If you don't live and work in London or another big city, chances are you'll be driving home so drinking wouldn't be appropriate. Surely hardly anyone working in central London would drive to and from work, so drinks at an after hours leaving do, when work is over for the day, wouldn't be much of a scandal! The scandal was the hypocrisy of it. However, drinking alcohol during working hours must affect people's ability to carry out their work. We'd be shocked if NHS workers, teachers, bus drivers etc. hit the pub at lunchtime or brought a suitcase of alcohol to work with their packed lunch. Only people employed to taste samples of wine and beer should be drinking during working hours! ? People often kid themselves that one drink won't affect their judgement but that's probably because the one drink has already impaired their judgement! (I like a nice glass of red but I'm retired!)