Tacoma IWW Organizing Tip #3 - Alcohol
Submitted by Leah Coakley on 07/31/08
This is something I learned from other Wobblies and has proven true for me in various organizing projects.
Part 1: Can be bad for projects
Be careful when planning strategies at a bar or party where people are drunk. When intoxicated, people might agree to do things that in reality might be too risky or even impossible based on their circumstances. Judgment is off and they may not remember fine details. People are also more likely to agree to plans that are too vague or have major holes in them because things can seem more plausible and large obstacles can seem smaller.
Part 2: Can be bad for your people
I have had other, regulary respectful organizers treat me like a potential hook-up while they were drunk, rather than treating me like a comrade. This can ruin otherwise strong friendships and working relationships and seriously hurt trust. People are more likely to misinterpret signals and not notice when boundaries are crossed when alcohol is involved.
Also, bars are inaccessible to younger organizers, who may appear to be older but may have to self-disclose and feel guilty for making everyone choose another meet-up spot. It is isolating and disrespectful to them.
Once we'd planned an activist dinner at a pizza place where only 21+ could come after 7 pm and we had to find a new place to go since several people were underage. Some folks made them feel bad and some people went in anyway It was very divisive to the group. (Other groups to consider are folks who choose not to drink for whatever reason and those who would like to drink but cannot for various reasons.) We ended up finding a nice deli (which happened to serve bottles of beer for those who wanted it).
Possible solution: Simply Planning Ahead and Being Mindful
Planning ahead could have made this go a lot more smoothly. Being aware of the potential needs in your group - different physical and health-related needs, ages, and comfort zones around certain cultural things that may seem totally normal to most of the group - can really keep a group together.
With that said, bar culture is very important to some social/organizing circles, so just plan ahead and make sure the place has edible food and allows entrance to minors and is not a particularly hostile environment to any one group, for example, women or queer folks. It's always good to have an activity that can involve alcohol but does not make it the center of activity and focus and makes it easy for folks who aren't drinking to participate equally.
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