One in three UK workers called in sick after drinking work drinks |, a poll showed Alcohol

A recent study found that one in three UK workers reported falling ill after drinking alcohol at a work event or after hours with colleagues.

Many employees feel pressured to drink in the workplace against their wishes, despite a significant shift among younger adults away from consuming as much alcohol as their predecessors.

The findings are contained in a report issued by the IPPR Research Centre. It found that many employers are not keeping pace with the generational change in attitudes towards drinking because they still hold work social events in bars or pubs or make alcohol a central feature of the event.

The report highlights how restaurant chain Wagamama, by contrast, has replaced alcohol-focused staff social events with explicitly non-alcoholic events such as pottery workshops, yoga classes, running clubs and boxing sessions, improving morale and cohesion.

The IPPR findings are based in part on a representative survey of 2,083 working-age adults in the UK conducted by pollster Public First. “Even as drinking habits change, cultural pressures in the workplace continue to cause harm,” the think tank said.

The survey found:

• 32% of workers had reported being sick the next day after drinking alcohol at a work event or with co-workers in the past year.

• 41% of people aged 18 to 24 were so hungry they were unable to work, and 47% of people aged 25 to 34 were.

• 22% of workers in education and 24% in health and social care have stopped working the next day after drinking at or after work in the past six months, with a fifth in both sectors attending late the next day.

• 28% believe that drinking at work events excludes non-drinkers or creates cliques.

The IPPR, which has influence with the Labor government, said workplace drinking was “not just a hangover, it is a productivity crisis”, with alcohol harms now “a national economic problem”.

Sebastian Rees, head of health at the think tank, said: “On the one hand, Generation Z is drinking less than previous generations, and some employers are taking welcome steps to move away from alcohol-focused work events. However, the UK’s professional culture remains deeply rooted in drinking. A pint after work, or a glass of wine at a networking event or social gathering in the pub, remains at the heart of many careers.”

The IPPR urged ministers to introduce a minimum unit pricing for alcohol in England, which evidence suggests reduces alcohol-related deaths in Scotland, and to tell employers to do more about drinking in the workplace.

Dr Richard Piper, chief executive of Alcohol Change UK, which funded the report, said it opposed the alcohol industry’s “endless exaggeration of the economic benefits it provides”.

He said alcohol “impairs the performance and day-to-day functioning of our workplaces and the overall strength of our economy.” “When alcohol dominates workplace cultures, productivity and well-being suffer while making life more difficult for those of us who don’t drink alcohol or want to drink less.”

The Confederation of British Industry said employers should ensure employees do not feel pressured to drink at work occasions. “Having clear policies is an important starting point [to making events inclusive] Matthew Percival, director of the future of work and skills at the CBI, said: “There are many reasons why people may not want to drink alcohol at work events, and no one should feel pressured to do so.”

The government refused to respond directly to the IPPR report. A spokesperson for the company said: “As part of our 10-year health plan, we are supporting people to make healthy choices through our shift from disease to prevention as we build a national health service fit for the future. This includes committing to introducing a mandatory requirement for alcoholic drinks to display consistent nutritional information and health warning messages.”

“The Government has also provided an additional £310 million to improve drug and alcohol treatment services and support wider recovery.”

It continues to review moves to reduce alcohol-related harm, such as changes to alcohol duty and the possibility of introducing minimum unit pricing.