What is it with drinking in the UK?

OK, I just started my first (temp) job here, and it seems that the people here go out drinking in the evening at least a few times during the week, if not every night. I'm used to people getting together after work on a Friday and going out for some drinks, but not during the week, when they have full-time jobs, unless it was to celebrate a special occasion, like a birthday.

People also talk openly at work about being hung over, the same way I would talk about the pollen count bothering my allergies. I can't imagine anyone at work in the US admitting to being hung over from drinking the evening before.  Depending on their work performance, coming to work hung over alot might even be grounds for dismissal.



 

My ex manager at the old travel agency use to go to lunch and go to a pub and have a few pints.........I would never have thought you would get away with that........To me it is just so unthinkable........i would never do it....breathin on ppl with beer breath.......

The drinking culture is more relaxed here. I think it's nice you can have a pint at lunch. That said, things are out of hand -  all you have to do is go to any town centre on a weekend. I personally do think that bragging or even talking about how much you drank and how hung over you are at work is pretty sad. I think going out multiple times in one week just to drink is also a bit much and have no desire to be part of that scene. But I have to say the thing that bugs me the most - and call me a prude or whatever - is parents going out and getting blitzed and the children witnessing this on a regular basis.

IMO, no matter what way you slice it, the drinking culture is out of hand here and it is one of the things that at times, makes me wonder if I'd really want to raise kids here.

People also talk openly at work about being hung over, the same way I would talk about the pollen count bothering my allergies. I can't imagine anyone at work in the US admitting to being hung over from drinking the evening before.  Depending on their work performance, coming to work hung over alot might even be grounds for dismissal.



 

Well, thankfully, this is not the US.

I don't drink much - I'm pregnant for one and having small kids at home puts a stop to binge drinking.  But I am sort of glad if I have a really bad day I can go have a pint or glass of wine at lunch and not be labelled an alcoholic or dismissed from my job.

It doesn't bother me at all.  I don't go to town centres at night. 

All other things being equal, I can't imagine that someone who has a pint at lunch every day can perform his job as well as someone who comes back from lunch every day completely sober. The same goes for being hung over.  I know I can't do my job to the best of my abilities  if I've got a migraine, for example, but that's something I don't have any control over.

I don't go to town centres at night, either. However, there's a pub down the street from where I live, but there's also a police station very close by, so the people can't cause too much trouble.

All other things being equal, I can't imagine that someone who has a pint at lunch every day can perform his job as well as someone who comes back from lunch every day completely sober. The same goes for being hung over.  I know I can't do my job to the best of my abilities  if I've got a migraine, for example, but that's something I don't have any control over.

I'm just curious as to why you're so concerned about how other people perform at their jobs.  You've got a gig, you do it to the best of your abilities, okay.  So what if someone else has a pint or glass of wine at lunch?  I mean, does it directly affect your pay packet or performance evaluation to the temp agency?  If it affects the team's performance, take it up with management.  But believe it or not, some people do as well after a pint or glass of wine as they do 'completely sober' and who may have had, for example, had a ginormous lunch which later leaves them sleepy.  Or no lunch at all.  Or a donut for lunch followed by a sugar crash.

No I don't drink every lunch - I could never afford it - but I really don't have time, nor is it my place, to police all my work colleagues and monitor their performance. 

All other things being equal, I can't imagine that someone who has a pint at lunch every day can perform his job as well as someone who comes back from lunch every day completely sober. The same goes for being hung over.  I know I can't do my job to the best of my abilities  if I've got a migraine, for example, but that's something I don't have any control over.

I don't go to town centres at night, either. However, there's a pub down the street from where I live, but there's also a police station very close by, so the people can't cause too much trouble.

It's just a difference in cultures. When I worked for the US government in Germany there was an issue over whether the German Nationals who worked for us could drink at lunchtime or not. Normally, if they had worked for a German company they could but it was decided that since they worked for the US government they couldn't.

