I can't agree about the "older" employees skills/knowledge falling behind. It's been proven again and again that when you let these employees with the most institutional knowledge go, you are screwing yourself down the road. Sure it looks good for a bit on your bottom line, when you've hired a bunch of 28 year old MBA's for 40% less $ to replace them. But when the s*** hits the fan in Peak Season, and you look around and realize that all the people who built your systems, and know how to handle every emergency, have been laid off... then what do you do? "Younger is better" is a short-sighted, discriminatory, broad statement with no basis in fact. Oh, and alcohol has been "gone" from internal events for 10+ years here. Occasional off-site events DID have alcohol (former Visa, Int'l. CEO Christopher was a party boy).