It is a well accepted fact that a gentleman never drinks prior to 5pm. This is just taken as a given. As with any rules, however, there are exceptions. In my mind, they are as follows (please let me know what I have missed):
1)Upon waking up after a night of drinking, it is permissible to have either a Bloody Mary, or two nips of whiskey (neat). But no more.
2)If at a formal breakfast function, it is permissible to drink champagne in Australia, but not in the U.S.
3)It is permissible to drink a bottle or two of wine at lunch if you are in the following professions: politics, the law, journalism, and finance/sales. Hard alcohol is not permitted, excepting one digestif. If you are another field of work, you’re out of luck.
4)It is permissible to drink at the airport before a flight, as well as on the flight, irrespective of the time of day.
5)Sooner break all these rules than deny yourself a drink when you really need one.
The Musings of a Burkean Libertarian 
June 11, 2010 at 6:04 pm
[…] When It Is Acceptable To Drink « The musings of an Australian … […]
June 11, 2010 at 8:11 pm
Health notice: Do not get plastered on planes. On one trip from Tokyo (or was it Osaka?)to Sydney I created a bit of a scene after one too many. Let’s just say the passengers were divided on my dancing and singing skills. I’ll leave it there.
June 15, 2010 at 12:22 am
When you work in the industry. How can you sell a product if you are not willing to educate yourself about it or demonstrate it to clients? I was helping to run a Whisky festival a few weeks ago and had my first dram at around 1.00pm. I had to go slowly though, the festival went until 11.00pm.
June 15, 2010 at 12:26 am
So that covers two exceptions:
6) When you work in the industry and imbibing will help you to make a sale or purchase.
7) When you are at a festival/conference/tradeshow for alcohol products. You have to get value for money.
June 15, 2010 at 12:32 am
8) You can drink in the early hours of the morning (eg 1.00am) if you haven’t been to sleep yet.
June 15, 2010 at 6:18 am
MFS, when and where was this wonderful festival?
June 18, 2010 at 2:15 am
And what are the rules for ladies?
June 21, 2010 at 9:45 pm
4) … but not if you are the pilot.
July 20, 2010 at 12:03 am
It is acceptable to drink at any time you like if you are a character in Mad Men.