[OSM-talk] discussion: inclusion and alcohol

[Roland Olbricht]

> I read this article recently and It got me thinking.  Do we devalue
> community members, or potential community members who don't drink?

Thank you for the whole story. When I've read the subject line, it 
rather sounded like a joke.

I've hardly seen the problem ever in the German software industry 
anywhere and even less in an OpenStreetMap environment.

At the FOSSGIS conferences in 2012, 2013, and 2014 no alcohol was 
offered during the day sessions. Alcoholoic drinks were offered during 
the "social event" on one evening, but only along a larger number of 
non-alcoholic drinks:

The identity-donating beverage for nerds is "Club Mate", a softdrink 
with quite a lot of caffeine. In general society, also drinks like 
Bionade and alcohol-free beer have a favourable image over alcoholic 
drinks. Sparkling or non-sparking high quality water is usually also 
available and quite prestigious.

The situation at our monthly local meetup in Bonn is similar. As is with 
other events from the tech industry here in Germany and some in France 
that I have attended.

You should wait for further feedback, but I sounds to me like a 
US-American, not an OSM problem.

Best regards,

Roland