Although it's not accepted in the states I personally don't have a problem with going to lunch and having one drink. But I do see the problem with people coming to work with a hangover. It would make me mad to know that the person next to me was getting paid for doing crappy work just because he/she felt the need to over imbibe the night before. That's the time to go have a talk with somebody who can do something about it.

the whole bragging about  being Pi**ed"  really gets on my nerves..  People  who  have  to  tell you how  twisted they were  on pills  or  on drink really annoy me  and these are  people in their  30s!!   it is about as  annoying  as  people  always talking about  your or their  next holiday  ..or just past  one..   

It would make me mad to know that the person next to me was getting paid for doing crappy work just because he/she felt the need to over imbibe the night before. That's the time to go have a talk with somebody who can do something about it.

TBH, do this in many British workplaces and YOU are likely to be the one labelled a troublemaker.  The 'grass' culture of the US isn't as welcome here, where it's more 'sort it out among yourselves'.  I once worked for a senior partner whose attitude towards tattling on the odd hangover or early lunch was that if you have time to monitor your work colleague that much, then you must not be busy enough and he'd load you w/more work to do.  Not to mention, it would get out that you're a busybody, something that's not well liked here either.

It'd be a far, far better idea if someone has a serial hangover to approach him or her over lunch and ask if there's something wrong rather than go tattling to the manager.  

I've been at work when I'm less than par - my child was up and down all night, I slept poorly, I've got a sinus attack.  Not enough to warrant a sickie, but enough to where I'm less than my best.  I have a bachelor work colleague who comes in w/the odd hangover.  It all comes out in the wash.  His wages aren't coming out of my pocket so as long as it's not a consistent thing where I'm having to do all his work b/c he's always pissed, what's the bother? 

The performance of one person on a team effects the morale, and hence the performance, of everyone else on a team. I would be annoyed if I had to take up the slack for someone who wasn't working at 100% of their capacity. And I would be seriously ticked off if I had to supervise someone who used being hung over as an excuse for making mistakes or not getting work completed on time, when I, as a supervisor, would ultimately have to take the blame for it.

In the US, I got annual reviews where I was rated according to my performance.  The better my performance, the higher my salary.

Well, thankfully, this is not the US.

I don't drink much - I'm pregnant for one and having small kids at home puts a stop to binge drinking.  But I am sort of glad if I have a really bad day I can go have a pint or glass of wine at lunch and not be labelled an alcoholic or dismissed from my job.

It doesn't bother me at all.  I don't go to town centres at night. 

AGREE 100% - I think some of comments here are a bit harsh and people really need to lighten up.  Having one drink at lunch is NOT going to have a massive effect on your performance if at all and to be honest so what if you have a drink at lunch, why does that make you an alcoholic.  The way in which some Americans catagorise anybody who goes drinking more than once a week as alcoholics really shows the lack of proper alcohol education in the US. 

Is there a binge drinking culture here - among the youth, Yes, but to be honest there is probably exactly the same culture in the US when the kids are in college, the only differance being its illegal at that age in th US so its probably kept all hush hush. 

BTW before anybody starts criticizing the UK about its supposed drinking problem shall we examine the drink drive culture that exists in the US, that really disgusts me, having a load of beers all night and then driving home!!!!  Drinking a beer at lunch won't kill people, drinking even 2 beers and driving home does.

Lastly, can I ask why does it cause you such a massive problem is somebody goes for a beer at lunch or socializes with colleges after work.  If they don't drink to excess at lunch what is the problem.

In the US, I got annual reviews where I was rated according to my performance.  The better my performance, the higher my salary.

We have the same thing here

The performance of one person on a team effects the morale, and hence the performance, of everyone else on a team. I would be annoyed if I had to take up the slack for someone who wasn't working at 100% of their capacity. And I would be seriously ticked off if I had to supervise someone who used being hung over as an excuse for making mistakes or not getting work completed on time, when I, as a supervisor, would ultimately have to take the blame for it.

