Alcohol has been a longstanding component of workplace culture, serving as a bonding ritual, morale booster, and stress reliever. Drinking has been integrated into work-related activities, such as client meetings and social events. However, while the pandemic disrupted workplace social culture, alcohol remained present through virtual happy hours on platforms like Zoom. Regular alcohol consumption has become institutionalized and even encouraged in many aspects of life, including academic and professional settings. In some countries, such as China, binge drinking is viewed as a “moral contract” that builds trust between potential business partners. Nevertheless, some companies are reconsidering the role of alcohol in professional settings due to a growing number of employees who choose not to drink for personal reasons, and a younger generation that is promoting sobriety and alternative forms of socializing. As such, the question arises: is there still a place for alcohol in the workplace?
While some employees may enjoy alcohol as part of their work culture, the emphasis on drinking in the workplace may not be suitable for everyone, and it can be challenging to avoid. According to a study conducted in 2019 by the University of Stavanger in Norway, employees feel obligated to participate in drinking when employers or supervisors initiate it. Similarly, a study by the University of Stirling in Scotland found that half of the participants surveyed felt pressured to drink by colleagues and family. Men were found to be more susceptible to peer pressure, with colleagues 20% more likely and bosses 37% more likely to encourage men to drink. Emma Catterall, evidence and research lead at Drinkaware, stated that subsidizing alcohol at work events may seem like a nice gesture, but it normalizes alcohol in the workplace, making it exclusionary for those who do not drink. A survey of over 2,000 working adults in the UK found that 43% of respondents believe there is too much pressure to drink when socializing with colleagues, and 53% would like to see less pressure to do so.
The study conducted by researchers from the University of Stavanger in Norway in 2019 revealed that employees feel obliged to participate in drinking initiated by employers or supervisors. Similarly, in the UK, half of the respondents surveyed by researchers at the University of Stirling in Scotland admitted to being pressured into drinking alcohol by colleagues and family. The study also indicated that men are 20% more likely to be encouraged into drinking by their colleagues and 37% more by their bosses than women.
Emma Catterall, evidence and research lead at Drinkaware, suggests that subsidising alcohol at events may appear to be a nice gesture, but it normalises alcohol within the workplace and can be exclusionary for those who do not drink. Catterall’s team found that co-workers are second only to friends as the main source of pressure to drink. Their research also shows that colleagues are more influential than family members or spouses in encouraging people to drink more alcohol than they set out to.
According to a survey of more than 2,000 working adults in the UK, 43% of respondents believe there is too much pressure to drink when socialising with colleagues, and 53% would like there to be less pressure to do so. The growing group of young people who do not drink is having a broader influence, and as they move towards leadership positions, especially in sectors where drinking has been a core part of the culture, there may be a greater shift away from alcohol-centred activities due to social pressure.
Furthermore, according to a survey by Totaljobs, more than one in three workers consider drinking with colleagues as outdated. The open 24/7 beer fridges, Friday drinks trolley, and booze-fuelled socials do not sit well with workers and may be becoming less ingrained in corporate culture.
Bonding without Booze
Although many people still enjoy consuming alcohol at work-sponsored social events, a shift towards non-alcohol-centric workplaces is underway. According to Drinkaware’s 2021 research shared with the BBC, one-quarter of working Britons stated that alcohol played a fairly positive or very positive role in work social events, while only about 10% claimed it had a fairly or very negative impact. In the United States, over one-third (38%) of Americans consider after-work drinks to be an excellent method to bond and strengthen a team, as per Alcohol.org’s 2023 data from American Addiction Centers, a provider of alcohol treatment resources.
WeWork, an office-space leasing company that offers flexible workspaces around the world, was previously known for beer on tap as a signature perk. However, based on feedback from members in various regions, the company has updated its offering. Alcoholic drinks were phased out in the United States before the pandemic and replaced by cold brew coffee, kombucha, and seltzer on-tap, while in the UK, beer remains, but it is served alongside seltzers, kombucha, and barista coffees throughout the day.
“It’s not about trying to ban all alcohol at work, but rather being more aware that not everybody wants to drink, and that too much can cause problems for workers and the organization as a whole,” says Catterall, the evidence and research lead at Drinkaware. “Tactics like non-alcoholic options and bonding activities that aren’t dependent on alcohol create a more inclusive environment for non-drinkers, where they feel equally valued and welcome, but also a space where staff who do drink feel comfortable – then everyone wins.”
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