You can refer to my argument as whinging or tiresome if you like, but it that doesn't change its validity.
That's a nice assumption. Are you sure about that? Have you asked most people?
You might find that there are a lot of people who don't actually like it, but who find the consequences of making a fuss about it even worse.
Your approach assumes that touching is somehow unusual and invasive, is not part of normal human interaction, and should always require upfront consent.
I see no reason to assume that a pat on the arm or a light hug should be categorized in that way.
If you don’t like being touched, then fine, that’s up to you. But you don’t get to dictate social norms for everyone else.
In fact, I don’t touch people in social situations because I have a tendency to shyness. I do, however, find hugs and casual physical contact from other people pleasing and comforting. It’s a perfectly normal form of interaction.
It would lessen the enjoyment I take in spontaneous social interactions, including physical contact, if it were codified and tabooed in the way you seem to prefer. Thankfully, the people I have asked about this in person seem to agree with me.
No assumption there, other than what you've been asserting about social norms as somehow justifying violating boundaries.
Doesn't matter that you have some anecdotal experience with the people you've asked. I've asked people about this in person and they seem to agree with me, so it's a wash.
And I'm sorry your enjoyment might be lessened, but maybe that's just a price you have to pay in a world where other people and their respective enjoyments & preferences exist.
Lots of people find hugs & contact both pleasing and comforting. Maybe there's even a general biological need for it. That doesn't generalize to suggest that unsolicited random hugs & contact with you in particular is necessary or welcome.
The workplace is not a social environment. It brings together people who otherwise would never have shared the same space, so you need to be super cautious about establishing new relationships.
The key is to look for cues, rather than blindly assuming everyone likes drunk men bear hugging them because you as a drunk man like bear hugging everyone.