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See Also
See Again
© Shutterstock
0 / 31 Fotos
Why have a drink after work?
- Many of us enjoy a drink after work. Doing so provides an opportunity to socialize with co-workers at the end of the day, and can help strengthen friendships.
© Shutterstock
1 / 31 Fotos
A way of connecting with colleagues
- Indeed, socializing with co-workers serves as a way of connecting with colleagues in a more relaxed and informal atmosphere.
© Shutterstock
2 / 31 Fotos
Building on social capital
- Gathering after work for a drink can build on social capital. That is, engaging in small talk with a co-worker can enhance employees' daily positive social emotions.
© Shutterstock
3 / 31 Fotos
Making friends, and allies
- In fact, chatting over a drink can turn the people you work with into friends. More pertinently, perhaps, they can become allies, confidants you can turn to in times of professional or personal crisis.
© Shutterstock
4 / 31 Fotos
An ideas environment
- A get-together with close co-workers over a pint or two can also serve as a way of learning new skills or picking up useful institutional knowledge in an informal setting.
© Shutterstock
5 / 31 Fotos
Networking
- There's an old workplace adage that warns of the dangers of getting too close to someone who can fire you. But in actual fact, networking over drinks with your boss and co-workers after hours could advance your career.
© Shutterstock
6 / 31 Fotos
Opportunities for promotion
- Being among like-minded people and exchanging ideas or making suggestions can sometimes increase the likelihood of promotions, pay raises, and new positions.
© Shutterstock
7 / 31 Fotos
Fun time
- Ultimately, after-work drinking is about loosening up, blowing off steam, and having fun.
© Shutterstock
8 / 31 Fotos
Drinking too much
- But while drinking has long been the center of workplace culture, that quick drink to unwind can easily turn into a several downed over the course of an evening.
© Shutterstock
9 / 31 Fotos
Go to work, go home
- After-work drinking isn't for everyone, though. In fact, according to a report published by the New York Post, many Gen Zers and millennials are abstaining from alcohol altogether. Furthermore, they're choosing to eschew socializing with co-workers, preferring to adopt a go to work, go home attitude.
© Shutterstock
10 / 31 Fotos
A way of life
- The fact is, however, post-shift drinks to chill out over are par for the course in many cultures, particularly those in Western society. Payday drinks and end of the week tipples are especially popular.
© Shutterstock
11 / 31 Fotos
When to say "no"
- It's sometimes difficult to say "no" to a couple of cold ones, or a glass or two of Chardonnay. But how best to keep track of the booze at the bar?
© Shutterstock
12 / 31 Fotos
Know your limit
- If you opt to join colleagues for drinks, decide on a limit for what you're going to down beforehand. This may well test your resolve as the evening progresses, but keeping a mental note of what you've had will help set boundaries.
© Shutterstock
13 / 31 Fotos
Reasons not to drink
- It may well be that you've chosen not to drink for religious, cultural, personal, or health reasons. Make this plain to co-workers from the outset so as to avoid any embarrassment or misunderstanding.
© Shutterstock
14 / 31 Fotos
The first "hit"
- Bear in mind that after working eight hours or more, one beer will hit like two. Chase it down with a shot and it's very easy to get lightheaded or overly enthused—in other words, drunk!
© Shutterstock
15 / 31 Fotos
Beware of happy hours and promotions
- Beware of pub happy hours. Half-price drinks or two for the price of one deals sound great on paper, but these offers can promote binge drinking.
© Shutterstock
16 / 31 Fotos
Pace yourself
- Drink slowly. Changing down a gear may prove challenging when the booze is flowing, but turn the tables by knocking back one beer while everybody else has two.
© Shutterstock
17 / 31 Fotos
Dilute the situation
- Alternating drinks with water is great way of diluting the effects of alcohol. And this way you can still feel like part of the crowd, but without getting drunk.
© Shutterstock
18 / 31 Fotos
Go soft
- Alternatively, make every second drink a soft drink, a club soda perhaps, or a Coca-Cola. Again, you can keep pace with your co-workers without soaking up too much alcohol, and it will help keep you hydrated, too.
© Shutterstock
19 / 31 Fotos
How about a coffee?
- And no one's stopping you ordering a coffee. In fact, a caffeine fix beforehand can counter that drowsy end of the day fog that comes with sitting in an office all day.
© Shutterstock
20 / 31 Fotos
Alcohol-free
- Of course, you can always go alcohol-free. Staying sober doesn't mean you can't have a good time with your workmates. And think of the advantages. You'll save money and wake up the next morning without a hangover!
© Shutterstock
21 / 31 Fotos
Be sure to eat
- If you know there's an after-work get-together scheduled, it's a good idea to have a hearty lunch beforehand. Drinking on an empty stomach is just asking for trouble.
