Drinking and commuting

Getting tipsy… then commuting home

For the train-commuting drinkers out there, we know that we can drink until our heart is content (or more accurately, until we tell ourselves we’ve had enough) and get home without ever drink driving. Occasionally, those sensible among the drivers will know that train travel is an option available to them should they decide to consume after work. What I am here to tell you is four key points:

1. Knowing that you have a legal and safe mode of transport home provides a good amount of motivation to have that extra sneaky drink when normally you might call it a night. The liberty it gives you will absolutely put a spring in your step
2. The frequency of post-work drinks goes up as there is no planning involved – hey, I am getting on that train every day regardless of my sobriety.
3. Trains are not tranquil smooth moving machines that help when inebriated. Fact.
4. Commuters don’t generally travel short distances (the clue is really in the name). So, travelling home won’t be a quick journey. What does time create… hangovers or the need to keep drinking.

Before my commuting days, I would sometimes have an odd beverage after work, normally as a result of a planned social. Oh boy has that changed. This is partly due to being around the London crowd where drinking is like a commuter’s initiation; how can one network and build relations without a trip to the bar or local watering hole?! Some sober pros manage it, I however like to fit into the crowd and why not, see point 1. above!

Going from drinking relatively little to now proclaiming that prosecco doesn’t affect me at all (true story, work’s prosecco Fridays every Friday has seen to that), has been fun but also taught me the lessons I am sharing with you today.

Double gin? Why not. Extra glass of wine after the drivers have left? Sure. Shots are the bar? Hold up, I said I drink more, not that I have completely lost my mind.

Recently I had post-work drinks welcoming a new member to the team. Three glasses of wine later I didn’t feel too coherent. My colleague, a little more experienced in the drinking game than me, suggested we have another. She knows her stuff so another I had, knowing full well this would mean my ability to carry off a conversation was likely to be in-paired. After this drink, it was time to go home (just a Thursday night after all). As we got to the train station, we stood looking between the platform and the pub opposite it. Should we go for another? I was full of tipsy excitement and knew we only had to get on the train afterwards. I was game. Luckily in hindsight, my colleague, which was unexpected I may add, decided she wanted an early night. Pah, what happened to embracing the adventure?

Deciding it was too tragic to go drink alone, on my train I got. What happened on my way home? I started to sober up, the train rocked me around and loud people were talking to one another (clearly not peak time commuters). Over an hour on the train is a quite a long time to contemplate on which round you should have stopped drinking. Meanwhile you have to play it cool, by which I mean sober. No judgement thank you. Totally able to sit straight in my seat, not look shifty, walk along the platform fine and use my phone without the need to put it an inch away from my face. Yep, always have to maintain commuter style points.

If you find yourself in such a position, trust me on the following:

• You are not a drinking ninja. You will think you are, but you are wrong. You’ll learn after the fourth or fifth time
• Do set an alarm… waking up not knowing which stop you are at isn’t the adrenalin rush you want
• Can you stay over somewhere next time, that journey home is long long long
• Keep having fun. One day you will give up the commute life, enjoy the options available to you
• If you are able to keep drinking on the train do. People are judging you so no need to try to maintain an image, that is long gone once you open a can. Exception to this rule – Friday afternoons. You earnt that drink and you go for it!