want to give up this luxury if its not necessary but on the other hand I don't want to impose a negative image on myself.



Am I over-thinking this or is there a problem that needs addressing?







share|improve this question
















  • 1




    Related: workplace.stackexchange.com/q/107/325
    – Monica Cellio♦
    May 13 '15 at 22:23










  • Depends on the wording of your employee handbook. Some outright say that drinking during work hours is prohibited, but others are much more relaxed and you simply cannot let it affect your performance.
    – TyCobb
    May 13 '15 at 23:50







  • 2




    It's entirely possible your manager doesn't attend because he/she wants the team to spend time together without their manager next to them. I'd recommend going along and just not being the first to order, if everyone's grabbing a beer I don't see why you couldn't too.
    – beng
    May 14 '15 at 3:12










  • Best to just focus on what gives a good impression regardless of what is or is not written in the employee handbook. There is nothing wrong with an occasional drink at lunch hour as long as you're discreet (don't come back tipsy or smelling of alcohol).
    – teego1967
    May 14 '15 at 7:28






  • 11




    Your profile says you are in the UK, which makes a regular pub visit on Friday lunchtimes something utterly unremarkable (source: twenty years working in the UK). Unless of course your company has specific policies against any drinking during working in hours, in which case you would surely have known about these already.
    – AakashM
    May 14 '15 at 7:34
















up vote
7
down vote

favorite












I have recently moved to a new team in my company and they often go out for a drink during lunch hour on a Friday. It's only a single drink, but I'm not sure what the rules are regarding this.



In previous teams, I've never been for a drink during work hours (apart from Christmas lunches etc.) but this might have been due to the fact that my new team are friends and not just co-workers.



I'm quite confident that the manager is aware that this is happening but he hasn't attending any of these social events himself nor has he condoned them. I don't want to ask the team if this is acceptable as I don't feel I'm in a position the question this routine event.



I enjoy these events but also don't have a problem with going and having a soft drink or not going at all. I don't want to give up this luxury if its not necessary but on the other hand I don't want to impose a negative image on myself.



Am I over-thinking this or is there a problem that needs addressing?







share|improve this question
















  • 1




    Related: workplace.stackexchange.com/q/107/325
    – Monica Cellio♦
    May 13 '15 at 22:23










  • Depends on the wording of your employee handbook. Some outright say that drinking during work hours is prohibited, but others are much more relaxed and you simply cannot let it affect your performance.
    – TyCobb
    May 13 '15 at 23:50







  • 2




    It's entirely possible your manager doesn't attend because he/she wants the team to spend time together without their manager next to them. I'd recommend going along and just not being the first to order, if everyone's grabbing a beer I don't see why you couldn't too.
    – beng
    May 14 '15 at 3:12










  • Best to just focus on what gives a good impression regardless of what is or is not written in the employee handbook. There is nothing wrong with an occasional drink at lunch hour as long as you're discreet (don't come back tipsy or smelling of alcohol).
    – teego1967
    May 14 '15 at 7:28






  • 11




    Your profile says you are in the UK, which makes a regular pub visit on Friday lunchtimes something utterly unremarkable (source: twenty years working in the UK). Unless of course your company has specific policies against any drinking during working in hours, in which case you would surely have known about these already.
    – AakashM
    May 14 '15 at 7:34












up vote
7
down vote

favorite









up vote
7
down vote

favorite











I have recently moved to a new team in my company and they often go out for a drink during lunch hour on a Friday. It's only a single drink, but I'm not sure what the rules are regarding this.



In previous teams, I've never been for a drink during work hours (apart from Christmas lunches etc.) but this might have been due to the fact that my new team are friends and not just co-workers.



I'm quite confident that the manager is aware that this is happening but he hasn't attending any of these social events himself nor has he condoned them. I don't want to ask the team if this is acceptable as I don't feel I'm in a position the question this routine event.



I enjoy these events but also don't have a problem with going and having a soft drink or not going at all. I don't want to give up this luxury if its not necessary but on the other hand I don't want to impose a negative image on myself.



Am I over-thinking this or is there a problem that needs addressing?







share|improve this question












I have recently moved to a new team in my company and they often go out for a drink during lunch hour on a Friday. It's only a single drink, but I'm not sure what the rules are regarding this.



In previous teams, I've never been for a drink during work hours (apart from Christmas lunches etc.) but this might have been due to the fact that my new team are friends and not just co-workers.



