🧠 Why your workplace owes you a better drinking culture 🧠

Why your workplace owes you a better drinking culture

As we recognise World Mental Health Day, it’s time for employers to rethink their drinking culture and how it impacts employee well-being.

🍷 Alcohol may offer temporary relaxation, but its long-term effects on mental health are no joke.

Regular drinking can increase anxiety, depression, and disrupt sleep patterns, which are key for emotional wellbeing. 🧠💭

Here’s how workplaces can support healthier environments by embacing mindful drinking!

- Integrate alcohol-related action into inclusivity and diversity, health, and safeguarding policies.

- Provide alcohol-free options at all events, empowering employees to choose what works for them.

- Enforce a zero-tolerance policy on pressuring colleagues to drink, both in and out of work.

- Ensure your staff wellness package includes support for changing drinking habits, and offers plans for intensive help if needed.

- Recognise the connection between alcohol, work events and power imbalances – in the increased likelihood of sexual harassment.

- Use your purchasing power to ensure venues you use offer a variety of drink options at events.

By addressing alcohol in the workplace, we can foster a more inclusive, safe, and mentally healthy environment for everyone. 💼✨

You want your guests to stay and network – You can plan a fantastic event, but it all means nothing if there’s no one in the room. People looking to drink less, or not at all, will have their early exit planned… or might not even show up in the first place.
You want to be inclusive – if you are not drinking today, the level of thought put into your attendance at a reception is often obvious – a warm glass of orange juice concentrate screams ‘we don’t really care if you stay or not’. You cater for vegetarians with your food options, why not do the same for those not drinking alcohol?
Choice is good hospitality– from full strength wines and beers to lower ABV products and alcohol-free drinks – you are enabling people to make the right decisions for them. Most importantly, you are creating an environment where they can refuse alcohol without feeling embarrassed or ashamed about it.
You want them to rave about you. It’s great to get positive feedback about your event but it’s even better when your guests are still talking about it the next day. When a non-drinker is served something special, it’s impossible for them not to spread the word.