Alcohol consumption at workplaces.

[Pendodave]

When I joined BP in the 80s, the head office had a bar in the basement (The D'Arcy Arms iirc) that I'm pretty certain was open at lunchtimes, and definitely in the evenings. Drillers were a particularly sociable lot...

I've been on the railway for 18 years, and they are very hot on substance testing and have been throughout my tenure. This hasn't always been the case. Many many years ago there was a sign above the bar in a mess room saying that you had to be in uniform to be served.

[Psamathe]

...
I've been on the railway for 18 years, and they are very hot on substance testing and have been throughout my tenure. This hasn't always been the case. Many many years ago there was a sign above the bar in a mess room saying that you had to be in uniform to be served.

An interesting aspect. One job I had where being alert was pretty crucial (you really wouldn't want to have left a cage door open and if you did likely you'd be the first killed) they did testing but only for drugs not alcohol. And in practice, only when somebody has a slight suspicion.

Ian

[Nearholmer]

I've been on the railway for 18 years, and they are very hot on substance testing and have been throughout my tenure. This hasn't always been the case.

See my posts above for the situation c45 years ago.

[Norman H]

Back in the eighties I worked at a large research institute and the sports and social club had a bar in the main refectory area. It was open at lunchtime and after 5.30 in the evenings. I rarely used it at lunchtime, although many did, but it was good to be able to socialise with colleagues at the end of the working day. At the time it didn't seem unusual, in common with many academic institutions there was a similar relaxed attitude to dress code and working hours. For the most part the majority didn't abuse the privilege.

[millimole]

I agree there was a lot of post work socialising in the 80s in hospitals, especially as a lot of the younger staff lived on site (many of us met our partners because of that) Some great parties
But there wasn't much drinking at lunchtimes and people like myself who were on call generally didn't drink when on duty. Obviously there was the odd person who wasn't so careful.

That pretty much agrees with my recollections.
I started in the NHS in 1972, and there was a culture of drinking after work along with an active social club scene - none of which appealed to me

Lunchtime drinking was usually off site, and restricted to a very small number of individuals. I think now that some of the lunchtime drinking might have been a way for some people to oil the wheels of their careers.

And here's the similarity - are the Westminster bars the unpleasant side of greasy pole climbing? For the few, not the many.

[briansnail]

I would not have thought it cost effective when taking in space and bar tender costs.The days seem to be gone when playing football crickets and joining the firms cycling club was popular.This also makes e.g social club bars unviable However they have now designed Robot bartenders.Not sure what happens if you do not pay.Do they summon Robocop?
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I ride Brompton and a 100% British Vintage

[Mick F]

We ran our own bars. Ordered our own stock, and the bar was self-service.
Photo of me somewhere, behind the bar in the CPOs mess HMS Sirius. I had a beard then!