I’m a young incoming analyst at a NYC investment bank and am worried about the fact that I don’t drink. I know the investment banking industry can be centered around getting to know coworkers through happy hours where everyone is drinking and I wanted to know if my not drinking will pose a problem.
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Just hold a glass of soda with ice, and I doubt many (if anyone) will really notice.
Also, if someone offers you a drink, just say something like "No, I'm fine, thanks" and continue with the conversation, without needing to explain yourself further.
Yes, the banking industry does tend favor alcohol, and there are enough Frat Boy type Finance Bros (no criticism intended), that drinking tends to be quite common.
However, the unspoken truth is that a lot of people prefer to keep a clear head around a work environment, including while socializing, because they don't want to have their mind impaired or perhaps to sound foolish by saying something regrettable.
It's better to have a clear head around work events, able to think clearly, in my opinion.
You'll still get invited to firm events, and still invited to Phebe's, etc (or wherever else they go now) with your colleagues.
I think you'll be fine.
Funny thing is, if you don’t drink because you care about your neurons like me, they give you a hard time. And if it is because of a religious reason like the female Muslim analyst, everyone understands.
But it is all in good fun. Just hold a soda or lemonade or sth, don’t try to explain your reasons.
And have a good time. Have seen/heard of a couple incidents where SA kids did not get a return or analysts even got fired because they said sth totally inappropriate under influence at the end of the night.
So always safe to actually not drink or drink in moderate amounts in a work setting no matter how “casual” the event seems or how close you think you are with everyone.
Socially it will be just as weird as anywhere else. People will always judge. You’ll have a leg up on them because instead of drinking and getting laid on a Saturday night you can dive deep driving shareholder value. Different model different sheets - to each their own.
Keep it rocking zoomer.
Agree with everything stated above.
One recommendation I have is holding/drinking soda water with a lime and ice in it. Looks identical to a vodka/tequila soda which a lot of people drink.
Is 420 ok tho?
Have you tried growing a pair?
It shouldn't be a problem, and if it is, you probably don't want to be close to those individuals anyways.
Think of it this way, if you were a drinker and someone in your group decided not to partake - would you care in the slightest? A lot of the worry is internal (understandably), but the reality is that most people are too focused on themselves to worry about what you are or aren't doing.
Agree with this, the people who will give you shit 9/10 times will have/are developing an alochol problem they're just young enough to not yet have serious consequences. You can 100% go and hang out till 11p or something before everyone gets shwasty and be just as engaged and not miss out. For me if I'm not drinking every second after 11p is torture because your body is winding down and telling you to go to bed but everyone else is hyped up and super energetic so it doesn't mix well.
A lot less people are having sex now a days and stay inside on weekends and are lonely and unsocial too. It’s a zoomer trend. Keep those neurons firing buddy!
It’s completely fine, and it’s how I live. It’s the only way I can live.
Find a specialty non-alcoholic drink that’s a go-to. Tonic water, non-alcoholic ginger beers, Arnold Palmers, etc. The soft, aspect of this is getting cool beverages for yourself on a special occasion that you wouldn’t be drinking every single day, so don’t remove yourself from that social piece by doing something boring. If you do that and are generally convivial, it will all work out. If people ask why not, just say you don’t want to. Anti-religious people won’t like a religious justification, so that’s an answer that people can understand.
There's a reason Athletic Brewing Co is making waves
Is it easy? no. It won't be easy. The pressure will come from other young kids; not from the MD's
The older folks will have seen friends struggle with abuse problems by the time they hit 30's and 40's, so usually that's not a problem. It's your analyst peers that will be ignorant and raz you.
That said is it possible? Absolutely. I know many people who didn't drink whether due to religion or personal preferences. Not a problem.
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