There’s a big drinking culture in international arbitration. But what if you don’t or can’t consume alcohol? Dr Kabir Duggal C.Arb FCIArb and Amanda J. Lee FCIArb consider this question.
Political pollsters seeking to measure is alcohol‐free. It is also customary for arbitration candidate popularity often ask what is known as ‘the beer question’: with which candidate would you rather have a beer? The answer is regarded as a barometer of likeability, authenticity and collegiality. As such, the beer question continues to be posed in the hiring context.
Alcohol is both a crutch on which the arbitration community leans and the common thread and social lubricant used by many to facilitate the formation of professional connections. In the bar, at the golf course or après ski, bonds are frequently forged over beer or cocktails. And with the exception of breakfast briefings, it is rare to find an arbitration event in the West that is alcohol‐free. It is also customary for arbitration weeks to begin with a kick‐off cocktail reception.
This emphasis on drinking culture in international arbitration – a field that places a high premium on the importance of networking and visibility – is therefore a potential barrier for those who abstain from alcohol (on which more later).
Content Authorship and Sources
Dr. Kabir Duggal
Arbitration and Mediation Panelist at BIAMC
Senior International Arbitration Advisor at Arnold and Porter/Columbia Law School
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