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IARD launches resources to support workplace alcohol policies

FOUR IN FIVE EMPLOYERS DO NOT HAVE ALCOHOL IN THE WORKPLACE POLICIES IN PLACE

  • One in three (34%) employers say staff socialising in person is important given the increase in hybrid working
  • Three in four (73%) companies have more generations in their workforce than ever before
  • But four in five (79%) employers do not have policies on responsible alcohol consumption in the workplace and eight out of 10 (81%) do not have guidance on inclusive social events
  • IARD launches new resources to support the development of alcohol in the workplace policies and tools for line-managers
 
 
With four different generations working together in the workplace, new expectations regarding employee health and wellbeing have emerged according to a new report commissioned by the International Alliance for Responsible Drinking* (IARD).
 
The in-depth study by the Work Foundation at Lancaster University, a leading think tank on improving lives in the workplace, found nearly three-quarters (73%) of senior business leaders were experiencing more generations in their workforce than in the past as populations age and working lives are extended.
 
With hybrid working gaining prevalence, when asked about policies around socialising at work, more than one in three employers (34%) agreed opportunities for socialising were important.
 
However, 81% of employers do not have guidance in place on inclusive events and four in five (79%) do not have policies on responsible alcohol consumption in the workplace. These policies have specific resonance for the thousands of businesses including cafes, restaurant, bars and retailers. In addition, alcohol can often be present as part of business dinners, networking events and engagements.  
 
The Work Foundation report was informed by a Survation survey of 1,167 senior business leaders across Great Britain (May 2024) and a global roundtable co-hosted by IARD included contributions from the International Labour Organisation at the UN, the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, the conciliation service ACAS and experts from the US, Africa and Latin America.
 
The report makes clear recommendations to employers on how to create inclusive and positive workplace cultures:
 
  • Event labelling – change the description of events away from ‘drinks’ to ‘socialising’
  • Alternative drinks – provide non-alcohol drinks alongside alcohol drinks
  • Alternative events and event timings – host morning, lunch or afternoon gatherings to include those with caring responsibilities
  • Dietary requirements – ask about preferences for non-alcoholic drinks
  • Training – provide resources and tools to support effective alcohol in the workplace policies
 
Julian Braithwaite, CEO and President of IARD, said: “The workplace has never been more diverse, multigenerational, or flexible. Post-pandemic, employers have been looking to find new ways to promote in-person collaboration and teambuilding including through social events. Today we’re releasing materials that build on best practice from our own member companies to support managers to develop modern alcohol in the workplace policies, including guidance for those who choose to drink at work events and supporting choice for those who do not”.
 
Ben Harrison, Director of the Work Foundation at Lancaster University said: “For the first time in history there are now four generations in the workplace together – with those born in the 1960s and 70s working alongside those born in the 2000s.
“Our study shows that employers recognise the benefits of this increasingly multigenerational workforce, but many are not putting in place age-friendly policies and support mechanisms to support an inclusive and productive workplace culture. In particular, relatively few have put policies in place on issues like menopause support or guidance on alcohol and socialising. Employers need to respond to new expectations that prioritise health and wellbeing by introducing longer term workforce planning and implementing age inclusive policies within their organisation.”
 
To help support inclusive work cultures that take account of the diverse needs and preferences of employees across multiple generations, IARD has launched resources that are intended to inspire organizations to develop alcohol workplace policies and give their line managers tools to recognize signs of alcohol misuse and manage situations sensitively and effectively.
 
These materials are not intended to replace polices that may already exist but instead to provide inspiration where nothing might be in place. Polices will differ depending on the  organization and nature of its business as well as local, national and regional context.
 
ENDS 
Contact: 
For more information, please contact: Puja Darbari – pdarbari@iard.org or iard@mhpgroup.com  
Notes to editors 
  1. The Work Foundation at Lancaster University and the International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD) commissioned Survation to carry out a nationally represented survey of 1,167 senior business leaders across Great Britain. The fieldwork took place online between 29 April and 7 May 2024. 
  2. The study is based on a literature review, a Survation survey of 1,167 senior business leaders across Great Britain, and a roundtable attended by relevant national and international stakeholders. The fieldwork for the survey took place online between 29 April and 6 May 2024, and the roundtable took place online on 9 May 2024.  Full title of report: Atay, A. and Williams, E. (2024). Working together: Maximising the opportunities of a multigenerational workforce, Work Foundation at Lancaster University.
About IARD: The International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to reducing harmful drinking and promoting understanding of responsible drinking. We are supported by the leading global beer, wine, and spirits producers, who have come together for a common purpose: to be part of the solution in combating harmful drinking. To advance this shared mission, IARD works and partners with public sector, civil society, and private stakeholders. www.iard.org  
 
*IARD’s members are AB InBev, Asahi, Bacardi, Brown-Forman, Carlsberg, Diageo, Heineken, Kirin, Moët Hennessy, Molson Coors Beverage Company, Pernod Ricard, Suntory Global Spirits, and William Grant & Sons. Associate members: The Coca-Cola Company and LOTTE Chilsung Beverage. 
 
 

International Alliance for Responsible Drinking

© 2021 International Alliance for Responsible Drinking
IARD’s members and the members of its Partnership Council are a diverse group of organizations with a variety of viewpoints. They might not necessarily agree on all or any subjects. Any statements, findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed on this website do not reflect the policies or views of all IARD members or the organizations they represent, unless explicitly stated. However, all members agree on and support IARD’s mission of reducing the harmful use of alcohol.
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