There’s some really good points here that resonated with me. I agree with Jeff ( @x70037 ) that maybe a different title would be helpful. I also agree with Chad’s concerns about alcohol, as well as some of Brock’s counterpoints.

I personally think it significantly comes down to the US drinking age being 21 and alcohol (which is a drug, just as caffeine is in coffee/pop/etc.)  being seen as completely verboten.  That mix of forbidden with the extreme glorification and sexualization of alcohol is – IMHO – really the toxicity at work.   I really do wonder how different US society would be if alcohol wasn’t perceived as so mysterious and magical.

To tie this into the “Drink and Think” event, I do enjoy spending time with folks and just talking over ideas, sometimes with a nice cup of tea and sometimes with a beer or scotch.  So, for me, a lot it comes down to how the event is run (ack that this might be a Unit Lead event or an outside organization, as @george.l.gurrola brought up, so experiences vary). I had a Battalion Commander who did 1-2x month Officer Calls: it was very clear that it was an optional event (although he genuinely expressed he wanted to see leaders outside of work), even more clear that alcohol was optional, and that you could stay as long or short as you wanted. There was no schedule, no briefs or announcements, no official start, sometimes the Boss was the first there, sometimes he was later. Some people had a beer, others ordered dinner before heading home (or ‘sneaking’ back into work, which was contrary to Boss’s Intent…Cav rebels.). It was common, when asked where LT X was to say they stopped by and had just left but during that discussion to see CPT Y enter the room. It was very fluid. Sometimes we talked about work (if so, until the Boss told us it was enough), other times heckled each other about work until it ended it common laughter because the newly promoted platoon sergeant or 1LT just stopped by and we’d all shake hands in congratulations…and then resume heckling about the next training event.  As you can tell, I have fond memories of these events. I didn’t always want to go, and sometimes I didn’t, but I usually enjoyed myself. For me, this was a really great model of what these events can successfully look and feel like.  Alcohol was a part of it, but – from my perspective – not the center of it.