A bit was said in the media last week about alcohol and work.
If you’re in your 20s & 30s, read this.
I appreciate this is a very delicate subject and I want to tread lightly.
But I do feel like alcohol is normalised a lot in our society.
Particularly when it comes to winning new business and celebrating achievements.
If you haven’t seen this, you should look up why this is making headlines (the topic involves very senior leadership and alcohol).
Here’s at least my take as someone who also worked in Finance.
In the early years of my career I heard of someone in the industry who was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver.
It’s when the liver is impaired and it can ultimately lead to liver failure.
This serious condition usually happens later in life.
But the person was in their early 40s.
And it was due to heavy drinking across their career.
This wasn’t done in secret mind you.
It was the culture of their work.
You may think this is an extreme example.
But I also think you shouldn’t need an extreme example to reflect on how something is serving you.
Now, if you’re working in an environment where alcohol is part of the culture, you may feel challenged about going against the grain.
Especially if it’s acceptable at the top levels of your company.
How can you make connections or close deals or win business if you don’t drink?
Check out the work of Andy Ramage and the One Year No Beer movement.
He used to be a broker who also felt like alcohol was needed for business.
That was until he stopped drinking altogether and his brokerage business really took off.
What Andy didn’t realise was how much drinking was holding him back from doing the work that actually mattered.
And once he removed that anchor, the level of service he provided his clients became market-leading.
Again, it’s a tricky subject to address.
But if you’re in your 20s or 30s and alcohol is part of your working life (in any form), just know there are other options.