ｺﾃﾉｫﾏﾈﾉ￢V buys a pint 窶ｦ

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窶廬 don't believe binge drinking exists,窶� declares Julian, launching into the topic of the day with fervour 窶� a news report published that morning claimed binge drinking accounted for one in every seven sick days.

Adrian believes the report doesn窶冲 apply to the construction industry. 窶弸ou can窶冲 be drunk or hungover because of health and safety issues,窶� he says. 窶弋he problem certainly isn't as prevalent as it used to be.窶�

Julian disagrees: 窶廬t窶冱 still a beer and bacon sandwich industry though.窶�

窶弸eah, but in the old days ...窶� Adrian begins to argue before he is interrupted by Barry, who mimics: 窶廬n the olden days ...窶�, much to the others窶� amusement.

Mabs points out that binge drinking is widespread across all professions: 窶弸oung professionals do binge drink. They go the whole week without a drink, but as soon as Friday comes they窶决e at it.窶�

Gareth empathises with the poor overworked masses. 窶廬t窶冱 because the weeks are so busy,窶� he explains. 窶弋he weekend is time to relax, have a few drinks, then a few more 窶ｦ and a few more.窶�

窶廬t窶冱 the culture,窶� remarks Julian, matter-of-factly.

A cosmopolitan Barry points out they don窶冲 have the same trouble in Europe. 窶廬n France, they drink all day long, and they drink and drive, it窶冱 a way of life there,窶� he suggests.

窶廬t was the same here until the sixties ...窶� says Adrian, who immediately cringes 窶� he knows what窶冱 coming. True to form, another 窶徙ld man窶� joke from Barry makes the others laugh.

窶弸ou窶决e probably older than me, I just look haggard,窶� Adrian retorts.

A waitress approaches and asks if the guys would like another drink. They order a second round. Gareth uses the interruption to introduce a new topic.

窶弋he biggest issue for us at the moment is the skills shortage,窶� he says. 窶弩e窶决e finding it difficult to get really good people.窶�

The others bite and abandon binge drinking to discuss the more pressing issue.

窶廬n the nineties the construction industry was not trendy, and we窶决e feeling the effects of that now,窶� says Julian, thoughtfully tracing the source of the problem.

Barry explains it is very rare to find someone in the industry who doesn窶冲 have a family background in construction.

窶弋o some extent, I grew up on a building site,窶� he says.

The others shake their heads. They窶决e all the first in their families.

Adrian takes this chance to have a dig at Barry 窶廬t窶冱 a shoddy statement,窶� he says.

窶弩hat made you get into it then?" Barry hits back. 窶廝inge drinking at college?窶�

As the conversation turns full circle, Barry disappears to find a waitress. On his return, a champagne bucket is positioned at his side.

窶廾h no!窶� the others groan, 窶弸ou窶决e joking?窶�

窶廰ast week they bought champagne,窶� he laughs, referring to the previous outing of this column when King Sturge indulged in pink champagne at the top of the Natwest Tower, albeit at their own expense. 窶廬t needs to be changed to 窶仄ﾃﾉｫﾏﾈﾉ￢V buys the bubbles窶�.窶�

But before ｺﾃﾉｫﾏﾈﾉ￢V decides how to react, a gentlemanly Gareth has quietly asked for the bill and paid for the whole thing.

Chosen watering hole: 5th View, Waterstone窶冱 Piccadilly
Ambience: Sophisticated yet relaxed with panoramic views
Topic: Binge drinking, bubbly and skills shortages
Drinks: Nine bottles of Pilsner, two bottles of Guinness and a bottle of Laurent Perrier champagne