I'm quite confident that the manager is aware that this is happening but he hasn't attending any of these social events himself nor has he condoned them. I don't want to ask the team if this is acceptable as I don't feel I'm in a position the question this routine event.



I enjoy these events but also don't have a problem with going and having a soft drink or not going at all. I don't want to give up this luxury if its not necessary but on the other hand I don't want to impose a negative image on myself.



Am I over-thinking this or is there a problem that needs addressing?









share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked May 13 '15 at 22:12









JPM

18519




18519







  • 1




    Related: workplace.stackexchange.com/q/107/325
    – Monica Cellio♦
    May 13 '15 at 22:23










  • Depends on the wording of your employee handbook. Some outright say that drinking during work hours is prohibited, but others are much more relaxed and you simply cannot let it affect your performance.
    – TyCobb
    May 13 '15 at 23:50







  • 2




    It's entirely possible your manager doesn't attend because he/she wants the team to spend time together without their manager next to them. I'd recommend going along and just not being the first to order, if everyone's grabbing a beer I don't see why you couldn't too.
    – beng
    May 14 '15 at 3:12










  • Best to just focus on what gives a good impression regardless of what is or is not written in the employee handbook. There is nothing wrong with an occasional drink at lunch hour as long as you're discreet (don't come back tipsy or smelling of alcohol).
    – teego1967
    May 14 '15 at 7:28






  • 11




    Your profile says you are in the UK, which makes a regular pub visit on Friday lunchtimes something utterly unremarkable (source: twenty years working in the UK). Unless of course your company has specific policies against any drinking during working in hours, in which case you would surely have known about these already.
    – AakashM
    May 14 '15 at 7:34












  • 1




    Related: workplace.stackexchange.com/q/107/325
    – Monica Cellio♦
    May 13 '15 at 22:23










  • Depends on the wording of your employee handbook. Some outright say that drinking during work hours is prohibited, but others are much more relaxed and you simply cannot let it affect your performance.
    – TyCobb
    May 13 '15 at 23:50







  • 2




    It's entirely possible your manager doesn't attend because he/she wants the team to spend time together without their manager next to them. I'd recommend going along and just not being the first to order, if everyone's grabbing a beer I don't see why you couldn't too.
    – beng
    May 14 '15 at 3:12










  • Best to just focus on what gives a good impression regardless of what is or is not written in the employee handbook. There is nothing wrong with an occasional drink at lunch hour as long as you're discreet (don't come back tipsy or smelling of alcohol).
    – teego1967
    May 14 '15 at 7:28






  • 11




    Your profile says you are in the UK, which makes a regular pub visit on Friday lunchtimes something utterly unremarkable (source: twenty years working in the UK). Unless of course your company has specific policies against any drinking during working in hours, in which case you would surely have known about these already.
    – AakashM
    May 14 '15 at 7:34







1




1




Related: workplace.stackexchange.com/q/107/325
– Monica Cellio♦
May 13 '15 at 22:23




Related: workplace.stackexchange.com/q/107/325
– Monica Cellio♦
May 13 '15 at 22:23












Depends on the wording of your employee handbook. Some outright say that drinking during work hours is prohibited, but others are much more relaxed and you simply cannot let it affect your performance.
– TyCobb
May 13 '15 at 23:50





Depends on the wording of your employee handbook. Some outright say that drinking during work hours is prohibited, but others are much more relaxed and you simply cannot let it affect your performance.
– TyCobb
May 13 '15 at 23:50





2




2




It's entirely possible your manager doesn't attend because he/she wants the team to spend time together without their manager next to them. I'd recommend going along and just not being the first to order, if everyone's grabbing a beer I don't see why you couldn't too.
– beng
May 14 '15 at 3:12




It's entirely possible your manager doesn't attend because he/she wants the team to spend time together without their manager next to them. I'd recommend going along and just not being the first to order, if everyone's grabbing a beer I don't see why you couldn't too.
– beng
May 14 '15 at 3:12












Best to just focus on what gives a good impression regardless of what is or is not written in the employee handbook. There is nothing wrong with an occasional drink at lunch hour as long as you're discreet (don't come back tipsy or smelling of alcohol).
– teego1967
May 14 '15 at 7:28




Best to just focus on what gives a good impression regardless of what is or is not written in the employee handbook. There is nothing wrong with an occasional drink at lunch hour as long as you're discreet (don't come back tipsy or smelling of alcohol).
– teego1967
May 14 '15 at 7:28




