Drinking on business trips

[HelenB]

I recently had to travel to another country (Brasil -- I'm from the US) for a business trip. I've traveled for my company before, but not with a big group.

I was shocked at how much drinking went on, and I'm looking for a few opinions.

1) If you're on a business trip, how much drinking do you consider appropriate, specifically when out to dinner with your local area hosts? I know that this could change somewhat from country to country. My guideline was "no more than our hosts", especially when the hosts are paying. Some of the guys on the trip drank to the point of being obnoxiously intoxicated. These were 40-something year old men, not kids right out of school and unleashed on the world for the first time.

2) If you'd been on a trip where it seemed like people had out of control drinking, would you go to your HR department and suggest guidelines for drinking while travelling? On the one hand, I'd like to think that these guys were seasoned travellers who know how to act in other countries, but on the other hand, I got tired of them not being able to show up on time in the morning.

I'm not a prude when it comes to drinking, but these trips aren't supposed to be Spring Break drinkathons. The company paid us to go there to work. Socializing appropriately with our hosts is part of that. Trying to steal the hat from a waiter is not. (OK, I appear to be holding onto some bitterness about this.)

[Venus193]

Don't drink any more than you are comfortable drinking, KathyeC, especially in a foreign country.   You don't want to be out of control of your behavior or reflexes. You can always plead "medication" as an excuse not to, if need be.

I would be careful reporting this to HR immediately after the trip unless something really horrible happens.  I would wait a couple of weeks so that your male coworkers won't automatically connect any policy with you.

Unless one of them gets out of hand with YOU, in which case you bring down the wrath of HR on a sexual harrassment complaint.

[behindbj]

When faced with a group like this, I don't drink at all.  Not that I'm a big drinker anyway, but I just don't when with this type of crowd.

When someone asks me why I'm being no fun, I usually respond "Someone's got to be sober to take the pictures."

Always gives them pause.

behindbj

[Venus193]

I love that one.   

[melodrama]

While I think social drinking is perfectly acceptable and even encouraged on some business trips, drinking like a frat boy is rude and unprofessional.  Don't go out of your way to mention it to HR, but eventually someone will ask you how your trip went and you can drop little hints

"Oh, it was fine, although Bob and Bill had some trouble with the early morning meetings.  Maybe we should schedule afternoon and evening meetings only from now on."

"Oh, Mr. Big was a very gracious host.  We racked up a huge bar tab our first night there and he insisted on paying for everything."

You don't need to gossip with everyone in the office, but it's important that your (and the bozos') direct supervisor at least gets a clue.

[Brentwood]

I recently had to travel to another country (Brasil -- I'm from the US) for a business trip. I've traveled for my company before, but not with a big group.

I was shocked at how much drinking went on, and I'm looking for a few opinions.

1) If you're on a business trip, how much drinking do you consider appropriate, specifically when out to dinner with your local area hosts? I know that this could change somewhat from country to country. My guideline was "no more than our hosts", especially when the hosts are paying. Some of the guys on the trip drank to the point of being obnoxiously intoxicated. These were 40-something year old men, not kids right out of school and unleashed on the world for the first time.

2) If you'd been on a trip where it seemed like people had out of control drinking, would you go to your HR department and suggest guidelines for drinking while travelling? On the one hand, I'd like to think that these guys were seasoned travellers who know how to act in other countries, but on the other hand, I got tired of them not being able to show up on time in the morning.

I'm not a prude when it comes to drinking, but these trips aren't supposed to be Spring Break drinkathons. The company paid us to go there to work. Socializing appropriately with our hosts is part of that. Trying to steal the hat from a waiter is not. (OK, I appear to be holding onto some bitterness about this.)

I have travelled on business for both the radio and insurance industries. I was not surprised by the level of drinking and "partying" going on by the radio and records folk, but a comparable amount seemed to be going on with the insurance people.

I would never, never, never drink more than my hosts, nor would I drink so much that I could compromise my integrity and professionalism.  My general rule of thumb would be one drink for a short evening or two drinks for a longer evening. I was with some people one evening who were downing flavored "martinis" in the hotel bar; I sat and nursed a chocolate martini all night (and it was delicious, by the way.)

There were occasions during my tenure in radio in which it was not inappropriate for me to drink while working, and I was scrupulously careful not to abuse that privilege!

[Lisbeth]

I think it's never a good idea to be drunk in the company of business colleagues.  That's a time when you really need to show restraint.

So, I'd be careful.  I'd limit my drinks to non-alcohol if possible and just say, "I'm the designated [driver, photographer, secretary] for the evening," if anyone comments.

[BatCity]

Two things to keep in mind.

Tolerance about alcohol consumption varies widely from one country to the next.  In some countries, of course, it's forbidden outright; in others, it's considered perfectly acceptable to get hammered during business dinners, and everything you do in that state is forgotten the next morning.
I think the US and other western cultures fall somewhere in the middle.

On the other hand, when in an unfamiliar situation, you should never feel you should do something you wouldn't do otherwise.  If you want to have a glass of wine or a beer or two, fine, but just because everyone else is getting blitzed, never feel pressured to do so.  On the other hand, I don't think it's necessary to inform HR that people are drinking heavily; it's the behavior that ensues that should be reported.

[IndianInlaw]

How much drinking is appropriate?

Long before they're trying to steal the waiter's hat.

[ZipTheWonder]

You can always plead "medication" as an excuse not to, if need be.

One should never need to make an excuse for not drinking alcohol.  Saying "no thank" or if pressed "I really don't care for any..." should be sufficient.

[sparksals]

It depends on the nationality of the hosts.  In Korea, those on business trips are taken out for a fabulous dinner and then are expected to imbibe in traditional soju.  It would be very insulting to the Korean hosts not to partake.

One married guy I know who came to Seoul on a business trip had a knock on his door.  It was a lady of the evening set up by the business associates he came to see.  Here, that would be totally inappropriate, but there, they think nothing of it.  He sent the woman away, but she was afraid she would get in trouble.  He promised her that he would thank them for sending her and tell them he didn't send her away. 

[artk2002]

In Japan, it's very traditional for there to be some heavy drinking after work -- that's when the real business gets done.  The trick there is to never let your glass get below halfway full; when it does, your host will refill the glass.  Although it's hard for most Americans, you always leave something in the glass at the end of the evening.  I was very grateful to learn this from my mentor, otherwise I would have been completely incapacitated my first night in Tokyo!

[Pixie]

I'm not much of a drinker, so I might have one or 2 drinks and then switch to soda or water.   If someone asked I might reply.... "I've never had a hangover and don't wish to ruin my perfect record."   

[Venus193]

Nobody should have to explain abstaining from alcohol, but sometimes the medication excuse is the only way to keep saying no to people who don't take no for an answer.

[Suze]

Nobody should have to explain abstaining from alcohol, but sometimes the medication excuse is the only way to keep saying no to people who don't take no for an answer.

Boy, have you got that one right.

I do not like the tast of ANY alcohol.  It all tastes like medicine to me, no matter what it is mixed with.  So I never did drink and all I heard was.............

 "you will like this drink - it tastes like (kool-aid, choco milk, whatever)"  NO it doesn't, and if I wanted to drink cough medicine I'd go to the drug store and get it. (It would be cheaper, I think)

It is so much easier with the medication excuss (and it is true in my case) People seem to accept it and go on to pollute someone else.

I do start out with the "no thanks" route, but sometimes have to pull out that one if they will not take that for an answer.