Lena Savoie
Alcohol is often served at work functions, but it's important to remember that it's completely acceptable to turn it down. Alcohol consumption can have negative impacts on workers and businesses, including lost productivity, increased healthcare costs, injuries, accidents, and damage to equipment. It can also lead to inappropriate behaviour and compromise people's addiction recovery. With all these potential issues, it's no surprise that many organisations are rethinking their approach to alcohol in the workplace and focusing more on staff wellbeing. So, if you're not comfortable drinking at a work event, there's no need to feel pressured – your colleagues should understand and respect your decision.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Have a drink ticket policy | Instead of an open bar, provide drink tickets for a set number of drinks |
| Serve lower-alcohol content drinks | Beer and wine are better options than shots |
| Hire professional bartenders | Bartenders can cut people off and won't serve underage employees |
| Offer non-alcoholic alternatives | Provide plenty of water, non-alcoholic beverages, and signature company "mocktails" |
| Focus on other activities | Games, entertainment, and activities can take the focus off alcohol |
| Lead by example | Managers and supervisors should model appropriate drinking behavior |
| Monitor the event | Assign people to ensure workplace rules and policies are followed |
| Remind employees of workplace policies | Communicate that workplace policies, including the anti-harassment policy, apply to the event |
| Encourage a safe reporting culture | Implement an employee action hotline to encourage reporting of incidents and ensure accuracy |
| Provide transportation | Arrange for transportation or reimburse employees for ride-sharing services to ensure safe travel |
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What You'll Learn
Explain the health risks and negative impacts of drinking alcohol
Drinking alcohol can have serious health risks and negative impacts on your body and life. Excessive alcohol use can harm not only the drinker but also those around them. Alcohol affects everyone differently, depending on various factors such as how much one drinks, their health, age, and other variables. However, the whole body is affected by alcohol use, including the brain, liver, gut, pancreas, lungs, cardiovascular system, and immune system.
Firstly, alcohol can negatively impact your mental health and cognitive functions. It interferes with the brain's communication pathways, affecting its appearance and functionality. These disruptions can cause mood and behavioural changes, impairing your ability to think clearly and coordinate movements. Alcohol also increases the risk of stroke and other brain-related conditions like dementia.
Secondly, alcohol consumption is linked to an increased risk of several types of cancer. This includes head and neck cancers (oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx), breast cancer, colorectal cancer, stomach cancer, bowel cancer, mouth cancer, throat cancer, oesophageal cancer, and liver cancer. Even one drink per day can increase a woman's risk of breast cancer by 5-15% compared to non-drinkers. More than 20,000 people die from alcohol-related cancers each year in the United States alone.
Thirdly, alcohol can cause digestive problems, high blood pressure, heart disease, and liver disease. It can also weaken your immune system, making you more susceptible to illnesses. Additionally, drinking can lead to mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, and an increased risk of suicide. Alcohol consumption can also cause financial strain, impacting your job and finances.
Finally, drinking during pregnancy or while breastfeeding can harm the fetus or baby. Alcohol reduces inhibitions, leading to potential antisocial behaviour, crimes, or embarrassing situations. It is essential to be aware of these health risks and negative consequences of alcohol consumption to make informed decisions about drinking at work functions or any other context.
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Make non-alcoholic drinks available
Making non-alcoholic drinks available at work functions is an important way to cater to non-drinkers and those who want to moderate their alcohol intake. It also helps to normalise non-alcoholic options and reduce the pressure to drink. Here are some ways to ensure non-alcoholic drinks are provided and promoted:
Firstly, ensure a variety of non-alcoholic drinks are provided, including soft drinks, juices, mocktails, and water. Having an array of appealing options will encourage people to choose them and signal that the organisation supports and caters to non-drinkers. It is also a good idea to offer non-alcoholic alternatives to popular alcoholic drinks, such as alcohol-free beer or spirits, and to provide interesting and tasty options, such as flavoured waters or creative mocktails.
Secondly, promote the non-alcoholic drinks available. This can be done by ensuring they are clearly visible and easily accessible, perhaps by having a dedicated non-alcoholic drinks station or ensuring bartenders offer non-alcoholic options to guests. It is also effective to give them appealing names or create a signature company mocktail, as suggested by the California Employers Association. This can add a fun element to the non-alcoholic options and further encourage people to choose them.
Thirdly, ensure non-alcoholic drinks are well-stocked throughout the event. This may seem obvious, but it is important to ensure that non-alcoholic drinks are not overlooked or forgotten about during the function. This will also send a message that the organisation supports and encourages non-alcoholic choices.
Finally, lead by example. Managers and supervisors can play a key role in normalising non-alcoholic drinks by choosing these options themselves and encouraging others to do the same. This will help to create a culture where non-alcoholic drinks are seen as a normal and positive choice, reducing any potential pressure to drink alcohol.
By implementing these strategies, organisations can effectively make non-alcoholic drinks available at work functions, helping to reduce the potential negative impacts of alcohol and create a more inclusive environment.
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Focus on other activities besides drinking
If you want to avoid drinking alcohol at a work function, it can be helpful to focus on other activities besides drinking. Here are some strategies to try:
Firstly, it's beneficial to create a workplace culture where drinking alcohol is not the default or expected activity. This can be achieved by offering a range of alternative activities at work functions, such as games, entertainment, and other engaging activities. By providing a variety of options, you can help shift the focus away from alcohol and towards these alternative activities. This approach also ensures that employees who don't drink alcohol feel included and comfortable.
