Alcohol & Events


Many people associate alcohol with relaxation and fun, so it is an important ingredient for a successful event. However, it can be a problem and too much alcohol can cause a great deal of trouble.

Obviously alcohol and outdoor activities do not mix, particularly motorised and shooting events. All insurers insist on a policy of no alcohol at all before or during any events. It is impossible to police a situation where people are allowed 'one or two' so usually soft drinks and hot drinks are provided during events. When activities have finished then teams typically head off for a barbecue or meal and then drinks.

Consumption of alcohol can be a problem on events and it is those drinking sessions which continue on into the early hours which are better avoided. If you have exclusive use of a bar area ask the hotel to close it at a sensible time, say 11 p.m. If you don't have exclusive use then you can ask the hotel to set up a separate area which you can control and say that drinks purchased in other public bars must not be charged to the company account. This way you can also restrict drinks to wine and beer and steer away from spirits. This will encourage delegates to get to bed early and have a good night's sleep. If having a drink is important in your company culture then have a longer night on a Friday after a conference so that people can make their way home on Saturday morning complete with hangover. To start a conference in a fresh state of mind choose a country house hotel with access to good walking territory and have a team building walk after breakfast. Often teams start a conference after a large breakfast having not left the centrally heated environment of the hotel building; not the best way to get yourself going. You might arrange a light hearted aerobic session before an event; nothing too strenuous, primarily fun but out in the open and designed to get the blood flowing to the brain. Light stretching exercises are an excellent way to start a conference and the fun is ice breaking.

This point made in the majority of organisations will be perceived as a professional approach to a potential problem that most people do recognise. The delegates will thank you for any controls you put in place the next morning.

For more information on team building events visit www.teambuilding.co.uk

James Coakes is Managing Director of Progressive Resources Ltd, The Team Building Company based in the UK. The company was founded in 1989 and organised more than 500 events in 2004 for corporate clients.







Related News



Web networking photos come back to bite defendants - The Associated Press

The Associated Press

Web networking photos come back to bite defendants
The Associated Press -9 hours ago
In the age of the Internet, it might not be hard to guess what happened to those pictures: Someone posted them on the social networking site Facebook. ...

Convicted sex predators caught logging on to social networking sites - KXAN-TV

Convicted sex predators caught logging on to social networking sites
KXAN-TV, TX -22 hours ago
AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN) -- The Texas Attorney general says it's time to step up efforts to keep kids safe from online predators. Attorney General Greg Abbott ...
Law raises penalties for child pornNews & Observer
Five Sex Offenders Arrested for Illegally Using Myspace.ComThe Forney Post
all 5 news articles

Survey: 22% of companies ban social networking sites - Bizjournals.com

Survey: 22% of companies ban social networking sites
Bizjournals.com, NC -Jul 17, 2008
Social networking sites are banned by nearly a quarter of all companies, many of which see them as a drain on productivity and a haven for idleness, ...

Social Networks: Good for Business? - PC World

Social Networks: Good for Business?
PC World -1 hour ago
Businesses are not making the most out of social networking technologies brought into the spotlight by sites such as Facebook and MySpace, according to ...

Women follow men onto the golf course - Contra Costa Times

Women follow men onto the golf course
Contra Costa Times, CA -7 hours ago
The two women golfers are interested in turning their hobby into a business networking opportunity thru an organization called "Women on Course", ...

Social Networking Sites Becoming Useful For Lawyers - Slashdot

Social Networking Sites Becoming Useful For Lawyers
Slashdot -7 hours ago
chareverie writes "With how the internet has become, social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace have become a tool for crime solvers, employers, ...


"Grown Up" White Label Social Networking Targeting the Enterprise ... - MarketWatch

"Grown Up" White Label Social Networking Targeting the Enterprise ...
MarketWatch -Jul 18, 2008
NEW YORK, Jul 18, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Networking through online communities in the consumer world has become a huge success, and now enterprises are ...

How to Approach Access Control in the Social Networking Age - eWeek

Calgary Herald

How to Approach Access Control in the Social Networking Age
eWeek,  NY -18 hours ago
Trouble in this case means social networking. Like instant messaging and e-mail before it, social networking can cause worries to companies that haven’t ...
No, I don't want to be your social-networking friendYahoo! News
The Business Value Of Social NetworkingForbes
MySpace sets sights on CanucksCalgary Herald
BusinessWeek - CanadianBusiness.com
all 36 news articles

First Global Real Estate Business Social Networking Site: GPDLink.com - MarketWatch

First Global Real Estate Business Social Networking Site: GPDLink.com
MarketWatch -Jul 18, 2008
This new online platform will allow developers, owners and investors from around the globe a place to network and do business. Unlike LinkedIn and other ...

Analysts: Businesses to Hop on Social Networking Bandwagon - TMCnet

Analysts: Businesses to Hop on Social Networking Bandwagon
TMCnet -Jul 18, 2008
By Michael Dinan Anyone who follows technology news knows about the boom of social networking sites such as Facebook (News - Alert) – Web destinations that, ...