© Shutterstock
22 / 31 Fotos
Don't drink on an empty stomach
- As the hour draws nearer, prime the belly once again with a snack. And eating before alcohol consumption usually avoids the temptation of grabbing greasy takeaway at the end of the night!
© Shutterstock
23 / 31 Fotos
Eating and drinking
- If you weren't able to line your stomach with solids beforehand, make a point of eating something while at the bar or pub. Just go easy on the salt. Too much sodium chloride can induce a craving for more alcohol.
© Shutterstock
24 / 31 Fotos
Make it special
- Bringing food into the equation also helps lend an after-work drinking session an air of sophistication, especially if the venue is a well-known culinary hotspot.
© Shutterstock
25 / 31 Fotos
Don't buy rounds
- Here's a word of advice: avoid buying rounds. It's a sure-fire way of ending up drinking at the fastest drinker's pace.
© Shutterstock
26 / 31 Fotos
How to save money
- At the risk of being seen as miserly, dipping out of a round also saves you money. Play this one carefully, though. You don't want to be known as a scrooge, or someone who's unwilling to pay their way.
© Shutterstock
27 / 31 Fotos
Still a popular option
- Despite the rebuke by Generation Z, who, according to the New York Post, "tend to be ever concerned with 'healthy' work-life boundaries," the after-work drink remains on tap.
© Shutterstock
28 / 31 Fotos
Cheers!
- And with more people choosing to return to the office in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, imbibing post-shift has lost none of its appeal.
© Shutterstock
29 / 31 Fotos
Drink responsibly
- But drinking needs to be done responsibly and in moderation. It's one thing sharing a bit of downtime with colleagues over a couple of beers, quite another getting drunk and making those around you feel uncomfortable or pressured to join you. Sources: (NeuroLeadership Institute) (Drinkaware) (Spaces) (Marie Claire) (New York Post) See also: How to lower your alcohol consumption and still enjoy a drink
© Shutterstock
30 / 31 Fotos
© Shutterstock
0 / 31 Fotos
Why have a drink after work?
- Many of us enjoy a drink after work. Doing so provides an opportunity to socialize with co-workers at the end of the day, and can help strengthen friendships.
© Shutterstock
1 / 31 Fotos
A way of connecting with colleagues
- Indeed, socializing with co-workers serves as a way of connecting with colleagues in a more relaxed and informal atmosphere.
© Shutterstock
2 / 31 Fotos
Building on social capital
- Gathering after work for a drink can build on social capital. That is, engaging in small talk with a co-worker can enhance employees' daily positive social emotions.
© Shutterstock
3 / 31 Fotos
Making friends, and allies
- In fact, chatting over a drink can turn the people you work with into friends. More pertinently, perhaps, they can become allies, confidants you can turn to in times of professional or personal crisis.
© Shutterstock
4 / 31 Fotos
An ideas environment
- A get-together with close co-workers over a pint or two can also serve as a way of learning new skills or picking up useful institutional knowledge in an informal setting.
© Shutterstock
5 / 31 Fotos
Networking
- There's an old workplace adage that warns of the dangers of getting too close to someone who can fire you. But in actual fact, networking over drinks with your boss and co-workers after hours could advance your career.
© Shutterstock
6 / 31 Fotos
Opportunities for promotion
- Being among like-minded people and exchanging ideas or making suggestions can sometimes increase the likelihood of promotions, pay raises, and new positions.
© Shutterstock
7 / 31 Fotos
Fun time
- Ultimately, after-work drinking is about loosening up, blowing off steam, and having fun.
© Shutterstock
8 / 31 Fotos
Drinking too much
- But while drinking has long been the center of workplace culture, that quick drink to unwind can easily turn into a several downed over the course of an evening.
© Shutterstock
9 / 31 Fotos
Go to work, go home
- After-work drinking isn't for everyone, though. In fact, according to a report published by the New York Post, many Gen Zers and millennials are abstaining from alcohol altogether. Furthermore, they're choosing to eschew socializing with co-workers, preferring to adopt a go to work, go home attitude.
© Shutterstock
10 / 31 Fotos
A way of life
- The fact is, however, post-shift drinks to chill out over are par for the course in many cultures, particularly those in Western society. Payday drinks and end of the week tipples are especially popular.
© Shutterstock
11 / 31 Fotos
When to say "no"
- It's sometimes difficult to say "no" to a couple of cold ones, or a glass or two of Chardonnay. But how best to keep track of the booze at the bar?
