Sue Gray report: is it ever appropriate to consume alcohol at work?

I think you are right Steve.
Excessive is difficult to define but I am sure she chose her words carefully.

Drinking and driving isn't acceptable. I would have thought drinking and running a country isn't acceptable either.

My first instinct was that it's never appropriate to consume any alcohol at work (I still roll my eyes at those US dramas in which the boss always seems to have a whiskey decanter and hands out the single malt after hours - do none of these people drive home??).

I suppose I would concede that a work-sponsored social event is technically work for liability purposes (albeit often uncompensated time) and that it may be appropriate to drink at these (even when held in the office).

In my youth in the Officer's Mess (where post-prandial rooms were available on site) I certainly tied one on a few times. But with the 20/20 wisdom of hindsight, I think I would be far more inclined to stick to mineral water, 0% beers and mocktails. If one absolutely *must* consume alcohol to excess then the only reasonable place to do it is in the comfort of your own home, in the company of people who already love you unconditionally.

In my own youth, I got promoted into a position / office accommodation that came with a comprehensively-stocked booze cabinet but rarely if ever used it. Officially, bringing any alcohol onto the premises let alone drinking it wasn't allowed, but that didn't prevent 'the management' from getting plenty in themselves for special occasions, such as for serving at the annual staff Christmas lunches. Last working day before Christmas too was traditionally always impromptu (and have to say most enjoyable) office partying day throughout, when copious quantities of alcohol and 'nibbles' were brought in and consumed but only ever then.

Times / attitudes have indeed changed since then, but that's an example of the legacy of alcohol in traditional workplaces and don't recall any particular problems that arose from it - but it wasn't IMHO even then particularly 'excessive'.

We (in pre pandemic times) hold staff parties twice a year and in 2019 had a real issues with alcohol fuelled gossip and rumour spreading and a subsequent grievance. I already had concerns about the free bar we operated on such occasions and when we had our first post pandemic social last October, we issued drinks tickets and everyone had two drinks tickets and that was it. I'm aware a significant number of people went to the pub first, and one lady turned up with a litre bottle of lager she was already swigging from but I can't and won't police what people off site and in their own time! :-D I did feel a lot more comfortable that we were not pressing alcohol on people and the party seemed to be just as much enjoyed as the ones where alcohol was freely flowing.

Context is everything
if you are a beer sales rep, you might be expected to be sociable
I dare say that you can remember the days when Industrial Relations means beer and sandwiches with the union.

Sort of agree. Pubs are still a legitimate place for a pint or three

Blastfurnacemen notably Peter - they habitually consumed immense quantities of beer - first six pints or so were a mere aperitif / minor rehydration to most of them!

In my first job in a brewery I think the most important contribution to IR was making sure the crates of beer were in the right place for the adjournments.

I think you're right that it's the word 'excessive' but also 'culture': it's not a one off ill advised Christmas party that went awry but this was an environment that was nurtured and celebrated. I also understand in the report that there were people who felt uncomfortable speaking out against it too; the unpleasant side of a toxic culture.

I don't believe in being overly censorious - what works in one workplace is clearly glaringly inappropriate in another but it needs to be managed carefully. I work in a shared office space where we have beer and prosecco taps and stopping for a 4.30pm Friday drink with the team is great for us. It's probably because there is a clear understanding that that is solely when it is appropriate and if there were abuses of this it would be dealt with quickly.