11




11




Your profile says you are in the UK, which makes a regular pub visit on Friday lunchtimes something utterly unremarkable (source: twenty years working in the UK). Unless of course your company has specific policies against any drinking during working in hours, in which case you would surely have known about these already.
– AakashM
May 14 '15 at 7:34




Your profile says you are in the UK, which makes a regular pub visit on Friday lunchtimes something utterly unremarkable (source: twenty years working in the UK). Unless of course your company has specific policies against any drinking during working in hours, in which case you would surely have known about these already.
– AakashM
May 14 '15 at 7:34










3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
10
down vote



accepted










Check your company's policies. Mine currently says that alcohol during the day should only be at events where the company is serving it (which is rare but does happen) or when having a business lunch or dinner with a customer ... but the rule also says explicitly that no real business may be done with that customer after either they or we have been drinking.



Your company's rules may be very different, especially if you're a research type whom the customers rarely, if ever, get to see.



ASK HR or read your employee policy handbook.



Note that there's always my solution: I don't much like alcohol's effects, so when I go on an outing of that sort I'll generally just order soda or juice or whatever.






share|improve this answer



























    up vote
    12
    down vote













    This is utterly normal for the UK.



    It would be an issue if:



    • they're coming back in the afternoon drunk,


    • they pressure you or others to have an alcoholic (as opposed to a non-alcoholic) drink.


    But if they're just going out for a drink and nobody is socially pressured to drink alcohol if they don't want to, then in most British workplaces this would be considered a good team-bonding thing to do.



    Be warned that if the employer is a foreign company then the implicit rules may be different - in particular, American firms can be a lot more puritan about this kind of thing. Whereas at a French firm (for example) the quality of the food and wine might be considered more significant than the alcohol content.






    share|improve this answer



























      up vote
      8
      down vote













      All your manager chooses to care about is that you all come back sober enough to do the work so your manager is not going to react unless one of you comes back drunk. I don't drink, I don't want to drink - my father was an alcoholic among other things - and the best way for me to stop drinking is not to start drinking in the first place. So I tell whomever that I am terrible at holding my liquor, that I don't drink because I know my limitations. No one has ever argued with me in several decades and I can't recall any occasion where my non-drinking has hurt either my career or my relationship with colleagues and management



      You are most likely over thinking this unless your working environment is like a 1950s or 1960s frat house, and I doubt that your working environment fits that simile.






      share|improve this answer






















        Your Answer







        StackExchange.ready(function()
        var channelOptions =
        tags: "".split(" "),
        id: "423"
        ;
        initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

        StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function()
        // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
        if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled)
        StackExchange.using("snippets", function()
        createEditor();
        );

        else
        createEditor();

        );

        function createEditor()
        StackExchange.prepareEditor(
        heartbeatType: 'answer',
        convertImagesToLinks: false,
        noModals: false,
        showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
        reputationToPostImages: null,
        bindNavPrevention: true,
        postfix: "",
        noCode: true, onDemand: false,
        discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
        ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
        );



        );








         

        draft saved


        draft discarded


















        StackExchange.ready(
        function ()
        StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fworkplace.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f46623%2fnew-team-commonly-goes-for-a-drink-on-friday-lunchtime-could-attending-this-ev%23new-answer', 'question_page');

        );

        Post as a guest

























        StackExchange.ready(function ()
        $("#show-editor-button input, #show-editor-button button").click(function ()
        var showEditor = function()
        $("#show-editor-button").hide();
        $("#post-form").removeClass("dno");
        StackExchange.editor.finallyInit();
        ;

        var useFancy = $(this).data('confirm-use-fancy');
        if(useFancy == 'True')
        var popupTitle = $(this).data('confirm-fancy-title');
        var popupBody = $(this).data('confirm-fancy-body');
        var popupAccept = $(this).data('confirm-fancy-accept-button');

        $(this).loadPopup(
        url: '/post/self-answer-popup',
        loaded: function(popup)
        var pTitle = $(popup).find('h2');
        var pBody = $(popup).find('.popup-body');
        var pSubmit = $(popup).find('.popup-submit');

        pTitle.text(popupTitle);
        pBody.html(popupBody);
        pSubmit.val(popupAccept).click(showEditor);

        )
        else
        var confirmText = $(this).data('confirm-text');
        if (confirmText ? confirm(confirmText) : true)
        showEditor();


        );
        );






        3 Answers
        3






        active

        oldest

        votes








        3 Answers
        3






        active

        oldest

        votes









        active

        oldest

        votes






        active

        oldest

        votes








        up vote
        10
        down vote



        accepted










        Check your company's policies. Mine currently says that alcohol during the day should only be at events where the company is serving it (which is rare but does happen) or when having a business lunch or dinner with a customer ... but the rule also says explicitly that no real business may be done with that customer after either they or we have been drinking.



