Let me start this off with a confession:
I love wine.

Red, white, rosé — I love them all. I love a cocktail on a patio, a cold beer after a long day, and a glass of something bubbly just because it’s Tuesday.

I am Irish Catholic, and I swear we could host a masterclass in drinking — not necessarily responsibly, but enthusiastically. We can drink most people under the table, and still manage to make it to brunch the next morning.

Alcohol is, without question, the great and powerful social lubricant.

I appreciate it deeply — and I also respect and fear it for its power. Alcohol can change the tone of an evening, shift your confidence, and even reshape relationships. It’s a unifier, a relaxer, a barrier-breaker. It’s a wonderful tool and a dangerous ally.

But here’s the key thing: alcohol has its place.
And I firmly believe that business networking is not one of those places.

The Great Social Lubricant — and Its Limits

I don’t say this as a judgmental teetotaler. I say it as someone who genuinely loves to drink — and has learned through experience that there’s a time and a place for it.

Alcohol loosens tongues. It makes conversations flow more easily. It helps people feel connected faster. And in the right context — among good friends or trusted colleagues — it can deepen relationships in ways that feel warm and genuine.

But in a business networking setting?
It’s… tricky.

Networking already involves a delicate balance of professionalism, authenticity, and self-promotion. Add alcohol to that equation, and you’ve just spiked the chemistry experiment.

It doesn’t take much — one too many glasses of wine, one strong cocktail, one moment of loosened inhibition — for a business interaction to take a turn from polished to sloppy.

And believe me, I’ve been there.

I can recall a few occasions where I had a glass too many at an event and walked away thinking, “Oh no, did I actually say that out loud?”

In social situations, that can be funny or charming. In business settings, it’s mortifying. You don’t get a redo on a first impression, and you don’t want your business reputation linked to an over-poured chardonnay.

That’s when I realized: I love alcohol — but I don’t love it enough to risk my professionalism for it.

Networking Sober Feels Different (In the Best Way)

There’s something incredibly grounding about walking into a networking event with a clear head.

You’re alert. You’re sharp. You remember names, faces, and conversations the next morning. You leave with purposeful connections, not foggy memories and fuzzy business cards.

You can be yourself — your best, most focused version of yourself — without the emotional rollercoaster that sometimes comes with drinking.

When I’m networking sober, I’m more aware of what I’m saying and how I’m saying it. I’m more present in the conversation. I can read the room, sense when someone’s disengaged, or recognize when to step back gracefully.

I can also drive myself home safely without relying on anyone else.

Most importantly: networking without alcohol keeps my professional identity intact.

When you’re meeting someone for the first time — especially someone who could hire you, partner with you, or refer clients to you — they don’t need to see your “two-glasses-in” version. They need to see the competent, confident, capable you.

And that version of me only shows up during business hours — and without a drink in hand.

Boundaries Aren’t Barriers — They’re Freedom

As a business owner, one of the most important things I’ve ever done for my mental health, my family, and my sanity is set boundaries.

And one of my biggest boundaries is this:

I only network during business hours.

That means Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM.

That’s it.

If a networking event falls outside of that window, I politely decline — even if it looks like the most promising, exciting, juicy opportunity in town.

Do I get a little bummed about it sometimes? Absolutely. I’m human. I love people. I love good conversation, good company, and a good glass of wine.

But I also love my life outside of work.

And that life — my husband, my kids, my home, my downtime — deserves just as much respect and energy as my business does.

Setting that boundary doesn’t mean I’m not serious about my business. It means I’m serious about balance.

Why 8 to 5 Matters

Business owners often get the reputation for being “always on.” We’re the ones checking emails at midnight, taking client calls on weekends, and posting on social media during dinner.

And while I respect the hustle, I also know how dangerous it can be to live that way.

The line between “dedicated” and “burnt out” is thinner than we think.

By keeping my networking hours within a normal workday, I protect that line.

It’s my way of saying: I’m not my business 24/7.

During the day, I’m fully engaged. I’ll talk shop, brainstorm, pitch, connect, and collaborate to my heart’s content. But when the clock hits five, I’m done.

That’s when I switch hats — from business owner to mom, wife, and friend.

My kids are little. They’re loud, messy, and hilarious. They’re also growing faster than I can handle, and I don’t want to miss any of it.

I can handle the chaos of dinner time, the bedtime battles, and the mountain of laundry waiting for me — because I know those hours matter more than anything I could accomplish at a cocktail mixer.

That’s not frustration. That’s freedom.

The Myth of “You Have to Show Up to Every Event”

One of the hardest things about setting boundaries as an entrepreneur is that you feel like you’re constantly missing out.

Someone’s always saying:

“You’ve gotta be everywhere.”
“You never know who you’ll meet!”
“The best deals happen over drinks!”

And while there’s truth in showing up, there’s also wisdom in showing up intentionally.

You don’t have to attend every single happy hour or evening mixer to grow your business.

