Let’s face it, no one would rather be at work when they have the option of chillin’ with a cold beer at
happy hour. It’s not something to be embarrassed to admit; it is what it is. Happy hour is happy; if it wasn’t, it would be called ‘hour,’ and honestly, that sounds silly.

“Hey guys, wanna hit up hour after work?” See?

But that’s beside the point. What I’m about to tell you is going to make you want to put on those fancy boots you only wore that one time you were in Nashville and run out to your favorite watering hole. Here’s the fact: social drinkers make more money than those who abstain from alcohol. I repeat:  it literally pays to be a bar fly.

Social drinking is basically networking…with an added bonus of liquid confidence. Researchers say that this type of socializing builds your contact list much more than staying at home watching reruns of The Office—The Office isn’t specific to the study, but you get the idea. CNNMoney.com reports that employed people who take part in social drinking “might strengthen relationships with co-workers or clients that could ultimately affect their salary.”

But by how much? Studies suggest that social drinkers make anywhere between 10-14% more than those who abstain from drinking all together. Furthermore, drinkers who can be found at a bar at least once each month bring home an additional 7% on top of that!

So, round up your friends for a little fun, ‘cause Jim Beam just gave you a raise! But don’t forget to grab a couple extra business cards—you never know where that extra boost in income is going to come from.

And just remember to always drink responsibly.

Cheers,

Meghan and Hannah