Last night, I had dinner with two old friends and business associates, Sky Torvis and JayHawk Evans. We were dining at a new restaurant, which served beers in two sizes, “sissy” (16 ounces) and “manly” (20 ounces). Sky and JayHawk ordered “manly” summer ales, while I avoided the tagging by ordering my usual beverage choice, Coke. This launched us into a great conversation about beverage choices for businessmen.

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I am not anti-alcohol. I will admit that some of my favorite alcoholic beverages are of the lighter variety (a big frozen strawberry margarita would be welcome right now, as a matter of fact). The truth is I do and have always just simply enjoyed Coke.

I have had plenty of business lunches and dinners where my Coke choice was questioned. It’s as if I insulted the others by not choosing alcohol.

So we debated drinking options for a business setting. Tropical drinks were immediately ruled out. No margarita, daiquiri, colada or banana banshee. Lime-enhanced light beer was also nixed. Vodka and cranberry was deemed unacceptable, but vodka and orange juice was a possibility.

I really do find the whole topic silly. I don’t know how or why my beverage choice affects anyone’s enjoyment. It’s silly that even at my age there is peer pressure to drink certain beverages. Does drinking Coke dull my business sense? I am in no way complaining about others drinking. By the same token, I want the same respect for my beverage choice.

As we left the establishment, Sky and JayHawk said I should write about this and see what the great GT readers think. We wondered what their experiences and opinions were. I had to agree with them, and therefore I now put it to you, the reader.

— John Wroblewski, distribution specialist