If the event doesn’t align with your boundaries, your energy, or your lifestyle — it’s okay to skip it.

What matters most isn’t how often you network, but how well you network.

I’d rather have three meaningful, sober, daytime networking conversations than ten tipsy small talks I barely remember.

Quality over quantity — always.

Redefining Professional Connection

We’ve romanticized the idea of networking over cocktails. It sounds glamorous: a room full of professionals clinking glasses, laughing, trading business cards, making deals.

But in reality? It’s often loud, distracting, and drenched in awkward small talk.

Networking doesn’t have to happen under dim lighting with a drink in your hand.

It can happen over coffee at 9 AM.
It can happen at a lunch meeting.
It can happen at a daytime workshop, a mastermind, or a community event.

These settings foster clarity — not just connection. You’re less likely to blur boundaries, overshare, or misread intentions.

Plus, networking during the day respects people’s personal time. Not everyone can or wants to sacrifice their evenings for professional development.

Daytime networking allows people to show up fully — not half-exhausted from work or half-buzzed from wine.

The Temptation of “Wine as Work”

Here’s where it gets personal:

I’ve absolutely justified drinking as a “business expense.”

It’s so easy to rationalize. “Oh, it’s a networking event! It’s part of the job! Everyone’s drinking!”

But that mindset is a slippery slope.

Because soon, you’re not just drinking at networking events — you’re drinking to unwind from networking events. Then you’re drinking to recover from a stressful day. Then you’re drinking because it’s Tuesday again.

I love alcohol. I respect it. But I know it can also quietly creep into routines where it doesn’t belong.

For me, keeping alcohol out of my professional spaces helps me keep my relationship with it healthy.

When I drink, I want to drink with people I know. My friends. My husband. My neighbors. People who already know my stories, my quirks, and my humor.

I don’t want to drink with strangers while I’m also trying to sell them on my business.

It’s too easy to blur the line between socializing and selling — and I don’t ever want my judgment, my energy, or my reputation muddled by alcohol.

The Parenting Perspective

Parenthood changes everything — especially your relationship with time, energy, and boundaries.

My kids are at the age where they still think I’m cool (well, mostly). They want to play, talk, and show me every little thing they make.

And I want to be present for that.

I don’t want to walk in the door after a 7 PM “networking” event with a half-buzz and a pocket full of business cards, feeling like I missed another bedtime.

I want to sit on the floor, play Legos, and ask about their day. I want to be the mom who listens — not the one who’s mentally still at a mixer.

Even more importantly, I want to model healthy behavior.

Alcohol is an addictive substance. It’s a drug. And as much as I love it, I don’t ever want to normalize using it as a crutch or a default in professional or emotional settings.

I want my kids to grow up understanding that alcohol can be enjoyed, but it’s not necessary.

That’s another reason I keep it out of networking. I want my actions to align with the lessons I hope they’ll absorb.

What Networking Can Look Like

Setting boundaries doesn’t mean you withdraw from opportunity. It means you reshape it.

If an event is happening at 6:30 PM, I might reach out to the host and say,

“I’d love to connect with some of the attendees! Would you be open to a morning coffee meetup next week?”

If someone invites me to a happy hour, I might counter with a lunch meeting.

If I do attend an event that edges close to my boundary — say, a 4 PM to 6 PM mixer — I plan accordingly: one glass of Sauvignon Blanc, lots of water, and a firm exit by 5:15.

That’s my sweet spot. I can enjoy the energy without overextending myself.

Networking doesn’t have to mean compromising your values or schedule. You can absolutely build strong, lasting professional relationships within your boundaries.

The people who respect you — and the kind of people you actually want to work with — will respect those boundaries, too.

The Real Power of Saying No

There’s something empowering about saying “no” to things that don’t align with your priorities.

When I decline an after-hours event, I’m not saying no to opportunity — I’m saying yes to my peace. Yes to my family. Yes to being clear-headed, well-rested, and authentic in how I show up the next day.

I’ve learned that boundaries are less about restriction and more about protection.

They protect your time.
They protect your focus.
They protect your values.

When you enforce them consistently, you stop feeling guilty about them. You start feeling grounded.

That’s when you realize you’re not missing out — you’re simply operating on your own terms.

Final Thoughts: You Don’t Need a Drink to Be Interesting

At the end of the day, alcohol doesn’t make you more charming, successful, or approachable.

You already are all those things — sober.

The right people will connect with your confidence, your authenticity, and your clarity — not your cocktail.

So if you’re a business owner, entrepreneur, or professional who feels pressure to show up at every happy hour, every after-hours mixer, and every “sip and socialize” event, take this as your permission slip:

You don’t have to.

Set your boundary. Stick to your business hours. Protect your peace.

And when 5 o’clock rolls around?
Pour yourself that glass of wine at home.

Drink it slowly, intentionally, in the company of people who love you — not people you’re trying to sell something to.

Because in business, as in life, knowing when to stop working might just be the most powerful move you can make.