I see a lot of threads calling for an end to drinking at industry events as a response to abuse conversations and while I’m a big fan of alcohol-free or truly-noncompulsory drinking at events to include people who can’t drink, we need to be clear: abusers do the same stuff sober.

The alcohol is an excuse. They can apologize and promise not to drink or to drink less but the truth is that the alcohol isn’t why they do it: the alcohol is what made them careless enough to get caught.

For every story of someone being caught out doing something truly awful in front of witnesses or to someone with enough of a platform for people to pay attention, the same person has done ten things just as bad behind closed doors to people who are too vulnerable to speak up.

There are obviously lots of reasons to have events with no drinking or limited drinking— it makes it easier for pregnant people, people on some medications, people in recovery, people of certain faiths, etc, to feel welcome. But we need to be honest that this won’t stop abuse.

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