© Shutterstock
12 / 31 Fotos
Know your limit
- If you opt to join colleagues for drinks, decide on a limit for what you're going to down beforehand. This may well test your resolve as the evening progresses, but keeping a mental note of what you've had will help set boundaries.
© Shutterstock
13 / 31 Fotos
Reasons not to drink
- It may well be that you've chosen not to drink for religious, cultural, personal, or health reasons. Make this plain to co-workers from the outset so as to avoid any embarrassment or misunderstanding.
© Shutterstock
14 / 31 Fotos
The first "hit"
- Bear in mind that after working eight hours or more, one beer will hit like two. Chase it down with a shot and it's very easy to get lightheaded or overly enthused—in other words, drunk!
© Shutterstock
15 / 31 Fotos
Beware of happy hours and promotions
- Beware of pub happy hours. Half-price drinks or two for the price of one deals sound great on paper, but these offers can promote binge drinking.
© Shutterstock
16 / 31 Fotos
Pace yourself
- Drink slowly. Changing down a gear may prove challenging when the booze is flowing, but turn the tables by knocking back one beer while everybody else has two.
© Shutterstock
17 / 31 Fotos
Dilute the situation
- Alternating drinks with water is great way of diluting the effects of alcohol. And this way you can still feel like part of the crowd, but without getting drunk.
© Shutterstock
18 / 31 Fotos
Go soft
- Alternatively, make every second drink a soft drink, a club soda perhaps, or a Coca-Cola. Again, you can keep pace with your co-workers without soaking up too much alcohol, and it will help keep you hydrated, too.
© Shutterstock
19 / 31 Fotos
How about a coffee?
- And no one's stopping you ordering a coffee. In fact, a caffeine fix beforehand can counter that drowsy end of the day fog that comes with sitting in an office all day.
© Shutterstock
20 / 31 Fotos
Alcohol-free
- Of course, you can always go alcohol-free. Staying sober doesn't mean you can't have a good time with your workmates. And think of the advantages. You'll save money and wake up the next morning without a hangover!
© Shutterstock
21 / 31 Fotos
Be sure to eat
- If you know there's an after-work get-together scheduled, it's a good idea to have a hearty lunch beforehand. Drinking on an empty stomach is just asking for trouble.
© Shutterstock
22 / 31 Fotos
Don't drink on an empty stomach
- As the hour draws nearer, prime the belly once again with a snack. And eating before alcohol consumption usually avoids the temptation of grabbing greasy takeaway at the end of the night!
© Shutterstock
23 / 31 Fotos
Eating and drinking
- If you weren't able to line your stomach with solids beforehand, make a point of eating something while at the bar or pub. Just go easy on the salt. Too much sodium chloride can induce a craving for more alcohol.
© Shutterstock
24 / 31 Fotos
Make it special
- Bringing food into the equation also helps lend an after-work drinking session an air of sophistication, especially if the venue is a well-known culinary hotspot.
© Shutterstock
25 / 31 Fotos
Don't buy rounds
- Here's a word of advice: avoid buying rounds. It's a sure-fire way of ending up drinking at the fastest drinker's pace.
© Shutterstock
26 / 31 Fotos
How to save money
- At the risk of being seen as miserly, dipping out of a round also saves you money. Play this one carefully, though. You don't want to be known as a scrooge, or someone who's unwilling to pay their way.
© Shutterstock
27 / 31 Fotos
Still a popular option
- Despite the rebuke by Generation Z, who, according to the New York Post, "tend to be ever concerned with 'healthy' work-life boundaries," the after-work drink remains on tap.
© Shutterstock
28 / 31 Fotos
Cheers!
- And with more people choosing to return to the office in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, imbibing post-shift has lost none of its appeal.
© Shutterstock
29 / 31 Fotos
Drink responsibly
- But drinking needs to be done responsibly and in moderation. It's one thing sharing a bit of downtime with colleagues over a couple of beers, quite another getting drunk and making those around you feel uncomfortable or pressured to join you. Sources: (NeuroLeadership Institute) (Drinkaware) (Spaces) (Marie Claire) (New York Post) See also: How to lower your alcohol consumption and still enjoy a drink
© Shutterstock
30 / 31 Fotos
The highs and lows of after-work drinks
The culture of post-shift drinking
© Shutterstock
Alcohol has long been a staple of workplace culture, and a post-shift drink is enjoyed by many. After-work drinking can help connect co-workers in a relaxed and informal atmosphere and reinforce workplace socialization and strategy. But it's an easy habit to fall into, and unhealthy if taken to extremes. In fact, there are those who resolutely refuse to imbibe with their colleagues out of hours. So, what are the pros and cons of after-work drinks, and how can you participate without appearing like a party pooper?
Click through for reasons why you should have an after-work drink, and why you shouldn't.
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