We have some idioms in German that include the "Schippe", like:

Jemanden auf die Schippe nehmen (make fun of somebody)

Von der Schippe springen (to die)

Dem Tod/Teufel von der Schippe springen (to survive)

But I don't think that any of these actually matters for your text here. I would just plainly say "everybody that deserves a snack can take one".

is the only thing I can think of although I have a feeling that it's strictly BE slang.

… the trowel symbolises quality work, not only on a building site. And hard work deserves a reward/little treat, so why not ‘get plastered’.

Since this is a snack, I assume it is food !! So why not?

xxx

I wouldn't get too hung up on the specific meaning of 'snack' -- after all, it's not a German word, so Germans are likely (and entitled) to use it somewhat differently than native English speakers.

This is a purely speculative suggestion:

first, the fact that the author has placed the phrase in quote means that it is not only being used figuratively (that's already understood), but also being used with an altered meaning. What you really need to know is what 'etwas von der Schippe nehmen' actually meaans. (now comes the speculation, aka wild fantasy): this is likely to be construction worker's slang, and it is common practice among construction workers to 'appropriate' small amounts of the materials the work with for personal use (which is at least consistent with the meaning of the phrase). If the author wishes to suggest that someone who feels he has earned a treat should feel free to take one for himself, he could well say (the equivalent of) 'just "nick" one for yourself' ('nick' is slang for 'taking by a quick, onobtrusive action' , and often refers to forms of stealing such as shoplifting).

If you don't trust the slang but like the proposed explanation, you could also use some variant of 'help yourself'.

perhaps

short also (in Ireland at least) = a small measure of a (strong) alcoholic beverage

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Note added at 2003-11-18 14:46:41 (GMT)
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maybe put the \'short\' in inverted commas!?

you can treat yourself with a "work break".

Like others have said, the joke is already convoluted and weak in German - don't get too caught up in it.

The only other explanation I can come up with is that there is something stenciled on the glasses - it's a long shot, but maybe a possibility.

as in without restraint, have as much as you want, liberally, excessively...(...and end up getting plastered!)

If you feel like you've deserved a little treat you can have one/help yourself to one/do it "in spades"..maybe..

Get stuck in!
Lay it on thick!