>> I would
>> have thought the Civil Service would have had the same sorts of rules. (Now I've
>> typed that I feel someone may have already mentioned it - maybe even me!! -
>> sorry if it's a repeat!!)
I may have mentioned it but I was a Civil Servant from 1978 until 2013.
Initially I worked in a provincial County Court where, excepting Xmas and my leaving do, drink was not taken in the office. Neither were there lunchtime sessions in the pub.
Moving to London and the administrative offices of a judicial tribunal it was completely different. Pub 'sessions' ending when the pubs closed at 3pm were a regular Friday thing. The Grade 7 head of office kept a drinks cabinet and would offer Scotch if you had a meeting after 11am. At least two folks were functioning alcoholics though one drank to self medicate PTSD from the war.
The culture started to change in the nineties. People who came back from the pub well beyond merry were sent home and were at risk of being 'managed out' if referrals to Occupational Health were refused/ineffective. However, as late a 2002 wine was served with the buffet lunch provided to Quango members at monthly meetings. At 'Awaydays' and such like a reasonable quantity, usually interpreted as half a bottle of wine per person, could be provided at public expense.
If not ended before that stopped with the 'shock and awe' regime of austerity post 2010.
I think alcohol was banned altogether by the time I was made redundant but a Nelsonian eye was turned from time to time at least in smaller self contained offices.
There was a phase from the mid eighties on where central control was eased and HR policies etc delegated to departments and agencies; what was banned in DWP might not be in (say) the MoD.
I suspect Number 10, and Ministerial Private Offices, were a bit different to the mainstream court office or Job Centre.
It's been suggested now that No 10 may adopt a no drink rule but it will be interesting to see how effective it is if the incumbent PM decides to make 'exceptions'.
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