With Alcohol Awareness Month coming to a close it's even more important to discuss how alcohol plays a role in networking.
In corporate America there is immense pressure to drink with colleagues and professional contacts as a means of bonding. You may want to consider networking without alcohol for several reasons, one of them being that people who work together often binge drink together. And recent research from Neurology , the journal for the American Academy of Neurology, revealed that binge drinking can affect your brain.
The study , which was published earlier this month, concluded that drinking eight or more drinks a week can increase the risk of having brain lesions. I reached out to Dr. Alberto Fernando Oliveira Justo, a postdoctoral researcher, member of the medical faculty at the University of Heidelberg, and the author of the study. He told me that even moderate drinking can negatively impact the brain.
“Research, including our own, shows that even moderate alcohol consumption can have detrimental effects not just on the blood vessels in the brain, but also on overall health,” he said. “We found that even moderate drinking, up to seven drinks per week, is associated with damage in the brain's blood vessels that transport blood to the brain,” the Germany based researcher told me in an email.
I also spoke with Dr. John D. Clapp, an internationally recognized researcher, University of Southern California professor, and expert on alcohol problem prevention. He had a few things to say about Dr. Justo's study. “Beyond the brain damage discussed in the study, long-term, heavy alcohol use can lead to clinical depression and alcohol dependence,” Dr. Clapp told me. “Limiting one's binge drinking or cutting down to light drinking levels can improve one's mental and physical health,” he said. But health risks aren't the only reason many Americans are choosing mocktails over cocktails.
Some people who don't have issues with alcohol have stopped drinking or at least avoid drinking in professional settings. Dodging hangovers, avoiding the risk of embarrassing yourself— these are just a few reasons for professionals to consider networking without alcohol. You might feel as if being liked at work depends on your willingness to go out and drink with your colleagues. However, the more studies that are published the more one thing is clear– drinking alcohol provides short-term euphoria and long-term consequences.
In January former U.S. surgeon general Dr. Vivek Murthy released an advisory about alcohol and increased risk of cancer. Alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States but does not come with a warning about its potentially harmful effects . Drinking heavily has become so normalized– on college campuses, during conferences, in the workplace– that we often ignore how harmful it can be. Dr. Shané P. Teran, an executive wellness coach and organizational development strategist with ten years of experience, couldn't agree more.
“Drinking alcohol has become a dangerous social norm, despite its once less harmful cultural and historical roots. While initially preserved for health benefits of a glass of wine with dinner amongst family, religious ceremonies, and celebratory festivities, drinking has become a method of coping for those dealing with stress and anxiety-related conditions,” she told me. “It would be helpful for non-alcohol based events and activities to increase and be reinforced across the workforce. We don't always know the struggles of our talent, but overt and covert pressure to drink with colleagues after work should be phased out as a norm,” she said.
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Alcohol can unify people just as easily as it can divide us. Drinking heavily with coworkers has become the norm, but it can lead to conflict and inappropriate behavior. I have heard horror stories about people getting heavily intoxicated and harassing colleagues. I have been told about being afraid to drink with coworkers out of fear of being harmed. I have watched people drink with their colleagues, only to embarrass themselves and drown in feelings of shame and remorse the next day. Even if you don't plan on putting down the bottle for good, you can always avoid drinking while networking. Many people don't have a problem with alcohol and still don't drink in professional settings. That's likely because, according to Dr. Teran, “stopping or reducing alcohol consumption will greatly improve one's performance and overall success.”
Not drinking in professional settings also lowers the risk of ruining relationships or behaving inappropriately. Your job matters more than fitting in with your colleagues and potential partners. One of the best ways to ensure a smooth outing with people from work is to avoid binge drinking. Yes, it's absolutely okay to enjoy some cocktails with coworkers but make sure that you are drinking mindfully. It is always awkward when someone gets too drunk at a professional holiday party or networking event. Not because it looks bad— because there's a higher risk of conflict taking place when people lose their inhibitions. Cutting out alcohol while networking ensures that you are more likely to be on your A-game.
Plus, choosing not to drink can save you serious amounts of money. People often go out for drinks at bars or high-end restaurants after work. Working in the corporate sector can come with pressure to wine and dine potential partners. Just because you are buying drinks for those you're networking with doesn't mean you have to drink. Save yourself the hangover and hefty bill.
Rather than focusing on getting buzzed, listen to and learn more about your colleagues. Ask questions about them that you don't necessarily have time to ask at work but without crossing any boundaries or getting too personal. You might find that you enjoy being around colleagues and professional contacts more without consuming alcohol. Genuine professional relationships aren't dependent on reliving your college days together by binge drinking at an upscale restaurant with a bar.
One of the best parts of choosing not to drink when networking is that you will remember what you did and said. You might acquire a list of phone numbers and emails without struggling to recall people's names or what they talked about. If you are new to a job, limiting or removing alcohol from interactions with coworkers can be even more impactful because first impressions matter. You don't want to give your colleagues the impression that you are out of control or unprofessional when you drink. Consider spending less on booze when networking and more on small bites and NA beverages. You might just find that you enjoy socializing even more without alcohol.
Maya Richard-Craven