<p>bovertine,</p>
<p>I’m not suggesting that you have to drink to be successful, just that having a healthy and grounded attitude toward it can often be important and helpful in one’s career. </p>
<p>It’s fine to avoid the after work socializing. I do it more often than not. However, being able to at least drink a glass of wine at a nice dinner, or have a cocktail with colleagues can also be incredibly helpful.</p>
<p>I respect teetotalers, and would never pressure anyone to drink. But to pretend that drinking isn’t something that is often socially helpful in the professional world, even today, seems deliberately naive. </p>
<p>I’m not telling anyone that they necessarily SHOULD drink. I’m telling them that having a healthy and balanced attitude toward it will be incredibly helpful socially and professionally. Big difference. </p>
<p>Americans love binaries: you’re either a teetotaler or a wino. There is a very healthy middle ground, and that’s what we should be teaching. Not this DARE crap that makes kids think that even having a single drink will ruin their lives. That’s the foundation for binging and unhealthy drinking.</p>