I joined banking in 2008, and I missed all of the 'glory years' that my colleagues tell me of, where there was a definite party culture in the boom years. Thursday nights, friday - from lunch - no work was done. So I am told.
My wife worked in banking since 2001, and she tells me of going for multiple pub lunches with her managers etc. But all of that stopped in 2008 as banks were taken over by the govt. Now it's very rare to go out for a pub lunch. At most places we struggle to even arrange a once weekly lunchtime meet up to leon or something tbh. With everyone on their own hectic schedule, it just doesnt happen as often now.
When out with the boss for lunch, I always go with the mantra of 'drink only if your manager does'.
Where I work we wouldn't be tested, we dont operate any sort of machinery etc so no risk to people. And I don't think anyone would sack us for having had a couple of beers as long as it wasn't noticeable in our work. Ultimately we're trusted to do our own work and manage our own time. But that said, i just dont really see anyone having lunchtime beers really.
Then again I work in IT, and there's a huge amount of people from an Indian/Sri Lankan background in all of the places i've worked previously. They just don't tend to have the same drinking culture.
The last contract I recently had, at a small trendy challenger bank in Covent Garden filled with young 20-30 somethings, the management had a fridge of beer/wine stocked up which opened on a Friday afternoon at 4. You were allowed, or even encouraged to have a beer on the Friday afternoon to socialise, they even put on 'organised fun' events like quizes etc. To be honest, I preferred to go home and get out to my local for the evening with my mates, the commute was a bitch so I didn't fancy staying after 4 on a Friday or i'd be home quite late. And I am not about that on a Friday!
I am more likely to drink if i meet a friend for lunch, than if i go out with a colleague for lunch. Gordon Ramsay says, never get drunk in front of your staff/colleagues. I think lots of people agree with that mantra these days too.
To be honest, people are so busy these days, they cant usually afford to have a couple of beers at lunch, and then get fuck all done the rest of the day, and make a mess of a couple of conference calls with the CEO because i want an afternoon snooze.
I'd personally rather work through lunch and get home to spend time with the kids/go pub earlier.