Yikes. Business Lunch.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Canada
Posts: 809
Yikes. Business Lunch.
I totally just remembered an awkward business lunch I have to go to in like 15 minutes.......... yeeeeeeeeeks.
It's going to be one of those situations where I feel pressured to have a beer/glass of wine, as I'm meeting with a senior executive who I have not spoken to much in the past.
"No thank you, I'm fine, I'll have a diet coke please".
I can do this.
It's going to be one of those situations where I feel pressured to have a beer/glass of wine, as I'm meeting with a senior executive who I have not spoken to much in the past.
"No thank you, I'm fine, I'll have a diet coke please".
I can do this.
Forum Leader
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 16,945
Originally Posted by Mrrryah1 
I totally just remembered an awkward business lunch I have to go to in like 15 minutes.......... yeeeeeeeeeks.
It's going to be one of those situations where I feel pressured to have a beer/glass of wine, as I'm meeting with a senior executive who I have not spoken to much in the past.
"No thank you, I'm fine, I'll have a diet coke please".
I can do this.
It's going to be one of those situations where I feel pressured to have a beer/glass of wine, as I'm meeting with a senior executive who I have not spoken to much in the past.
"No thank you, I'm fine, I'll have a diet coke please".
I can do this.
When you get done with the lunch...perhaps you can look ahead into your calendar to see if there are any other meetings like this that you have forgotten. Planning ahead and being prepared for situations like this is key - the fewer surprises you present yourself ( especially ones that you can control ) the better.
Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Canada
Posts: 2,449
Originally Posted by ScottFromWI
Be strong - alcohol is not a requirement for any business lunch.
When you get done with the lunch...perhaps you can look ahead into your calendar to see if there are any other meetings like this that you have forgotten. Planning ahead and being prepared for situations like this is key - the fewer surprises you present yourself ( especially ones that you can control ) the better.
When you get done with the lunch...perhaps you can look ahead into your calendar to see if there are any other meetings like this that you have forgotten. Planning ahead and being prepared for situations like this is key - the fewer surprises you present yourself ( especially ones that you can control ) the better.
I recall you saying you have a boss that likes drinking lunches. You're going to need a plan of attack M. You can do this.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,122
Play it forward.
If you drink, you will embarass yourself at lunch, you will lose your job, and have to start your sobriety date all over.
If you don't drink, the worst case scenario is that you have an awkward lunch.. Id take awkward lunches over embarassing myselfin front of my boss and getting fired any day.
If you drink, you will embarass yourself at lunch, you will lose your job, and have to start your sobriety date all over.
If you don't drink, the worst case scenario is that you have an awkward lunch.. Id take awkward lunches over embarassing myselfin front of my boss and getting fired any day.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: New Orleans, LA
Posts: 985
Some of the sharpest people I know - in business and politics - don't drink over working meals. And these are not people who are in sobriety, as a matter of fact, they are fully capable of drinking to drunkenness at the right time, in the right/safe situation (for them).
Choosing not to drink at a business lunch is not something only sober folks do, and declining doesn't need to be linked to your sobriety in any way. Having work to do this afternoon back at the office, or an important conference call, or a meeting with co-workers are all perfectly valid reasons that would influence a non-alcoholic to choose not to have a drink at lunch.
Most of the folks I know who don't drink at work events choose not to because they don't want to get too familiar or over-share with colleagues, a boss, or a subordinate. It feels good to walk away from the table knowing that you skillfully and attentively kept the conversation at just the right level...
Good luck!
Choosing not to drink at a business lunch is not something only sober folks do, and declining doesn't need to be linked to your sobriety in any way. Having work to do this afternoon back at the office, or an important conference call, or a meeting with co-workers are all perfectly valid reasons that would influence a non-alcoholic to choose not to have a drink at lunch.
Most of the folks I know who don't drink at work events choose not to because they don't want to get too familiar or over-share with colleagues, a boss, or a subordinate. It feels good to walk away from the table knowing that you skillfully and attentively kept the conversation at just the right level...
Good luck!
Guest
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 4,580
Originally Posted by Mrrryah1
"I'll have a diet coke please".
That or...
Water.
the apology vibe of "I'm fine..no thank you" ..is not part of it though.
Marchia in Aeternum
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Georgia
Posts: 11,094
Years ago, I went out of state for a job interview. The interviewer took my wife of the time and I to dinner when we arrived. I ordered a drink, wife ordered a drink, interviewer ordered ice tea. Found out the next day he was a preacher.
Screwed.
Screwed.
Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Mare Crisium
Posts: 1,930
When all is said and done, what difference
does it make to the others, if you'd rather have a soda?
Nothing to get uptight about.
No need to make up an excuse.
Ignore your AV's pathetic attempt to tell you otherwise.
You can do this!
does it make to the others, if you'd rather have a soda?
Nothing to get uptight about.
No need to make up an excuse.
Ignore your AV's pathetic attempt to tell you otherwise.
You can do this!
Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,222
Sorry but drinking lunches are so 1990's. It is rare I see that now at any level in a business and it is relatively easy to avoid. "I'll have a diet coke/water/juice please" is the smart choice and perfectly acceptable to any decent professional person. If someone pushes you for an alcoholic drink at lunch just say "sorry, not this time, I have an important call when I get back". Anyone who pushes someone to drink over a lunch is a dick.
A business dinner is a little different where there is more of an expectation to have a beer of two or a couple of glasses of wine. Nothing heavy but one of two to seal the bond of friendship and unwind. In my opinion, if you feel your host/colleagues are going to drink and expect you to do likewise then find an early excuse to say that you will not be drinking today. For example, menus arrive and waitress says "can I start you off with a drink?"....you can reply something like "unfortunately its diet cokes for me today as I am driving" or "could I have a diet coke please, my wife has me on a strict diet" or "my child is not well and I need to look after her when I get back so I can't really drink today". That way you send an early signal, nobody gets embarrassed and you are clear. I find the worst is when the host orders an expensive wine or champagne and you then say no thanks a water will do...
A business dinner is a little different where there is more of an expectation to have a beer of two or a couple of glasses of wine. Nothing heavy but one of two to seal the bond of friendship and unwind. In my opinion, if you feel your host/colleagues are going to drink and expect you to do likewise then find an early excuse to say that you will not be drinking today. For example, menus arrive and waitress says "can I start you off with a drink?"....you can reply something like "unfortunately its diet cokes for me today as I am driving" or "could I have a diet coke please, my wife has me on a strict diet" or "my child is not well and I need to look after her when I get back so I can't really drink today". That way you send an early signal, nobody gets embarrassed and you are clear. I find the worst is when the host orders an expensive wine or champagne and you then say no thanks a water will do...
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