oliver9184

I know this doesn't seem very plausible in the horribly healthy and responsible five-a-day cardiovascular bullshit science fiction year of 2010 but please bear with me...

I reckon there must still be a few jobs out there that you can work, well enough not to get fired, and drink at the same time. It was watching old movies that got me thinking about this: apparently everyone was drinking, drunk or amusingly alcoholic at work in the 30s, 40s, 50s and most of the 60s: lawyers, cops, criminals, judges, newspapermen, politicians, bums, women, private eyes, explorers... Everyone. I realise that even back then the movies were not real life but it seems like anyone could get drunk at work, still do their job and nobody would give a fuck. It's not so ludicrous: remember 20 years ago you could smoke at most workplaces without anyone caring. I have a fairly normal 21st century job, and while I can drink a lot the night before, go to bed late and come in still a bit wasted, and do my job without any grief, that doesn't counts. Most people whose jobs are not really tricky can do that.

So what I want to know is: what jobs are there now that you can break open the tinnys, hipflask or brown bag at (or even a bit before) lunchtime, carry on drinking whilst working through the PM until it's time to go home at five - and not fuck shit up so bad that you get fired.

Gardener, music teacher, tour guide, actor, cowboy - are my off-the-cuff ideas. I welcome other suggestions and also I'd be interested to hear about real life anecdotes of how anyone who got caught drinking at work were dealt with, like: was it a big deal or not? Instant dismissal? Did anyone know anyone who took a drink at work for ages and got away with it? Any works where they knew about it and tolerated it with a nod and a wink and a chuckle? Much thanks for all contributions.