It had long been thought an antiquated concept associated with a slower, unproductive working world and Nigel Farage, but the boozy lunch is back.
Figures released by M&C Allegra Foodservice have revealed that the lunchtime pint is enjoying a surprising upturn in popularity. The study, which asked 18,000 people in-depth questions about their drinking habits, showed alcohol sales continuing to decline but a 2pc rise in the number consumed with food during the daytime. In the same period soft drinks and tap water sales fell by 3pc.
It's officially a trend, and you need to catch that train before it pulls out of town. To stop you from drinking alone, however, here are seven watertight scientific reasons available to convince your colleagues to join you.
1. It boosts your creativity
Are you prone to looking out of the window for extended periods of time, desperately searching for ideas? Do you find yourself easily bored and distracted when looking for answers, chatting to colleagues and reading articles that excuse daytime drinking? The only remedy is to have a pint at lunch.
It has been proven over and over again that a limited amount of alcohol aids creativity and problem solving. Beer, specifically, has just the right amount of kick to get the creative juices flowing without turning your brain to mush.
"Alcohol manipulates focus," Professor Jennifer Wiley of the University of Illinois at Chicago has said. “We have this assumption that being able to focus on one part of a problem or having a lot of expertise is better for problem solving. But that’s not necessarily true. Innovation may happen when people are not so focused. Sometimes it’s good to be distracted.”
So, if you're stuck on something, you'll always find the answer in the bottom of a glass. Just remember to write that idea down before you blackout.
2. It's better at hydrating you than water
In April this year, The Telegraph reported that "Not drinking enough water has the same effect as drink driving" – which is problematic, given that beer is actually better at hydrating you than water. Sort of.
Impish scientists at Granada University in Spain conducted an experiment in 2007 in which a group of students was asked to complete strenuous exercise routines until their temperatures reached 40ºC. Half the group were then given water to cool down with, and the other half beer. Emphatically, the hydration effect in the latter was "slightly better" than those on traditional agua. Gracias, students.
Still sceptical? British scientists have backed it up, too. Dr James Betts, an expert on nutrition and metabolism at Bath University, said at the time: "If you are dehydrated to start with following exercise, a beer, as opposed to a spirit, probably does not have a high enough concentration of alcohol to induce a diuretic effect."
So next time the health and safety bods suggest you drink 9 litres of water a day to keep your brain sharp, place a firm palm in their chest and bellow "NO. I AM GOING TO THE PUB, DARREN."
3. You will live longer
Should your boss ever berate you for wobbling back in to the office at 3pm after an extended conference call in JD Wetherspoon, riddle her this: had you not drunk those two pints at lunch, you could die early. So rather than wasting valuable working hours, you were in fact investing in more time further down the line.
A study by researchers at Virginia Tech University found that during a period of five years, non-drinkers were 19pc more likely to die than those who enjoy one or two drinks a day for half the week. What's more, the tee-totallers were 56pc more likely to be diagnosed with coronary heart disease. If you want to see your grandchildren grow up, go for a pint at lunch.
4. It complements food better than wine
Looking to liven up that Pret sandwich? Pair it with a fine, full-bodied pint of bitter.
Wine may bring out certain qualities in more sophisticated or flavoursome foods for evening meals, but lunchtime fare is better enhanced by beer. Curry notwithstanding (Cobra or Kingfisher being the obvious marriage partner), beer is reckoned to complement sandwiches, fried foods, cheese, pasta and chocolate.
"Beer is a great match for food because of the complexity of its flavors, its ability to provide refreshment and to interact with many food flavors," Marc Stroobandt, a beer sommelier, told Men's Fitness. "Even before the meal, beer already is doing its work for food pairing as the hops stimulate the appetite."
So if you truly want to enjoy your lunch, you will do so with a pint.
5. Everyone back at the office will suddenly like you
It does not take us, nor scientists, to tell you that beer has properties that make it a useful social lubricant, but the University of Washington proved it so anyway.
In 2011 the faculty conducted a survey of nearly 500 students and asked them how often they had experienced a list of negative (hangovers, regretful sexual awakenings and so on) and positive effects of drinking (a greater ability to tell jokes, heightened bravery, singing quality etc). Not only did the majority say they experienced the positives far more, they also claimed not to take the negatives seriously.
Need more evidence? People who drink have more friends and are more likely to be keep a healthy marriage. Get the Special Brew; it's time to make friends.
6. It'll help you sleep
As nine out of ten health articles posted on the internet will tell you, getting a poor night's sleep is about as good for your overall wellbeing as skinny-dipping in lava. How fortunate, then, that a pint at lunch will do wonders for nodding off easily that night. Eight of them would do the job even faster, of course, but the sleep quality wouldn't be quite tip-top. A moderate amount each day, however, has been shown to help.
As well as helping us relax and fall asleep faster (not entirely helpful going in to the work afternoon, but worth bearing in mind), a small amount of alcohol each day could be beneficial to the quality of your rest, especially if you keep it to late afternoon.
7. It's far better for you than most other options
Consider what else is on offer at lunchtime. Coca-cola? Tap water? Wine? Panda pops? In the health stakes, all are thrashed by beer.
Water, as we have discovered, is utterly worthless when it comes to hydration. Wine triggers migraines. Coca-Cola will start to dissolve your soul after less than an hour. And Panda Pops? They died four years ago.
Beer, on the other hand, has been proven to lower the risk of type-2 diabetes, shrink the risk of gallstones, delay muscle deterioration and keep your bones strong. This isn't pub chat; these are facts. Look them up.
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