        Your company's rules may be very different, especially if you're a research type whom the customers rarely, if ever, get to see.



        ASK HR or read your employee policy handbook.



        Note that there's always my solution: I don't much like alcohol's effects, so when I go on an outing of that sort I'll generally just order soda or juice or whatever.






        share|improve this answer
























          up vote
          10
          down vote



          accepted










          Check your company's policies. Mine currently says that alcohol during the day should only be at events where the company is serving it (which is rare but does happen) or when having a business lunch or dinner with a customer ... but the rule also says explicitly that no real business may be done with that customer after either they or we have been drinking.



          Your company's rules may be very different, especially if you're a research type whom the customers rarely, if ever, get to see.



          ASK HR or read your employee policy handbook.



          Note that there's always my solution: I don't much like alcohol's effects, so when I go on an outing of that sort I'll generally just order soda or juice or whatever.






          share|improve this answer






















            up vote
            10
            down vote



            accepted







            up vote
            10
            down vote



            accepted






            Check your company's policies. Mine currently says that alcohol during the day should only be at events where the company is serving it (which is rare but does happen) or when having a business lunch or dinner with a customer ... but the rule also says explicitly that no real business may be done with that customer after either they or we have been drinking.



            Your company's rules may be very different, especially if you're a research type whom the customers rarely, if ever, get to see.



            ASK HR or read your employee policy handbook.



            Note that there's always my solution: I don't much like alcohol's effects, so when I go on an outing of that sort I'll generally just order soda or juice or whatever.






            share|improve this answer












            Check your company's policies. Mine currently says that alcohol during the day should only be at events where the company is serving it (which is rare but does happen) or when having a business lunch or dinner with a customer ... but the rule also says explicitly that no real business may be done with that customer after either they or we have been drinking.



            Your company's rules may be very different, especially if you're a research type whom the customers rarely, if ever, get to see.



            ASK HR or read your employee policy handbook.



            Note that there's always my solution: I don't much like alcohol's effects, so when I go on an outing of that sort I'll generally just order soda or juice or whatever.







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered May 13 '15 at 22:22









            keshlam

            41.5k1267144




            41.5k1267144






















                up vote
                12
                down vote













                This is utterly normal for the UK.



                It would be an issue if:



                • they're coming back in the afternoon drunk,


                • they pressure you or others to have an alcoholic (as opposed to a non-alcoholic) drink.


                But if they're just going out for a drink and nobody is socially pressured to drink alcohol if they don't want to, then in most British workplaces this would be considered a good team-bonding thing to do.



                Be warned that if the employer is a foreign company then the implicit rules may be different - in particular, American firms can be a lot more puritan about this kind of thing. Whereas at a French firm (for example) the quality of the food and wine might be considered more significant than the alcohol content.






                share|improve this answer
























                  up vote
                  12
                  down vote













                  This is utterly normal for the UK.



                  It would be an issue if:



                  • they're coming back in the afternoon drunk,


                  • they pressure you or others to have an alcoholic (as opposed to a non-alcoholic) drink.


                  But if they're just going out for a drink and nobody is socially pressured to drink alcohol if they don't want to, then in most British workplaces this would be considered a good team-bonding thing to do.



                  Be warned that if the employer is a foreign company then the implicit rules may be different - in particular, American firms can be a lot more puritan about this kind of thing. Whereas at a French firm (for example) the quality of the food and wine might be considered more significant than the alcohol content.






                  share|improve this answer






















                    up vote
                    12
                    down vote










                    up vote
                    12
                    down vote









                    This is utterly normal for the UK.



                    It would be an issue if:



                    • they're coming back in the afternoon drunk,


                    • they pressure you or others to have an alcoholic (as opposed to a non-alcoholic) drink.


