Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff defends Parliament's drinking culture as fundamentally odd but cautions against oversimplifying the problem. New MP Hannah Spencer recently criticized the heavy alcohol presence in Westminster, but Hinsliff argues that understanding why the culture exists matters before demanding change.
Hinsliff describes the scene firsthand: MPs sipping wine on Monday nights while division bells summon them for votes lasting past 11pm. Waiters ferry bottles through terrace function rooms hosting dinners and campaign events. The Strangers' bar operates as usual. The drinking itself is often polite, not excessive, but the entire setup reflects an institution built around rhythms and social structures that no longer make sense.
The columnist's core argument: Parliament's culture of alcohol consumption isn't primarily about MPs being drunks. Rather, it reflects how the institution operates. Late votes, fractured schedules, and the social fabric of Westminster all normalize having a drink. Changing this requires resetting how Parliament functions overall, not just calling out individual behavior.
Hinsliff acknowledges Spencer's criticism has merit. The drinking culture is genuinely odd. But real reform demands understanding the institutional reasons behind it, not treating the symptom as the disease.