Additionally, it's important to establish clear guidelines and expectations for responsible drinking in the workplace. This can be done through the implementation of an office alcohol policy, which outlines the potential risks and repercussions of drinking on the job. Such a policy can help employees make informed decisions about their alcohol consumption and encourage them to consider alternative activities during work functions. It also demonstrates that the organisation takes employee wellbeing seriously and wants to provide a safe and comfortable environment for everyone.
Another strategy is to normalise non-alcoholic alternatives at work functions. This can be achieved by offering a variety of appealing non-alcoholic options, such as mocktails, interesting soft drinks, or fancy non-alcoholic cocktails. By providing these alternatives, you can make them more desirable and appealing to employees, reducing the focus on alcoholic beverages. It also helps to ensure that employees who choose not to drink alcohol have a variety of enjoyable options to select from.
Furthermore, consider organising activities that actively discourage excessive drinking. For example, you could arrange a work function that involves physical activities or games that require concentration and coordination. By structuring the event around these activities, employees will be less likely to drink excessively and will instead focus on participating and enjoying the organised activities. This approach also encourages team bonding and creates a fun environment without relying on alcohol.
Finally, it's beneficial to address the underlying reasons why employees may turn to alcohol at work functions. This could include stress, social anxiety, or a desire to fit in. By understanding these motivations, organisations can provide alternative ways to manage these issues. For example, offering stress management workshops, promoting mental health support services, or facilitating social clubs and activities that cater to a variety of interests can help employees find healthier coping mechanisms and reduce their reliance on alcohol to navigate work functions.
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Establish an office alcohol policy
While there are no laws specifically concerning the consumption of alcohol at work, other laws can apply, ruling drinking on the job as a massive no-no. Establishing an office alcohol policy is the responsible action for any company that makes alcohol part of its culture. It is also beneficial from a fiscal perspective. The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence states that alcohol and drug treatment pays for itself in reduced healthcare costs.
The primary goal of instituting an office alcohol policy is to help employees connect and develop more lasting relationships with one another. It can also be used to attract new talent. However, it could compromise people's addiction recovery and cause employees to develop drinking problems.
When establishing an office alcohol policy, it is important to acknowledge the potential risks of allowing employees to drink while on the job or in the office. Alcohol should be off-limits in any industry where there is a high probability of causing serious injury to oneself or others, such as healthcare, construction, and transportation. Even in industries where employees aren’t making life-and-death decisions, consuming alcohol at work can have several repercussions, including absenteeism, increased healthcare costs, and injuries.
A company alcohol policy should address the following:
- Whether/when alcohol use is permitted
- The importance of being “fit for work”
- A disclaimer that protects the use of legally prescribed medication
Additionally, it is important to consider how employees commute to work. For offices largely dependent on public transportation, offering access to alcohol on-premises poses less risk than doing so for a workforce that drives to work. If an intoxicated employee causes an accident after leaving a company event, the employer may be held liable.
It is also crucial to foster a workplace culture where staff understand the health risks of alcohol consumption, don’t feel pressured to drink at company events, and feel comfortable raising concerns about their own or others’ drinking.
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Encourage employees to be mindful of their drinking limits
It is important to encourage employees to be mindful of their drinking limits, both for their own health and to avoid negative consequences for the business. Firstly, employees should be made aware of the health risks associated with alcohol consumption, such as dehydration, increased blood pressure, reduced sleep quality, and impaired cognitive function and mental health. They should also be informed about the potential long-term health issues, including liver disease, strokes and cancer.
To encourage mindfulness, it is important to create a workplace culture where staff understand the risks of alcohol, do not feel pressured to drink at company events, and feel comfortable raising concerns about their own or others' drinking. This can be achieved through initiatives such as employee surveys and cultural audits, which can uncover attitudes towards alcohol within the organisation and help identify any concerns about the drinking culture. It is also beneficial to provide alternative options to alcohol at work functions, such as non-alcoholic "mocktails", water, and other non-alcoholic beverages.
Additionally, employees should be reminded that drinking is not synonymous with workplace social events, and there should be other activities provided, such as games, entertainment, and activities. Leading by example is also crucial; managers and supervisors should refrain from excessive drinking and encourage responsible consumption. Furthermore, it is essential to implement and communicate clear workplace policies and guidelines regarding alcohol consumption, including the importance of drinking responsibly and remaining fit for work.
Finally, it is worth noting that hangovers can impact productivity and performance. Employees should be made aware of this, and employers should consider providing support or resources to help employees manage their drinking and its effects. This could include employee assistance programmes or access to counselling services. By encouraging employees to be mindful of their drinking limits and providing the necessary support, employers can create a healthier and more productive work environment.
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Frequently asked questions
It is completely acceptable to decline alcohol at a work function. You can politely decline by simply saying "No, thank you" or "Not right now." If you want to provide a reason, you could say that you are driving, have an early start, or are on medication that doesn't mix well with alcohol.
It is important to stand your ground and politely but firmly reiterate your decision. You could also suggest an alternative, such as a non-alcoholic beverage, or offer to grab them a drink at the bar to shift the focus away from yourself.
If you know there will be alcohol at a work function, you can try some of the following strategies:
- Arrive early and grab a non-alcoholic drink to keep in your hand
- Suggest or organize activities that don't revolve around drinking
- Bring a plus-one who doesn't drink to help keep you accountable
- Discuss your concerns with a trusted colleague or supervisor beforehand, so they can support you at the event
