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a leading think tank demanded to increase taxes on alcoholic beverages to tackle the “productivity crisis” driven by workplace drinking culture.
Public Policy Research Institute (PRI)PL) Nearly one in three employees fell ill after drinking alcohol at work events last year.
The IPPR survey also revealed that one in five employees comes to work with a hangover, and 29 percent noted colleagues appearing “tired or lethargic” because of it. Liquor,
Ahead of Rachel Reeves’ autumn budget next month, the think tank stressed the vital need for action against the harmful effects of work-related drinking on productivity.
He urged the government to reintroduce the alcohol duty escalator. This mechanism, established by Labor in 2008 and abolished by the Conservatives in 2014, increased all alcohol duty rates by 2 per cent annually above inflation.
The IPPR also said the government should take action against “the cheapest, strongest drinks that cause the most harm” by standardizing duty rates on all alcohol products containing the same level of alcohol by volume.
The report said a minimum unit price on all alcohol, which has been implemented in Scotland and Wales, could also be set in England.
The government increased alcohol duty rates in February after the Conservatives imposed a freeze over the past two years.
Health organizations have called for a new national alcohol strategy to limit the harm, with the last strategy published in 2012, but the IPPR said the impact of regular drinking by workers is reducing productivity and stunting growth.
IPPR senior research fellow Jamie O’Halloran said urgent measures were needed.
He said: “We often think of alcohol-related harm as a public health problem, but this research shows it is a national economic problem.
“When nearly half of young professionals are falling sick after drinking at work, it’s not just a hangover, it’s a productivity crisis.
“If the government is serious about development, it also needs to take the harm caused by alcohol seriously.”
The report found that most employers are doing little to address drinking culture in the workplace.
More than half of workers surveyed said their employer did not provide any guidance, training or inclusive options for programs featuring alcohol.
But 73% of workers said they believe employers have a responsibility to reduce alcohol-related harm, representing “a glaring gap between expectation and action.”
Sebastian Rees, head of health at the IPPR, appealed to employers to take action on the issue.
He said: “Employers have a huge opportunity here.
“By moving away from alcohol-focused cultures and providing genuine support, they can boost well-being, improve performance and create more inclusive workplaces.
“This isn’t about banning drinks – it’s about giving people the option to move without pressure. The evidence is clear: doing nothing is hurting us all.”
The report acknowledged that raising the price of alcohol products could be unpopular with the public and a political risk.
It said “continued” lobbying of policy makers by the wine industry focused on the sector’s huge contribution to the economy, cited as tens of billions of pounds per year, and the jobs supported by the sector.
But IPPR said this contribution may be overstated because most of these jobs are often part-time and “low-paid”.
The report’s findings were based on a survey of 2,083 employees across the UK.
A government spokesperson said: “As part of our 10-year health plan, we are supporting people to make healthier choices through a shift from disease prevention to prevention as we make the NHS fit for the future.
“This includes a commitment to introduce a mandatory requirement for alcoholic beverages to consistently display nutritional information and health warning messages.
“The government has also provided an additional £310 million to improve drug and alcohol treatment services and support wider recovery support, including housing and employment support.”