In the US, I got annual reviews where I was rated according to my performance.  The better my performance, the higher my salary.

What can I say?  You are no longer in NYC.  You're in Northern England.  The differences are many.  It's likely the British supervisor, senior partner, CFO, whatever may be a drinker who from time to time may overindulge.  And may or may not be too put out by the odd hangover or even daily pint at lunch from his/her employees.  My big boss, for example, never asks us to a lunch where there haven't been many bottles of wine present.  In fact, when it's time for our big Christmas lunch, she gives us all a half day so we can enjoy ourselves.

When we arrange a catered lunch here in our area, wine is always included. 

Many expats have found management styles to be quite different as well, perhaps this is a reflection of differences in employment law as much as cultural.

Are you currently experiencing problems in your temporary job of supervising a team?  Perhaps call a meeting and let them know you're not used to talk about drinking and/or a different work ethic.  Or institute new policies for the team whilst you're on assignment - but do go over this w/your supervisor as well.  Or speak with your supervisor or agency about the possiblity of taking some managment courses as professional development to gain better knowledge of British management styles.  

TBH, do this in many British workplaces and YOU are likely to be the one labelled a troublemaker.  The 'grass' culture of the US isn't as welcome here, where it's more 'sort it out among yourselves'.  I once worked for a senior partner whose attitude towards tattling on the odd hangover or early lunch was that if you have time to monitor your work colleague that much, then you must not be busy enough and he'd load you w/more work to do.  Not to mention, it would get out that you're a busybody, something that's not well liked here either.

It'd be a far, far better idea if someone has a serial hangover to approach him or her over lunch and ask if there's something wrong rather than go tattling to the manager.  

I've been at work when I'm less than par - my child was up and down all night, I slept poorly, I've got a sinus attack.  Not enough to warrant a sickie, but enough to where I'm less than my best.  I have a bachelor work colleague who comes in w/the odd hangover.  It all comes out in the wash.  His wages aren't coming out of my pocket so as long as it's not a consistent thing where I'm having to do all his work b/c he's always pissed, what's the bother? 

If the attitude here is more of a "sort it out among yourselves" one then I should be just fine. I'm definitely not a busybody, I keep to myself and expect others to leave me alone as well. I go to work for one thing...to work and earn my pay by working hard and giving the job my all every day I'm there. Like I stated before I could care less about people going out to have a drink at lunch. Consistently showing up for work with a hangover is another matter and is something I'd have to complain about. If that means that I get a reputation for being a "grass" then so be it. I've lived with worse reputations than that during my 42 years.

From what I hear from DH when he comes home from work every day it really doesn't matter anyway because it takes an act of god to get rid of a bad worker. So I don't really think my opinion of people with hangovers is going to make a huge impact on the employment practices of any company that I work for.

hmm....I can read the non drinkers in these threads

When I lived in the US drinking was something secretive at mate's houses and like JMaster stated with a number of people possibly driving intoxicated home (most of the time I crashed at whoever friend's house it was. The drinking culture is different it's out in the open and unabashed. Compared to my UK mates I am a lightweight...although I take the piss here about drinking ..I hardly drink but I do enjoy a nice glass of beer, wine or spirits with a meal here and there. A nice nightcap doesn't go a miss in this household.

...having a drink for lunch isn't considered a road to becoming a candidate to selling Big Issues on the street corner. When co workers have pub gatherings after work I usually toddle along and have a coke. The pub is how people in the UK socialize/interact with each other ....if it doesn't affect performance it's a bit unfair for someone to look down on them because there is a different work culture. If it is a problem then contact occupational health or the immediate supervisor. I'd Rather have workmates that unwind and socialize from work stress by having a pint afterwork than coming into the office with an AK47 one day because someone nicked their crackers at lunch....

There is a more puritanical work ethic in the US than UK...*shrugs*