Sounds like a 'benefit in kind' and taxable perk. Remember to include on your annual tax return.

I would go for 4 or 5 drinks and have a pleasant train journey home.

Even if the post is true, nobody is being forced to drink, I would assume 'work' has finished by 3pm on a Friday.

Are there any jobs going at this company? It sounds great!

On a more serious note, I have come across similar situations in some of my workplaces. Generally, you expect a HR policy to state that alcohol must not be consumed on work premises and that employees must not work under the influence of alcohol. However, there are some workplaces where this policy may have a waiver; something along the lines of "unless the senior manager accepts that there is a social function and employees may have an alcoholic drink" (but not return to work, and certainy not operate machinery/drive).

If this is part of the workplace culture, it's often seen as a perk, but this always makes me wonder about the logic behind this perk - What happens when work finishes? Do the employees then drive home? Are they sensible enough not to drink and drive, or does temptation/peer pressure lead them to drink and drive?

The providing of alcoholic drinks shouldn't be banned unless there is a real risk involved, but I'd always question the level of responsibility of any company handing out (or expecting employees to pay for) booze. I know that we live in a much more diverse world now, and alcohol forms part of many countries' culture (business lunches in France will almost always include wine), but that doesn't mean that employees should be placed in a situation where there is a risk of alcoholic intoxication if they are then expected to work or drive.

I'd also wonder what the company's drug and alcohol policy states - After all, if a director or manager is seen to be handing out free booze, does this mean that it's ok for employees to turn up at work under the influence? It's just not a good message to send out.

And your concern with providing a small quantity of alcohol is what exactly (especially given alternatives are available for those not wishing to partake)?

Back before the "ban everything brigade" the board room often contained a drinks cabinet for the directors & customers and Friday lunch after getting the weekly pay packet would be taken in the pub.

Over the years the drinks cabinet vanished and a liquid lunch became frowned upon in the UK.

A sensible approach to alcohol is something that should be nurtured and developed - factories I have visited in Scandinavia and continental europe even serve alcoholic beverages in the works canteen and talking with the hosts I got the impression anyone wanting to ban alcohol outright at site would likely get hung as a culture heretic.

Having worked for years in the public and charity sectors I can only dream of a workplace where I get free tea/coffee - never mind free alcohol!

But on a more serious note, I'd take a pragmatic view on this:  if its a low-risk office environment and there's no "operating of heavy machinery" then I think a free drink is a nice gesture that is likely to be very much appreciated by the staff.  If you wanted to be cautious, then perhaps speak to the manager to ensure the offier is restricted to one alcoholic drink and to be more consistent in the measures where it's being poured into a glass or cup.   If they want to give more than one drink, then provide unopened bottles that people can take home with them.

I'd be interested to know what the staff retention figures are? is it a workplace that has a good culture and is succesful in its field?

If you go to a public house direct from work you choose to do so, if you then drive a vehicle it is you that has chosen to do so.....the drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) are offered therefore there is an obvious choice.

There will be employees within this workplace that do not take an alcoholic drink, are they ridiculed and encouraged to drink anyway or are they naturally always offered their OJ or fizzy pop of choice?

It strikes me that the boss here simply has an affection for his people, what a great place to work 

Thanks for the comments, it appears some of you think i banned the drinks trolley. I did not ban it as i see it as perk or thank you, call it what you want from the Boss. I just was interested in views, and i got what i expected! what i did was to advise the HR director to provide clear guidance to employees via an internal friendly 'jazzed up' leaflet on expectations of the employees when partaking in an alcoholic drink, treat them as adults. yes I had a few concerns but as a H&S professional into a new business, one without any systems in place, I feels it’s quite natural to have some concerns. So no I’m not a H&S killjoy! Just a H&S Manager interested in others views..

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38978183

Well it would appear another killjoy has struck - interesting they aren't setting a blanket policy across all employees

Originally Posted by: Brijja

, to plastic cup of

Thats nothing short of a disgrace get it banned immediately!

booze tastes horrible drunk from plastic IMHO

I used to visit a manufacturer in Germany every workbench had a crate of Grolsch under it.