Startups, Your Use of Alcohol Can Be Problematic

Last week I asked you if startups have a drinking problem. Namely, drinking in excess in an attempt to escape or avoid feelings or situations — something I did in my years as a practicing alcoholic. Posting about a potentially inflammatory topic on the internet is pretty scary, as trolls are a concept even my 63-year-old mother understands. It’s not always easy to be vulnerable, so when you open up about deeply personal information, and it explodes on the internet, it feels a bit like the weirdest debutante ball ever, raging hormones and all.

I asked for a conversation and, boy oh boy, did you deliver. I am deeply honored by your more than 240 considerate, thoughtful responses. Many of you shared that you were relieved to see the conversation was finally happening, like this note from Adam Lund:

When I saw the headline I just felt like FINALLY someone brought it up. As a person who must abstain from drinking the ample-beers-in-the-fridge at a tech company, I’ve also been through very similar situations as you described.

Experienced leaders, such as Jeffrey L Minch, weighed in as well, arguing that excessive drinking in a professional context is a bad idea:

As a 33+ year CEO, a current startup CEO adviser, and a CEO coach — excessive drinking is a scourge and it is an unattractive element in the success of an enterprise. It would be an input into my opinion of a company and its leadership. It is also endemic to the startup world.

A bad idea held by a majority is still a bad idea.

Folks who’ve worked in companies with a plethora of free booze voiced that this was not OK. melissa mcewen writes:

I did briefly work at a tech company where we had free alcohol and drank during working hours. Other people I know were like “wow that’s so awesome to have a job like that!” And sometimes it was. But as the pressure of the job got to me I found myself really looking forward to my first afternoon drink a little too much. I didn’t like the combination of stress and drinking that work drinking produced, where I was drinking beer while stressing out and programming, rather than drinking beer to enjoy it with a meal while out with friends. I don’t think I’d take another job that encouraged drinking at work.

Other readers, like Christopher Hampton, shared that they are in the middle of their own struggle with alcohol. I stand in awe of your bravery, vulnerability, and honesty.

I’m an alcoholic, not recovering. I am a servant in restaurants. I am 34. In June, I will have been doing this for 17 years. It will officially be half of my life.

Jason Cole outlined what a healthy company’s use of alcohol might look like and how to spot those that are not:

I’ve worked at many companies that held happy hours, wine tastings, and other events that featured alcohol. I think that they offer a great opportunity to mingle as adults. Key word: adults. If you can’t tell the difference between a company’s “culture” and a frat party, move along. Until they grow up, that will be a miserable place to work, despite all the “fun” people claim to be having.

Victor Yocco, who is doing great work to bring attention to this topic, provided a useful, practical guide of ways to support non-drinkers in the workplace:

Don’t assume everyone has the same healthy relationship with alcohol.

Plan events and celebrations at non-alcoholic venues.

Engage all staff in the conversation.

Provide a supportive environment for employees expressing an issue.

I strongly suggest you take the time to read his full piece.

So many of you chimed in to share that the real problem was a lack of culture and an absence of empathy. I think Jeremy Watson put it exceptionally well:

In my opinion, some startups struggle with a culture problem and not necessarily an alcohol problem; rather, booze is a symptom, not a cause.

I wholeheartedly agree with Jeremy that alcohol is not the problem, yet a symptom of a bigger issue:

[Startup’s use of alcohol is] a symptom of a far bigger, more invasive, systemic problem: We no longer allow humans to be human at work.

So Medium, let’s keep this incredible conversation going. How do we create more understanding workplaces? How can we practice empathy for fellow team members who are different from us? How do we make work cultures that are safe for humans to be human?