Anonymous
07/29/2025 14:39
Subject: Coworker drinking at lunch
Lawyer here. I can’t count the number of times I’ve had a drink at lunch with colleagues. It’d be more notable if I turned it down.
Anonymous
07/29/2025 14:24
Subject: Coworker drinking at lunch
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Two glasses of wine has way less alcohol than 2 martinis.
Unless you are all doctors or airline pilots or perform other critical life-and-death jobs…what’s your complaint exactly?
Actually, its the same alcohol content if poured correctly.
And restaurants usually pour wine heavier than mixed drinks, so the wine is often more alcohol.
That said, wine at lunch in some professions is normal, especially if they are schmoozing customers or clients, etc. They used to bring a bar cart around our office and many partners had fully stocked bars in their offices.
Anonymous
07/29/2025 14:16
Subject: Coworker drinking at lunch
Isn’t this a norm in Europe to have a glass or two of wine at lunch? International organizations like WB or IMF used to have wine and beer for sale in their lunch cafeteria
Anonymous
07/29/2025 13:56
Subject: Coworker drinking at lunch
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I have a friend who will meet me for lunch sometimes, and he always has at least a drink---usually two. It's pretty sad and more common than we probably think.
As the responses here demonstrate . . .
I don't drink at work. I can't, I would be fired in a heart beat based on what my job is. But I don't think 2 glasses of wine is that big a deal.
We don't know what Kevin's job is.
Most companies have a code of conduct that you sign when you join. You probably don't even read it, just click click click, sign. This is not permitted in the majority of companies I have worked for (HR here).
Yikes times have changed.
Drinks at lunch alone or not were not prohibited 20 years ago anyplace I ever worked in MA or DC.
HR person what does code say?
Anonymous
07/29/2025 13:46
Subject: Coworker drinking at lunch
My prior two companies have been big drinking organizations: lots of happy hours, pregames before the holiday parties, etc. I drink (and was in my early 20s when I joined the first company) so it doesn’t bother me. That said, I never saw anyone drink at lunch.
Anonymous
07/29/2025 13:18
Subject: Coworker drinking at lunch
So what
Anonymous
07/29/2025 13:17
Subject: Coworker drinking at lunch
Anonymous wrote:Many people put Baileys in their coffee mug they bring into the office.
I'm a big fan of Baileys.
Does it pair well with a particular blend of coffee?
Maybe Costco's (Kirkland's) Dark Roast house blend?
Anonymous
07/29/2025 10:44
Subject: Re:Coworker drinking at lunch
I work for a British company and my entire department regularly drinks at lunch. Sometimes people bring in bottles and we have mimosas or bloodies at 11, in honor of a saint’s day. I’m giggling at the idea of someone reporting my drinking at lunch to hr. They would probably pull a bottle of whiskey from one of their desk drawers and say “let’s chat about it over a short one.”
Anonymous
07/29/2025 10:36
Subject: Coworker drinking at lunch
What’s the problem?
Was the champagne not Korbel?
Was the champagne not Korbel?
Anonymous
07/29/2025 10:32
Subject: Coworker drinking at lunch
I think your colleague drinks during lunch because he has to return to work and collaborate with you. If you're this uptight, I feel for him.
Anonymous
07/29/2025 10:17
Subject: Coworker drinking at lunch
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Is this a desk job or something like bus driver or firefighter. Assuming it’s not a safety issue I would let it go this time but keep an eye on them going forward.
You cool with Kevin trading your 401k after 2 drinks?
Yes because 2 drinks over lunch isn't going to impair Kevin to the point he can't do his job right.
Would you feel the same if Kevin hit your kid/friend with his car "on accident" and it turned out he had 2 drinks?
Do you have even the slightest idea how alcohol works?
Yes, do you? Even after 2 drinks with a 200 lb man, it can slow reaction speed.
Got it. So you really dont know how alcohol works.
Anonymous
07/29/2025 10:16
Subject: Coworker drinking at lunch
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Is this a desk job or something like bus driver or firefighter. Assuming it’s not a safety issue I would let it go this time but keep an eye on them going forward.
You cool with Kevin trading your 401k after 2 drinks?
Is Kevin like, 5’2” and 115 pounds? Why would he be drunk after two glasses of wine.
If you think your judgement is impaired only when "drunk", you need to read up on the impacts of alcohol on the human mind.
Even the law disagrees with you. You are allowed some alcohol even to drive. You just can't be able the legal limit.
Anonymous
07/29/2025 10:12
Subject: Coworker drinking at lunch
Anonymous wrote:
The point is NOT that alcohol is not dangerous to the drinker or the people he comes across.
The point is that it's not actionable, OP. You can panic all you want, but if you go to HR and complain, they can't do anything. People are allowed, for most professions, to leave their workplace at lunch and drink alcohol. Unless he's visibly drunk at work, his company cannot punish him for it. Yes, he can kill a kid with his car. No, you can't do anything about it.
Completely wrong reasoning here.
Continuing. If you really want him to stop, you have to look for signs of drunkenness AND productivity problems or impaired judgement on the job, and point THOSE out to HR. Be very factual.
Anonymous
07/29/2025 10:11
Subject: Coworker drinking at lunch
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Is this a desk job or something like bus driver or firefighter. Assuming it’s not a safety issue I would let it go this time but keep an eye on them going forward.
You cool with Kevin trading your 401k after 2 drinks?
Yes because 2 drinks over lunch isn't going to impair Kevin to the point he can't do his job right.
Would you feel the same if Kevin hit your kid/friend with his car "on accident" and it turned out he had 2 drinks?
Do you have even the slightest idea how alcohol works?
Yes, do you? Even after 2 drinks with a 200 lb man, it can slow reaction speed.
Anonymous
07/29/2025 10:11
Subject: Coworker drinking at lunch
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Is this a desk job or something like bus driver or firefighter. Assuming it’s not a safety issue I would let it go this time but keep an eye on them going forward.
You cool with Kevin trading your 401k after 2 drinks?
Is Kevin like, 5’2” and 115 pounds? Why would he be drunk after two glasses of wine.
If you think your judgement is impaired only when "drunk", you need to read up on the impacts of alcohol on the human mind.