Ok, so it's not as bad as a Japanese office (from what I hear lol), but we have frequent team drinks and it feels as though I there's bit of pressure to attend these.
I went to one and It's like the cliques are formed here. Attending these is how you get promoted to a higher position, because the managers and people who've been at the company for a while all stick together and I can't help but feel a bit left out of opportunities. The ones who are all friendly with management getting better work and more support it feels.
I know my future doesn't really lie with this company and I'm ok with that. I just can't stand drinking and having to be 'professional' at the same time. Feels like I'm still at work. My colleagues are an ok bunch. Don't trust them though. Seem like the kind to be bitching behind my back. They aren't friends.
Academia was worse. Academics drink so much. After conference? Drinks. After meeting? Drinks. World renowned professor from some uni in East Asia coming to give guest lecture? Drinks.