I belong to a generation where lunchtime drinking was commonplace and younger board members would be amazed at the extent that it would take place and not just in offices where there are non safety critical jobs.
Twenty Five years ago I worked at Catford Bus Garage and some drivers would regularly have 2 or 3 pints in the Fellowship pub around the corner before taking Buses out.I then worked in London Transport's HQ and there was an alcoholic bar in the Canteen sometimes used by Tube Drivers,now it is an offence to drink on these premises.
My own view has changed dramatically as I have got older. There is no way I could function effectively after a couple of pints .My question is therefore how did we do it back in the day?
Nigel Farage said this on Day Break.
The leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party was being questioned on ITV’s Daybreak programme on Friday morning.
Mr Farage has repeatedly been photographed and filmed in pubs joking and giving interviews, with a pint of beer in his hand.
But in an apparent attempt to play down his relaxed image, he insisted he worked hard and was “entitled” to a pint.
Mr Farage said: “I’ll tell you something. I work an 18 hour day most days and I think I’m entitled at lunchtime to a pint.”
The Ukip leader defended his voting record in the European Parliament.
“My voters did not vote for me to go native. They didn’t vote for me to move to Brussels, they voted for me to campaign to get out of the European Union and that’s what I’m going to go on doing.”
Mr Farage lamented the fact that he did not have enough parliamentarians on their side in Europe to successfully stop legislation going through.
“Because when I do that [vote], normally. It will be 500 in favour and 15 against. We are not going to win. We’re not going to stop
legislation as Ukip in the European Parliament and the Tories that you talk about that are eurosceptics, yes, they have moved to Brussels.
“They live in Brussels, they are there five days a week, how many other MEPs can you name? Very few people know their MEPs, that’s because they live in Brussels.”
0
Comments
Really miss the GLC omelette bar.
When i did my work experience as a 15yr old, i'd get taken to lunch most days by my supervisor for 2 pints of Kronie. The only change in routine i could work out there was, was that if he didn't have me to chaperone, it would have been a strip pub.
When i started work as a 16yr old 20 years ago, my work had two subsidised bars, one like a traditional pub, the other like a sit down wine bar. Both did a roaring trade.
20 years ago it was the norm to go and have a couple of pints at lunchtime, a bit of a session on a Friday. A tea break mid-morning and a coffee break mid-afternoon was also part of the routine in most offices.
10 years ago the bars had gone, as had the breaks, a Friday drink up was still pretty rife and possibly another during the week. All leaving drinks would have a lunchtime session.
Now, I would say on an average day, much less than 1% will be having a drink at lunchtime. Any drinking is probably restricted to a Friday, but it is certain not a routine any more. I'd probably have a drink at lunchtime 10 times over the course of a year, 3-4 of those will be the days around xmas, 2-3 others will be 'team lunch'.
The thing is, drinking isn't illegal. Being drunk at work could be dangerous, but one pint won't get you drunk. What next, a ban on eating junk food at lunchtime?
I don't like "rules" that have been made up just for the sake of it. We had an email round work the other week saying it was "illegal" to smoke outside the front of the building - in the street, out in the open in a public place. I don't smoke, but that sort of thing gets my goat.
I haven't had a lunchtime pint for about a decade.
As for health care staff. I don't think many people would be happy to have an x ray or CT scan for example if the person carrying out the examination was smelling of booze. I think it's perfectly reasonable for my professional code of conduct to state that drink and work are not an option and I would be struck off for breaching this.
Just a quick pint in a nice quiet pub at lunch. Newspaper, pint, sunshine. Peace and quiet for a bit.
the abuse of flexi time was rife.
lunchtime drink in the Horse & Groom, Sidcup on a regular basis aged 18-24 then back to office to do...well...f all.
birds, booze and a Ford Escort in those days.
I think an American influence in the City was part of the different view on drinking but generally people realised that drinking and working weren't always a good mix. Remember, managers in the 70s and 80s came from a time when drinking and driving was OK.
Also while women drink there are a lot more female managers and staff in the City and banking etc and so less of a "lads" culture (less not gone away).
When the suns out the wharf is full of crumpet , see you down the boozer half 11
Probably confused them a bit when I go out there and all I want to do after work is go out!
As for Farrage defending his EU voting record, the man is a twat but he is right. You don't for for UKIP MEPs and then expect them to take part you vote for them to not be there. Its your own money you are pissing away, don't blame him.