Time at the Bar
Jill Hawkins
PR, journalism and photography for the events and marketing industries. Menopause in Meetings Ambassador. Anti-Ageism Campaigner
My friends laugh at me when I get tagged on Facebook yet again, at another industry networking event, an award ceremony or just a meeting with a client that leads to dinner – and the inevitable drinks, and more drinks. They ask me if I ever do any work, and I explain that it’s all part of my job and perfectly normal within the events industry.
We are an industry of drinkers, we host events and we attend events. Those events always have alcohol, and hey, it would be rude not to join in wouldn’t it? It’s human nature to want to get the most out of something that we perceive as free and so we take the glass of wine, and another, and another. The camaraderie is great, we all have a fun time and the event is deemed a success.
But where do you draw the line? Do you even try to draw the line?
Do you get so drunk that you fall over? You can’t find your way home? You insult your host? In the morning, do you find several business cards in your pocket but you simply can’t remember what you said to all those potentially important business contacts that you networked with all evening?
A few companies I’ve come across actually limit their staff to two alcoholic drinks at industry events because they are representing the brand and have to remain professional.
I’ve spoken to a number of people in the industry who were once very big drinkers but are now teetotal, and a load more who are cutting down. This maybe for health reasons, or for social reasons or for the fact that the hangovers are far worse that they used to be.
I’ve been to industry events and stayed sober (because I had to be up at 6am the next day and manning a press office) and been ridiculed for not drinking – I’ve been asked if there was something wrong with me. I’ve repeatedly asked for a soft drink and have been given vodka by a person who, at the end of the evening laughed and bragged that they had been giving me vodka all night – despite me asking for just tonic.
A close friend was at a leading industry association event a few years ago, and wasn’t drinking. It was late and the group of people she was with started buying rounds of shots. She declined a number of times, but in the end the group turned on her and she ended up in the middle of the pack, with them all chanting her name and shouting ‘drink’ to her. The pressure was too much, so she caved in and drank the shot simply to shut them up. She is a private person and little did they know that she was in fact attending AA meetings; the drink she felt forced to have set her back six months in her recovery process.
There has been a big push to increase the health and well being of people working in our industry and alcohol must have a huge part to play in this. I’m not advocating that we all turn teetotal, but I’d like to see us all be more accepting and understanding of people who don’t drink or are cutting down – whatever their reasons. I’d also like to see a better variety of soft drinks available – there’s only so much orange juice one can take…
This article first appeared on Conference News: https://www.conference-news.co.uk/blogs/time-bar
CEO of The Attendee Experience Company (atex) and Knowledge Director at The Meetings Show (Asia Pacific/UK)
7 年Thanks for posting this Jill. We all know this is endemic in our industry. On so many levels this is something that needs to be challenged by us all. Networking (in the sense that your boss is expecting) is not getting so smashed you can't remember who you met and that you are so jaded the next day your productivity is limited. Hopefully with movements such as Eventwell.org offering support and well being advice/resource to the industry and in light of the current media around events, as an industry, we will become more responsible. I've had 2 senior event profs over the past month share that "venue showcase" events they had attended have been serving a huge amount of strong alcohol, too much in fact. A selection of varied soft drinks that are refilled during an evening would also be a bonus to those not wishing to drink alcohol. Substantial food offerings should balance the booze. We all have suffered due to not eating, an ever full glass of wine and then home to no supper due to it being too late. For those who know me, know I enjoy a glass of wine. But with the stresses and strains of running a start up, the greater knowledge of the affects alcohol has on my body and the fact that I live further out and am conscious of getting home, it's been a wake up call for me in terms of taking it steady. And, I tend to enjoy events more, I get more from them in terms of business (or pleasure!) and I feel great the next day. That's got to be something right!?!?
I help Associations become more profitable through Conference and Membership Management and Strategic Income Generation
7 年Excellent post! I think in society socialising/networking revolves far too much around alcohol. If you don't drink people often find it strange. I think times are changing and people are more aware of feeling good and healthy. In any professional situation it is important to maintain respect for others wishes/views. Great point about soft drinks, we need to think as events organisers to offer more choice on this. I recently sold a drinks reception sponsorship package which was non-alcoholic drinks reception, the opportunity should be about networking/promoting not drinking alcohol.
PR & Marketing Consultant
7 年Totally agree with you Jill, I often don’t drink at events due to being a lifelong migraine sufferer. Sometimes the choice of soft drinks is terrible. The person who spiked your drink with vodka is very irresponsible- you don’t know what medical condition or reason someone might have for not drinking!
Founder & CEO at Events Together Ltd, Curator of D & I in the Workplace events, Producer of large shows and conferences
7 年I'm not a huge drinker and actually hardly used to drink at all. If I'm at a networking event, I usually have to travel home by train so I limit myself to a couple of glasses of wine but also to remain professional. Also agree about the selection of soft drinks. There's no harm in drinking but as you say Jill Hawkins respect others at the same time. Good post.