I worked in the private sector for ~20 years until 1991, and the public sector for a similar length until retirement. Bromptonaut's description of the culture change over the period is spot on.
In the 1980s Friday afternoons were working meetings in the pub over a few/several pints and back to the office by 4pm for a coffee. Business lunches were often 3 hours with copious alcohol - beer, wine, "stickies".
Public sector initially had the late Friday single malt club, and wine fuelled awaydays. These started to disappear from around 2000 due to anxiety over negative perceptions should it become public knowledge.
Incidentally I have no more faith in Boris's account of what happened than Cummings - both are manipulative opportunists who have demonstrated a complete lack of integrity in the past.
I am just very wary of condemning anyone in the absence of an objective account of what actually occurred, irrespective of their politics. Hopefully Sue Gray who seems well regarded by both sides will provide this.
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