10-07-2025
Too many workplace cultures are putting alcohol at their heart, says Inverclyde MSP
It's Alcohol Awareness Week – and this year's theme is alcohol and work.
Alcohol Change UK's website says that with longer hours, more stress, the blurring of lines between work and home, and too many workplace cultures placing booze rather than people at the centre of things, there are so many ways work and alcohol are linked.
In many ways, there are already changes that have happened over time when it comes to work and alcohol. For example, it used to be commonplace for people to enjoy an alcoholic drink, or drinks, during their lunch break. That is much less common now.
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What is still commonplace for many workplace cultures, though, is going to the pub after work. That pressure to join in – not just to go along, but to drink alcohol – can be huge.
For people with caring responsibilities, the majority of whom are women, this inability to take part or unwillingness to drink alcohol can feel like you're missing out or being a 'buzzkill'.
This shows that alcohol is still deeply woven into our culture, and that many people use it to relax after a stressful day at work.
This year's Alcohol Awareness Week theme is 'alcohol at work'. (Image: PA) Too often there is a conception that people living with drink dependency can't hold down a job – but when one in four people in the UK worry about their drinking, it's clear this is a myth.
I'm not suggesting 25 per cent of the adult population in the UK have an alcohol addiction. However, these figures indicate that increasing numbers of people are concerned about the impact alcohol has in their lives.
It's no wonder though, as alcohol is a causal factor in more than 200 medical conditions, including high blood pressure, liver scarring, and cancers.
Other research shows that alcohol is the biggest risk factor for death, ill-health, and disability among 15-49 year-olds in the UK, and the fifth biggest risk factor across all ages.
Research shows that alcohol is the biggest risk factor for death, ill-health, and disability among 15-49 year-olds in the UK. Governments across the UK therefore have a duty to help prevent alcohol-related harm, and many charities and community groups do fantastic work to help those affected by harmful drinking habits.
For most of us, though, we don't need specialist support. But we do need to be more open about how alcohol impacts us, and try to foster healthier habits. The popularity of alcohol-free products shows that many people are looking for alternatives – whether that's alcohol-free beer, wine, spirits or mocktails.
Locally, one idea that has been suggested to me is a 'sober bar' – which would give people a place to go that feels like a pub, but without the presence of alcohol.
I would hope this can be successful, as it could also provide opportunities for more people to engage in their local area, and could reduce the sense of isolation some people in our community live with daily.
