Drinks culture | Worker 'slapped' after refusing drink with boss

‘Work drinks’ have been a mainstay of the professional industries for decades.

However, cases like a recent one detailed in the New York Times, which reported that a new bank worker was ‘slapped’ after refusing to order an alcoholic drink during an after-work company dinner, highlight questionable ethics of mixing alcohol with professional life.

He recounted the experience to others on a WeChat group (a Chinese messaging service) that has since gone viral. The worker - who doesn't drink for personal reasons - claimed that after refusing to drink a toast with his boss, another executive ‘slapped’ him, according to Staffingindustry.com.

Xiamen International Bank issued a statement stating that the incident occurred when the bank worker went to a restaurant in Beijing with co-workers after work. It was also reported that the firm’s HR department had issued warnings to the directors involved at the Beijing branch, as well as a deduction of part of their bonuses.