The EC of which I have been a member for 12 years doesn’t drink before or during meetings; I don’t think that the issue has ever been discussed during my time. A glass and a nibble or two during the meeting does not seem objectionable in principle, although it seems incompatible with the papers that are often spread out on the table. What concerns me about the original post is the potential for some of the committee to ‘caucus’ before the meeting and perhaps settle the odd contentious and/or expensive issue before it comes up in open and minuted session. This could be a problem if owners with an interest in hearing matters discussed are excluded from the preliminary discussion and do not have the opportunity to learn how the relevant decisions have been reached.