Whether it’s a toast at a celebration, networking over drinks, or winding down after a long week — alcohol often plays a role in workplace culture. For many, it’s a way to connect, relax, or mark a milestone. But like anything, it’s about balance. When alcohol use goes unchecked or becomes expected, it can start to impact health, productivity, and inclusion — sometimes in subtle ways that are easy to overlook.
This blog explores how alcohol shows up in the workplace, the impact it can have on individuals and organisations, and what we can all do — whether you drink, don’t drink, or are navigating something in between — to create healthier, more inclusive work environments.
Why Is Alcohol So Common in the Workplace?
In the UK, employed people are more likely to drink frequently — and sometimes to excess — compared to those not in work. That’s particularly true in industries like construction, hospitality, finance, and professional services. In some roles, long hours, high stress, or shift work can make drinking feel like a quick way to unwind.
Then there’s culture. For many workplaces, alcohol is woven into social bonding, client entertainment, reward, or team building. And with the rise of hybrid and remote work, some have found it easier to drink during working hours without being noticed — either out of habit, stress, or isolation.
It’s not always about drinking “too much” — sometimes, it’s just about how visible, expected, or exclusive alcohol becomes in professional settings. The key is not to remove it entirely, but to approach it more consciously.
The Impact on Individuals and Organisations
When alcohol becomes a regular fixture — or a crutch — it can start to affect both people and businesses in real ways:
- Health and wellbeing: Drinking heavily or frequently can worsen mental health issues like anxiety and depression, disrupt sleep, and lead to serious long-term illness.
- Work performance: Even small amounts of alcohol impair skills like judgement, concentration, and coordination. Coming to work hungover or under the influence reduces effectiveness and raises the risk of mistakes or accidents.
- Absenteeism and presenteeism: Heavy drinkers tend to miss more work, and those who come in impaired often perform below capacity, dragging down team productivity.
- Safety: In safety-critical industries like transport or construction, alcohol increases the risk of serious accidents.
- Workplace culture: Drinking-related behaviours can cause resentment among colleagues who have to ‘carry’ those struggling. It can also contribute to bullying, misconduct, or exclusion of those who don’t drink.
Financially, the cost is huge. Lost productivity due to alcohol misuse in the UK is estimated at £7.3 billion per year (at 2009-10 prices), while hangovers alone cost an estimated £1.2 to £1.4 billion annually.
What Can Individuals Do?
Whether you're trying to cut back, stop drinking altogether, or just feel out of place around alcohol at work — you're not alone. And there’s help out there.
- Reach out confidentially: Talk to your manager, HR, or a trusted colleague. Many workplaces have Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) or can signpost to external help.
- Set personal boundaries: It’s okay to say no to drinks, during work hours or social events. Finding alcohol-free ways to socialise can help you feel included without pressure.
- Reach out to specialist organisations:
- Drinkaware offers practical tools and advice on reducing alcohol consumption.
- Alcohol Change UK provides information, support, and access to treatment services.
- Addiction Recovery Foundation supports individuals and families affected by addiction.
- The National Helpline from Alcoholics Anonymous offers peer support groups and one-to-one help.
- Mind has resources on mental health and its connection to substance use.
- Samaritans is there for emotional support anytime you’re struggling.
- Seek professional help if you need it. Sometimes talking to a GP or a counsellor can open doors to tailored support like therapy or rehabilitation programmes.
If you don’t drink, but struggle with workplace culture or social pressures around alcohol, know that you’re not alone either. It’s important to set your own limits and seek out social connections that don’t revolve around drinking. And if you ever feel isolated, speaking up can help create a more inclusive environment for everyone.
How Can Organisations Support Their People?
Creating a workplace that supports balance doesn’t mean banning alcohol altogether — it’s about having clear boundaries, inclusive cultures, and access to support when it’s needed.
- Develop a clear, compassionate alcohol policy: This should outline expectations about drinking during work hours, support available, confidentiality, and fair procedures for managing incidents.
- Promote awareness and education: Help staff understand the impact of alcohol on health and work and reduce stigma around seeking help.
- Offer confidential support: Make sure employees know about counselling, EAPs, and other services.
- Create inclusive social cultures: Include alcohol-free options at events and encourage team bonding that doesn’t rely on drinking.
- Train managers and union reps: Equip them to spot signs of alcohol misuse and handle conversations sensitively.
Building an Effective Alcohol Policy
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) offers guidance on workplace alcohol policies, emphasising legal duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Employers must ensure staff aren’t working under the influence, but also treat alcohol dependence as a health issue, offering support rather than immediate discipline.
A good policy typically covers:
- Clear rules on alcohol use during work hours and events
- Procedures for dealing with alcohol-related incidents
- Confidential access to support and counselling
- Respect for privacy and fair treatment of affected employees
- Training for managers and union reps
The HSE provides model templates employers can adapt to fit their workplace.
Alcohol isn’t inherently a problem — but ignoring its impact can be. It’s not about cutting out every Friday pint or glass of fizz at the Christmas party. It’s about choice, balance, and making sure everyone feels supported, included, and able to do their best — whatever their relationship with alcohol.
For those wanting to explore the topic of addiction in the workplace more deeply, we offer a free webinar ‘Addressing Addiction in the Workplace’. It features people sharing their lived experience of alcoholism, helping break stigma and spark compassionate conversations.
It’s an honest, eye-opening conversation designed to help organisations and individuals understand addiction beyond the surface, break down stigma, and think about how we can create more compassionate, supportive workplaces.
You can watch the webinar anytime here: morganhunt.com/events/addressing-addiction-in-the-workplace