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ASK DR. DISH: Drinking etiquette

By Catherine Toth Fox • March 16, 2011 • Musings, The Daily Dish


Question: Dr. Dish, my company has a policy that we cannot drink while at work events. But what about at networking mixers at bars and nightclubs? Technically it is not a work event.

Answer: Thanks for the question! It’s a good one, too, so this recently happened to me.

I was at “An Evening of Sustainable Cuisine” at the Halekulani to support the efforts to raise money for the Culinary Institute of the Pacific at Kapiolani Community College, where I work as a journalism instructor. My chancellor and dean were in attendance, noshing on the “green” cuisine from Roy’s, town and the hotel.

But master mixologist Julie Reiner was there, too, serving up specialty cocktails that were hard to resist.

So what did I do?

Nothing. Until my dean walked over with a ginger beer drink and told me to try it. How could I not?

The rule of thumb is this: don’t get drunk. Don’t even get close.

Here’s the deal: even though it’s not technically a work event, you’re still representing your company (and your industry) at these mixers. You’re handing out your business card, right? Then people know who you are and where you work. And you don’t want to embarrass yourself or your company by downing six shots and licking the dance floor.

Be smart. Have a beer or nurse a cocktail. But don’t go overboard.

Anyone else got advice to dish? Or better yet — got a story to share?

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About the Author

Catherine Toth Fox

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10 Comments

  • Reply M March 15, 2011 at 11:02 pm

    Hello Cat,

    I don’t drink so that’s not a problem.

  • Reply Cat March 16, 2011 at 1:01 am

    @M That’s what I say too. 🙂

  • Reply turkfontaine March 16, 2011 at 3:47 am

    it’s so oppressive. as if you should ever behave inappropriately in any social situation. a company that keeps a culture of double standard is a company that has an adversarial and fearful stance toward it’s employees.

    it all leads back to the artificial business culture that is rampant in this most litigious of societies. i’m glad i’m done with it.

  • Reply Ynaku March 16, 2011 at 6:44 am

    I won’t drink at company functions unless the bosses do. Then again or one or two.

  • Reply MaxMaxMax March 16, 2011 at 1:03 pm

    “Have a beer or nurse a cocktail. But don’t go overboard.”

    —

    Pretty simple and exactly right.

  • Reply MaxMaxMax March 16, 2011 at 1:05 pm

    @Ynaku If liquor is being served, then I don’t see the need to wait for a boss to drink. As Cat said, just nurse it.

  • Reply dbjack March 17, 2011 at 3:12 am

    The last official day of work I ever have I will go so completely off the map you’ll need more than a GPS to find me. Until then, I get a dark glass and sip.

  • Reply dbjack March 17, 2011 at 3:12 am

    The last official day of work I ever have I will go so completely off the map you’ll need more than a GPS to find me. Until then, I get a dark glass and sip.

  • Reply NaClH2O March 23, 2011 at 11:20 am

    The old Star-Bulletin Christmas parties (before the turn of the century), was the exception to the rule. So was the roundtable at the Columbia Inn.

  • Reply NaClH2O March 23, 2011 at 11:20 am

    The old Star-Bulletin Christmas parties (before the turn of the century), was the exception to the rule. So was the roundtable at the Columbia Inn.

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About Me

About Me
Born and raised on O‘ahu, Hawaiʻi, Catherine Toth Fox has been chronicling her adventures in her blog, The Cat Dish, for more than a decade. She worked as a newspaper reporter in Hawai‘i for 10 years and continues to freelance—in between teaching journalism, hitting the surf and eating everything in sight—for national and local print and online publications. She’s currently the editor of HAWAIʻI Magazine.

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