Shooting Down a " Fluffy Duck " !

There is a witch hunt going on within the walls of Sydney University over a " drinks after work " function which included fellow  student administration and recruitment staff from other universities. What seems to generate this furore is the fact that alcohol was served and in particular attention is riveted on whether what was called a " Fluffy Duck " cocktail was appropriate.

For the record, a Fluffy Duck has a Bacardi base topped with advocaat, lemonade and a nip of cream. The event organizers comment that it was added because not everyone is keen on beer or wine.  These drinks were accompanied by a modest serving of cheese on crackers.

What is drawing the ire of both the anti alcohol lobby and the public waste of money people is the contention that the Sydney University organizers of the event paid for it from their corporate credit cards, and consequently it escaped the scrutiny of University accounting.

The organizers justify this function on the grounds that student recruitment generates more than a billion dollars in revenue and it is important that the methods of attaining input do not clash.  These functions generate camaraderie .and help make recruitment part of a " team effort ".

What is left unsaid is the inescapable fact that should such a function be proposed without the offer of some convivial alcoholic drinks the attendance would probably shrink to near zero.  Alcohol is very much a part of the Australian culture and it is widely used to bridge both the culture and age gaps when a wide spectrum of people are gathered together.

Australia once had a very restrictive attitude to alcohol.  The hotels closed their doors on the dot of six in the late afternoon, resulting in what was called the " Six o'clock swill ".  The café culture of serving beer or wine was almost totally forbidden and yet numerous sly grog shops kept the public supplied.

There is no doubt that we suffer tragedy from the misuse of alcohol.  A high proportion of deaths from road crashes can be attributed to drivers using their cars with an illegal alcohol level in their blood and those who become addicted can bring financial ruin to their families.  Even moderate users go on the occasional " bender " , but the vast majority of people use alcohol sanely and in moderation.

Now that this university function has been brought under the media spotlight it seems evident that all manner of corporate credit card spending will come under the microscope.  For a while, there will be a reluctance to include alcohol at any function and attendances will dwindle accordingly.  Unfortunately, the camaraderie that makes many work groups so functional will suffer.  Group leaders will be reluctant to use their credit cards to contribute a birthday cake to help celebrate a colleagues birthday.  Such expenditure is often the " magic " that helps keep a group of people working productively and harmoniously, but would be questioned by higher management.

In the commercial world life will go on as before.  Many companies end the working week by opening the fridge and shouting the staff a couple of beers on a Friday night.   That University function would probably have passed unnoticed if the fare had been kept to wine and beer, plus a little cheese and crackers to whet appetites.   Maybe in future it would be a very good idea to avoid anything with a name like a " Fluffy Duck "  !