A bonding session doesn't have to involve drinking. It's merely a cultural custom. Drinking has a lot of potentially unhealthy side-effects and while I don't think anyone should drastically change their behavior as a result of one simple study, it's worth taking a step back to look at the role alcohol plays in your life and whether its benefits are really worth the drawbacks.
True, but in cities like London, going for a drink in the evening is the easiest way (as a manager) to "summon up" some kind of bonding session. All the other alternatives take either a lot more money, or a lot more planning.
If I say, "let's go go-carting," that requires planning weeks in advance, and a substantial budget. Most people will turn up, and it will be a good bonding session.
If I say, "let's go to the restaurant," that requires a little bit of planning (days ahead), and a decent budget. A number of people won't turn up, and it will be an ok bonding session, depending on the type of restaurant and entertainment available.
If I say, "let's go for a drink," that requires no planning, and hardly any budget (just enough for a couple of rounds). Most people will turn up for at least the beginning unless they already have plans, and it will be a good bonding session.
All in all, the drinking session is very good bang for your buck - despite the health side-effects. Because of that, as the article suggests, it's unlikely to be replaced by anything else any time soon. Alcohol is a great social lubricant, and yes, if you don't want to drink at all, your career progression may be impaired in some companies.
As the article points out, though, even in heavy drinking environments, there are ways to "cheat" and be a part of the drinking without getting drunk all the time. It's very hard to get away with no drinking though.
So have a couple club sodas and lime. As long as you're tolerant of how the people with a little bit of a buzz going are acting, you shouldn't feel particularly excluded. If people do make a big fuss about it, you should probably find drinking buddies with more interesting things to talk about. :-)
That's one answer for some people. Regardless, it's missing the point that this study isn't saying "stop going out with friends for drinks!" It's an examination of social customs and their effects. That I can order a Shirley Temple with a straight face while others drink straight Jameson is largely irrelevant.
Yes, there benefits of going out for drinks. Those haven't been disputed, that I can see.
