It's easy and common to ask for two checks, and alcohol purchases end up on a separate check, paid for with a separate card.

I'm not sure how a restaurant would react if one ordered a meal and asked for the the meat in that meal to be put on a separate check.

So it's an analogy, but not a great one, I think.

Alcohol is not a good example. Alcohol at work causes so many problems.

Some people can't handle alcohol. Others can usually handle alcohol, but it really only takes one time to be an issue. Get large enough, and serving alcohol at company events guarantees at least one, sometimes more, HR headaches, statistically speaking.

I'm not a huge fan of a company changing its behavior because it wants to avoid risks that are just inherent in dealing with people (the logical conclusion is to pretty much treat all your employees like children to avoid anyone causing trouble) but I can at least respect it if they're up front about their motivations.

Does it really? I can get alcohol at two or three, and sometimes more, work events in any given week. Some teams have beer fridges. The sky doesn't fall.

(to be clear, I fully agree with GP)

Do you also drive home afterwards?

No, I don't drive to work as a general rule. Nor do I drink at work, as a general rule. I certainly wouldn't do both.

I'm a responsible human, as are my coworkers.