                    But if they're just going out for a drink and nobody is socially pressured to drink alcohol if they don't want to, then in most British workplaces this would be considered a good team-bonding thing to do.



                    Be warned that if the employer is a foreign company then the implicit rules may be different - in particular, American firms can be a lot more puritan about this kind of thing. Whereas at a French firm (for example) the quality of the food and wine might be considered more significant than the alcohol content.






                    share|improve this answer












                    This is utterly normal for the UK.



                    It would be an issue if:



                    • they're coming back in the afternoon drunk,


                    • they pressure you or others to have an alcoholic (as opposed to a non-alcoholic) drink.


                    But if they're just going out for a drink and nobody is socially pressured to drink alcohol if they don't want to, then in most British workplaces this would be considered a good team-bonding thing to do.



                    Be warned that if the employer is a foreign company then the implicit rules may be different - in particular, American firms can be a lot more puritan about this kind of thing. Whereas at a French firm (for example) the quality of the food and wine might be considered more significant than the alcohol content.







                    share|improve this answer












                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer










                    answered May 15 '15 at 12:11









                    A E

                    5,26611625




                    5,26611625




















                        up vote
                        8
                        down vote













                        All your manager chooses to care about is that you all come back sober enough to do the work so your manager is not going to react unless one of you comes back drunk. I don't drink, I don't want to drink - my father was an alcoholic among other things - and the best way for me to stop drinking is not to start drinking in the first place. So I tell whomever that I am terrible at holding my liquor, that I don't drink because I know my limitations. No one has ever argued with me in several decades and I can't recall any occasion where my non-drinking has hurt either my career or my relationship with colleagues and management



                        You are most likely over thinking this unless your working environment is like a 1950s or 1960s frat house, and I doubt that your working environment fits that simile.






                        share|improve this answer


























                          up vote
                          8
                          down vote













                          All your manager chooses to care about is that you all come back sober enough to do the work so your manager is not going to react unless one of you comes back drunk. I don't drink, I don't want to drink - my father was an alcoholic among other things - and the best way for me to stop drinking is not to start drinking in the first place. So I tell whomever that I am terrible at holding my liquor, that I don't drink because I know my limitations. No one has ever argued with me in several decades and I can't recall any occasion where my non-drinking has hurt either my career or my relationship with colleagues and management



                          You are most likely over thinking this unless your working environment is like a 1950s or 1960s frat house, and I doubt that your working environment fits that simile.






                          share|improve this answer
























                            up vote
                            8
                            down vote










                            up vote
                            8
                            down vote









                            All your manager chooses to care about is that you all come back sober enough to do the work so your manager is not going to react unless one of you comes back drunk. I don't drink, I don't want to drink - my father was an alcoholic among other things - and the best way for me to stop drinking is not to start drinking in the first place. So I tell whomever that I am terrible at holding my liquor, that I don't drink because I know my limitations. No one has ever argued with me in several decades and I can't recall any occasion where my non-drinking has hurt either my career or my relationship with colleagues and management



                            You are most likely over thinking this unless your working environment is like a 1950s or 1960s frat house, and I doubt that your working environment fits that simile.






                            share|improve this answer














                            All your manager chooses to care about is that you all come back sober enough to do the work so your manager is not going to react unless one of you comes back drunk. I don't drink, I don't want to drink - my father was an alcoholic among other things - and the best way for me to stop drinking is not to start drinking in the first place. So I tell whomever that I am terrible at holding my liquor, that I don't drink because I know my limitations. No one has ever argued with me in several decades and I can't recall any occasion where my non-drinking has hurt either my career or my relationship with colleagues and management



                            You are most likely over thinking this unless your working environment is like a 1950s or 1960s frat house, and I doubt that your working environment fits that simile.







                            share|improve this answer














                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer








                            edited May 14 '15 at 5:51

























                            answered May 14 '15 at 2:25









                            Vietnhi Phuvan

                            68.9k7118254




                            68.9k7118254






















                                 

                                draft saved


                                draft discarded


























                                 


                                draft saved


                                draft discarded














                                StackExchange.ready(
                                function ()
                                StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fworkplace.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f46623%2fnew-team-commonly-goes-for-a-drink-on-friday-lunchtime-could-attending-this-ev%23new-answer', 'question_page');

                                );

                                Post as a guest

















































































                                Comments

                                Popular posts from this blog

                                What does second last employer means? [closed]

                                List of Gilmore Girls characters

                                Confectionery