After a weekend of bloggers, politicians and journalists trying to tell me that it is quite alright for MP’s to have a drink and then go to work because they have just had “one” and “everyone does it”, I am still not convinced. Ogmundur Jonasson should have ordered water or a Coke before heading to Althingi, just like Sigmundur Ernir Runarsson should have earlier this year.
Icelander’s relationship with alcohol is as hypocritical as ever. Condemn ordinary workers for having “one” while on the job, but when CEO’s and MP’s do it they’ll be defended in the most bi-partisan manner imaginable.
The message they should be trying to send out is that alcohol should be enjoyed when you are not on the clock responsible for others welfare.
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nn
2 years ago
As I understood, they were called in after dinner – so he was not on the clock responsible for others welfare when he was enjoying his alcohol.
He had already drunk “the wine glass or three” when he found out that he would be working that night (unlike Sigmundur Ernir who knew he would be working and making a speech when he got visibly intoxicated).
So Ögmundur had 3 choices:
A) “Pull a Sigmundur”: act like normal, go to the podium, talk to the press, etc. Even drive so he would come across as sober.
B) “Call in sick”: call in a replacement on account of his intoxication, and suffer all kinds of snide remarks about being an alcoholic, too drunk to do his job, etc.
C) “Do what he did”: Admit he’s had a few. Lay low, cast his vote and get the hell out of there.
D) “Not drink”: Travel back in time and ask his previous self not to drink that night.
What would you have done?
Dadi
2 years ago
Athletes don’t drink in season
Well, not the ones who take their sport seriously.
I might have misread the situation, if so I apologize. I don’t think Ogmundur is an alcoholic. I did not know if he’d been called out impromptu. Could he have expected it? I don’t know either.
I stand by the thought that Icelandic MP’s should seriously consider how they approach alcohol while Althingi is in session. And the comment that it should not be OK to have “one” before sitting down in a MP’s chair, any more than it is when you are teaching, driving or consulting patients.