I had a similar discussion, half-jokingly, about a legal ban on coffee in workplaces. Drinking it is optional, but non drinkers get disadvantaged and really need to join to keep up.

Why? Coffee is nowhere near effective once you're taking it everyday.

There is a social aspect. I think there was a Friends episode where one of the characters got left out of business advancement because she didn't smoke cigarettes and wasn't in the smoking area socializing with the boss and another employee was.

Can’t you just drink something else?

Nope, it's not the same. Different vibe.

What about decaf, who would know?