Photo by Mehmet Eroğlu: https://www.pexels.com/photo/bartender-pouring-drinks-into-glasses-18450067/
A quarter of UK employees feel pressured to drink alcohol at workplace events, rising to nearly four in ten Gen Z workers, according to new research from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR).
The think tank warns that workplace drinking culture is driving sickness absence, presenteeism and exclusion across organisations – with more than 30 per cent of workers admitting to calling in sick after work-related drinking. Among 18 to 24-year-olds, that figure rises to 43 per cent.
The findings, published in Taking stock: counting the economic costs of alcohol harm, highlight the hidden productivity toll of alcohol in professional settings. More than a third of respondents said drinking at work events excluded non-drinkers or created social cliques, while 22 per cent admitted to working while hungover.
It also seems that businesses are either unaware of the negative impacts, or are ignoring them, as more than half of employees said their employer had not provided any guidance, training, or inclusive alternatives to alcohol-centred socialising. Yet nearly three quarters (73 per cent) believe employers have a responsibility to reduce alcohol-related harm at work.
IPPR’s analysis also found that heavy drinkers aged 21 to 64 are more than three times as likely to experience presenteeism as moderate drinkers, meaning they are at work but not fully productive.
Dr Jamie O’Halloran, senior research fellow at IPPR, said the results point to an economic and wellbeing issue:
“We often think of alcohol harm as a public health issue, but this research shows it’s a national economic problem,” O’Halloran said. “When nearly half of young professionals are calling in sick after workplace drinking, it’s not just a hangover: it’s a productivity crisis. If the government is serious about growth, it needs to take alcohol harm seriously too.”
Sebastian Rees, head of health at IPPR, added:
“Employers have a huge opportunity here. By shifting away from alcohol-centric cultures and offering real support, they can boost wellbeing, improve performance, and build more inclusive workplaces. This isn’t about banning drinks – it’s about giving people the choice to thrive without pressure.”
The report calls for a “whole-society response”, including reintroducing the alcohol duty escalator, standardising duty rates and introducing minimum unit pricing in England. For employers, the authors recommend embedding alcohol harm prevention into HR and wellbeing policies and ensuring workplace events are inclusive for all employees.
IPPR says tackling workplace drinking culture would not only reduce absences and boost productivity but also improve inclusion and psychological safety for younger and non-drinking staff.
