Most business historians note that this shift happened to coincide when congress downsized the business meal and entertainment tax deduction, first in 1987 and then again in 1994. Starting in the 80s and 90s, attitudes began to change. Bleary-eyed executives lurched back to the office seeing double, and a nip of scotch in the afternoon helped stave off the shakes at the end of the day. This is the Mad Men era, filled with marathon business lunches featuring multiple rounds of Old Fashioneds, Manhattans, or Dirty Martinis. Office drinking surely had its heyday in the male-dominated work cultures of the 1950s and 60s. Try Winc for yourself with a SnackNation readers special and enjoy 35% off your first order, shipping included! Drinking on the Job – A (Blurry) History Take their palate profile quiz and they’ll pair 4 bottles of wine to your taste preferences and ship them right to your door every month. Pinot lover? Sauvignon sipper? Not sure? Winc makes it super easy to discover wines and non-alcoholic wines you’ll love (to accompany the snacks you can’t live without).
Meet the modern wine subscription that puts your palate to the test. This went for both employees and their employers.įor the buttoned-up, paternal corporate cultures of the 1980s and 90s, alcohol was too risky a proposition, a potential HR minefield where the scant benefits rarely outweigh potential costs.įor employees, office drinking was strictly taboo, often perceived as a lack of discipline or a sign of a troubled life at home.īut there’s good news for all you lovers of office libation – boozing in the office is back in fashion.
Up until recently, conventional wisdom dictated that drinking at work probably wasn’t a winning strategy.