It’s undeniable that our industry is one of the most sociable. Relationships are everything, but the way we build them has transformed dramatically over the last 20 years. In this op-ed, Debate Club’s founder Orsolya Toth-Pal explores the cultural importance of wine ahead of the company’s partnership with Mercer Wines.
I started my first media job in London in 2015 at a large media agency. It was customary to go to the pub on Fridays for a (liquid) lunch, and we rarely went back to the office except to pick up a bottle of champagne someone had won in a publisher competition.
It was a big office, and as we all know, media agencies have a high turnover. Naturally, it was someone’s leaving drinks every other Thursday, because Fridays were reserved for your “real friends.” We even had a bar inside the office offering double G&Ts for £2.50, and if that wasn’t enough, we each had £10 a month loaded onto our building access card to spend there.
At least once a month, a tech partner, TV channel, social media platform or publisher would come to the office to impress us media execs who had just escaped uni. It wasn’t unusual to walk into the office and find mini crocodiles, baby ponies (yes, real ones), virtual reality setups, Brazilian carnival dancers or a magical fairy garden. Needless to say, every activation ended with drinks and a BBQ on the rooftop.
The wildest media parties were so over the top they even inspired the film industry. The Mad Men days were long gone by my time, but I still heard first-hand stories from people who were sent on all-expenses-paid trips to Ibiza with clients in their first week, or who had “petty cash” listed on their expense reports.
As an Eastern European, I fit right into the drinking culture. As a young exec, I religiously attended the pub sessions, and as a young saleswoman, I built relationships over boozy lunches and after-work margaritas. I was definitely part of the “core group” and certainly among the last to leave.
Luckily for me, and for my liver, the industry began to evolve. People who didn’t connect with the drinking culture started coming up with creative ways to bond with clients without the booze. When I moved to Australia and grew up a little, I became more health-conscious and joined my colleagues in choosing healthier entertainment options. We took clients to Barry’s Bootcamp and even ran weekly PT sessions for our agency group.
That said, I didn’t learn much about my clients, their brands or their goals while catching my breath between burpees. At least they no longer ignored my emails, because they knew they had to face me at Tuesday’s boxing class.
I’m all about balance, and it’s fair to acknowledge that alcohol does help people loosen up, speak more honestly and find common ground more easily.
Long nights and conversations over red wine have led to great ideas. Toasting with champagne has sealed business deals, and gin ceremonies have marked new beginnings.
Alcohol undeniably contributes to our culture, though it has its time and place. If you’ve ever had a long week and said to a friend, “I really need a glass of red,” you know what I mean. But where and how do we draw the line? There’s a clear difference between having a few cocktails or a glass of wine over lunch, and knocking back margaritas like there’s no tomorrow before heading to yet another after-party.
Is it really the alcohol that matters, or is it the experience and culture around it? More and more non-alcoholic wine and spirit options are emerging, and they’re getting remarkably close to the real thing. Sometimes a mocktail or a non-alcoholic red on a Friday hits the spot just as well. Some people swear bubbles go straight to your head. Others believe white wine gives you attitude. Some say tequila leads to bad decisions, while others insist it’s the only alcohol that isn’t a depressant.
Are some drinks superior to others? The wine industry certainly likes to think so. In fact, some claim wine has contributed more to culture than any other beverage.
Wine has a way of weaving itself into the story of people and places. It’s there at family dinners, milestone celebrations, and quiet nights with friends when conversations somehow go deeper. Whole regions have built their identity around it, from the rolling vineyards of Tuscany to the cellar doors of the Hunter Valley, to the small family-owned wineries across regional Australia where passion is passed down through generations.
Winemaking is one of those crafts that still relies on intuition and patience, a blend of science and art that connects people back to the land. It’s not just about drinking, it’s about what happens around it. The laughter, the honesty, the way a good bottle can shift the tone of a room from polite to personal. Wine has always been a connector, a silent witness to big ideas, business deals, and love stories alike. It has shaped culture as much as it’s been shaped by it.
As an event host, having wine at Debate Club is a must. Debate Club is all about community, and supporting local has always been one of our core values. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce something that has been on our agenda for a long time — a partnership with Mercer Wines to bring quality local wines to our events.
In many ways, Mercer Wines embodies the very spirit of this debate, that wine isn’t just about what’s in the glass but the ideas, innovation and culture it inspires. Aaron Mercer and his family have built a name that goes beyond great winemaking; they’ve created a platform for thought leadership in sustainability. After two decades in the industry, from scrubbing tanks in the Hunter Valley to working vintages across France, Germany, Canada and California, Aaron returned home with a clear vision: to make wine that reflects both craftsmanship and conscience.
Today, Mercer Wines is known not only for its organic and preservative-free approach but for leading conversations around what it means to build a truly sustainable business in a changing world. For Aaron, sustainability isn’t a buzzword, it’s a continuous dialogue of awareness, action and improvement. It’s this same mindset of curiosity and progress that makes our partnership feel so natural. Just as Debate Club exists to spark honest discussion and challenge assumptions, Mercer Wines continues to push boundaries in how wine can shape culture, community and the future.
“For us, winemaking has never been just about what’s in the glass, it’s about the story, the craftsmanship and the values behind it. Every bottle we make carries a sense of place, a connection to the people who helped create it and the conversations it inspires when shared. Debate Club brings that same energy to ideas, thoughtful, passionate and built on the belief that real connection comes from authenticity. This partnership is a celebration of substance, culture and conversations that last. Whether it’s over a glass of wine or a lively debate, what truly matters is the quality of what’s being shared and the impact it leaves behind,” Aaron Mercer said.
To celebrate this partnership, we’re hosting a debate about wine itself. Join us on 27 November for another night of banter and wit as we explore the statement: Wine Contributes More to Culture Than Any Other Alcoholic Beverage.
