I understand it varies from country to country quite a bit. But if you’re recently out of college and you’re in a professional-type industry in America, I’d bet that long term, you’d be far better off erring on the side not drinking rather than drinking more than you’re comfortable with. Not everybody straight out of college adjusts to the demands of maturity well. Two years from now, nobody will remember if you chose not to drink at a party today. But if you get drunk and do something stupid at the office Holiday party . . .
No one’s going to remember if I didn’t drink, but if I miss out on a networking opportunity because someone at a party remembered me as slightly “off”, that may be significant. At this point I’m not really worried about getting drunk, although that may be naive of me.
That said I think the collection of suggestions here are helpful and I’m not too worried about it anymore.
I understand it varies from country to country quite a bit. But if you’re recently out of college and you’re in a professional-type industry in America, I’d bet that long term, you’d be far better off erring on the side not drinking rather than drinking more than you’re comfortable with. Not everybody straight out of college adjusts to the demands of maturity well. Two years from now, nobody will remember if you chose not to drink at a party today. But if you get drunk and do something stupid at the office Holiday party . . .
No one’s going to remember if I didn’t drink, but if I miss out on a networking opportunity because someone at a party remembered me as slightly “off”, that may be significant. At this point I’m not really worried about getting drunk, although that may be naive of me.
That said I think the collection of suggestions here are helpful and I’m not too worried about it anymore.