“The thing that we put down is alcohol, but we don’t put down our creativity, our minds, our drive to make great drinks.”

This is a rallying cry for the hospitality industry to rethink its relationship with alcohol from Michelle. Creativity and skill are at the heart of what makes this industry thrive, and neither depends on the presence of alcohol. Removing it doesn’t mean losing artistry—it means opening up new possibilities.

Hospitality  Culture: Why Is Addiction So Prevalent?

“What we’re not doing yet is going, why are we an industry that has such high levels of addiction? To be a good manager, you have to be able to drink? Like, what? What other industry does that make sense in?”

The hospitality sector has long celebrated a culture of drinking, but this norm raises significant questions about its impact on mental health and job performance. Changing these outdated perceptions is crucial to creating a more sustainable industry.

Sober Weekends and Smug Mornings

“Weekends are my favourite time to be sober because I get to do the thing I love the most, which is be smug. I get to wake up very smug at about eight o’clock and look at my life and go, this is a great choice.”

Sobriety transforms weekends from blurry recoveries to opportunities for enjoyment and reflection. This shift underscores the profound personal benefits of a life without alcohol.

The Cost of Industry Norms

“I slowly started to realise that alcohol was becoming the thing that was holding me together.”

For many in hospitality, alcohol becomes a crutch rather than a tool for connection. The realisation that it’s holding people back rather than propelling them forward is a pivotal moment in the journey toward change.

Addiction and the Industry’s “Throwaway” Culture

“When that line is crossed, so many of us just get thrown away, and that, for me, just never sat right.”

The industry’s tendency to discard talent once addiction becomes visible is a tragic waste. Recovery and reintegration need to be prioritized to retain valuable employees and demonstrate compassion.

Hospitality’s Binary View of Drinking

“The sad thing about our industry is that we’re rewarding people who are able to imbibe effectively a poison and going, yeah, let’s give you another shift.”

Celebrating high tolerance levels over actual skills or management capabilities highlights the flawed value system within the hospitality industry. It’s time to reevaluate these misplaced priorities.

“You would rather your future employer thought that you could drink two bottles of wine and still function than say, actually, no, I don’t drink and I’m an exceptional manager.”

Stigma against sobriety remains a significant barrier in hospitality. Employers and coworkers alike must shift their thinking to recognize the value of sober professionals.

The Untapped Market for Moderation

“It’s not for the people that we think it is. It’s really for the moderators, for the people who still drink alcohol.”

The emerging market for low- and no-alcohol drinks isn’t limited to those who abstain entirely. Moderators—people who drink occasionally or in smaller quantities—represent a vast and largely untapped customer base.

Hospitality as a Career, Not a Stopgap

“Somebody called themselves a career bartender, and I thought, oh my God, we don’t do that here.”

In many parts of the world, hospitality is seen as a career worthy of respect. Shifting this perception in the UK and beyond could help address recruitment challenges and elevate the industry’s status.

The Power of Community and Storytelling

“There is such safety within community and the importance of being able to connect people with others. The more people that step out there and say, this is me and my story, the more people will then be able to do it in their own lives.”

Sharing personal stories of recovery and resilience fosters a sense of belonging and encourages others to pursue their own paths toward change. This collective bravery is transforming the industry from the inside out.