Don’t drink...how to still build friendships within finance

Title sort of gives it away. It’s not that I don’t drink, but if I do I only drink one or two drinks. I don’t like getting drunk or even tipsy for religious reasons. I don’t judge people who drink or even get drunk at all.

Do you think this may cause some issues in forming friendships within finance? Specifically between fellow analysts? I feel like “grabbing drinks after work” and “drinking a little too much” is nearly a right of passage, so I’m a bit nervous people might see me as a prude or someone who judges them.

9 Comments
 

Grab something non-alcoholic like a sprite or a cranberry juice and no one will care. Or you could limit yourself to 1-2 drinks and basically just nurse them until you switch over to non-alcoholic drinks. Either way, this shouldn’t be an issue.

"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there" - Will Rogers
 

Grab something non-alcoholic like a sprite or a cranberry juice and no one will care. Or you could limit yourself to 1-2 drinks and basically just nurse them until you switch over to non-alcoholic drinks. Either way, this shouldn’t be an issue.

"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there" - Will Rogers
 

If that becomes a problem in NYC (which I highly doubt tbh...) consider moving to LA or SF. No one around here cares whether you drink or not. Not just with friends but with clients as well. I've attended many client dinners where the only people who drank were my MD and the client, while my D, VP and I just drank sparkling water. 

 

Tenetur vero est veritatis impedit sit. Doloribus eveniet quo adipisci. Accusamus qui quae dolorem. Consequatur et eos expedita a est. Reiciendis placeat rem provident ex est beatae. Necessitatibus qui rerum maxime harum.

Qui est est eum aut enim atque expedita. Eum qui nam expedita aut. Doloremque eveniet perspiciatis consequatur. Dolores qui et voluptas libero sit. Illum totam nemo velit velit voluptas illum distinctio tempora. Ut enim amet expedita quaerat a dolor.

"Whatever needs to happen, always does." - Black Jack Foley

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 03 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (53) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (26) $182
  • Intern/Summer Associate (15) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”