To think MPs shouldn’t be drinking while at work?

[greywildoceans]

There’s a big debate going on after new Green MP Hannah Smith has come out and said that you can smell the alcohol on MPs after lunchtime.

https://x.com/politicsjoe_uk/status/2048323140804100487?s=46

Of course all the usual lot are coming out saying it’s a British tradition to drink at work and she’s being “anti British”. I’ve worked in the public sector and the private sector and I have never encountered anyone who thought it was appropriate to drink while working. I’m confident that if anyone did, they’d be fired.

AIBU to say MPs should be banned from drinking while working?

It's not tradition to have a pint at lunchtime,that boat sailed a long time ago.
I remember when the boss was up on a visit he'd take me to the pub pints and a pie .
I was nearly asleep by 3pm.
Mid 80s.

I genuinely can’t even imagine what would happen if I had a pint on my lunch break. I think the immediate sack is the bare minimum.

All the agencies that had pubs on the premises have sold them off now. It’s a relic.
In a country where we’re being told how unhealthy we are, it’s time to call time on it.

Most definitely times have changed for the better in that regard drinking at work should be and is unacceptable at work.

You’d hope it was unacceptable but now there are vast swathes of people who are apparently all for it, because a Green MP has called it out!

They are probably up to a lot more than just that!

It’s perfectly ok to have a drunk at lunchtime

many office workers go out fir lunch and have a drink
same with bankers etc

this woman thinks it’s fine to legalise heroin but terrible to have a drink at lunch. Total lunatic party

I agree with her on this, it just isn't necessary or professional. I hope it isn't funded by the taxpayer.

No, “many office workers” don’t. If we did, we’d get the sack.

Decriminalising drugs is an entirely different policy and I think it goes to show how small minded some people are, that they can’t listen to anything said by someone who they disagree with.

Well it is, as we pay their salaries and for their subsidised bars!

MP's do what they like.....they don't give a bugger what anybody thinks...

Times have definitely changed, but only relatively recently - I was absolutely going to the pub on a Friday lunchtime until around 2010/2012. And the HoC is a very traditional workplace where things likely change very slowly.

I'm not saying it's ok, but it's not really surprising it's happening. I guess if you started work after it stopped it must seem weird, but it was totally normal and acceptable when I started work (private sector) - our boss used to put a company credit card behind the bar 😳

ETA - I do very much think the subsidised bars and restaurants should come to an end. MPs earn very well, they can pay for their food and drink like everyone else.

Does she have any policies regarding the environment at all? All I've heard is clothes, that she gave a maiden speech with absolutely zero mention of the environment and now 'eww, other people smell, I don't drink, you know'.

(All said as a non drinker, by the way).

She’s an MP, she doesn’t directly set the policy.

At the least MPs should pay an unsubsidised price for alcohol, that anachronism has lasted far too long.

I agree with her. It’s outdated and unprofessional. How productive are they going to be after lunch if they’ve been drinking.

I am 45 and used to go to the pub at lunchtime in my first jobs.

I think it’s appalling that MPs drink whilst on duty. Especially as a lot of really important votes can be quite late at night by which time they could easily have had far too much (if they are problem drinkers)

Definitely needs to stop.

My job is part of the Civil Service and if I drank at lunch time, I would most definitely be sacked. Plus we’re so overworked and understaffed we don’t often get time for a lunch break and so underpaid that we couldn’t afford to drink at lunch time 😡.

What’s worse is they’re drinking in between votes, to the point they smell of alcohol. They won’t be considering their constituent’s best interests while pissed!

Surely she should have something to say about the environment, though? If you dont like the word policy, then maybe 'want to persuade the larger parties that the environment is important to consider when debating Bills'?

Which I’m sure she does in parliament.

This was an interview regarding the drinking culture in parliament. Is that not a concern to you?

Exactly. It's objectively not a good thing to be taking decisions that affect the whole country after drinking a few pints in one of the many bars in the House of Commons but MPs from other political parties are objecting simply because a Green Party MP has raised this issue.

CS here, we would be fired if it was found we’d had alcohol at lunchtime. Not even allowed it at Christmas.

one rule for them…

It was definitely a thing when I worked in London in the 90’s - but yes we should expect more from our MP’s

Pretty much most offices I’ve worked in London we’d have a pint on a Friday lunch time 🤷‍♀️