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One in Three UK Workers Call in Sick After Work Drinks, Survey Finds

Q: What are the main reasons behind the shift away from alcohol among Gen Z?

While the report focuses on the effects of this trend, the shift is part of a broader generational move towards health and wellness, different social norms, and a greater awareness of the negative impacts of alcohol. This change creates friction with traditional workplace cultures that often use alcohol as a primary tool for social bonding.

Q: How do different sectors in the UK compare in terms of productivity?

The UK economy has experienced a structural shift away from high-productivity sectors like manufacturing towards lower-productivity, low-wage sectors such as hospitality, retail, and social care. This imbalance, as noted by the <a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/" target="_blank">Office for National Statistics (ONS)</a>, is a core component of the nation's productivity challenge.

Q: What measures can employers take to reduce workplace drinking?

Employers can foster a more inclusive environment by de-emphasizing alcohol at work events. Recommended measures include organising a wider range of social activities that do not revolve around drinking, ensuring high-quality non-alcoholic options are always available, and actively promoting a culture where employees do not feel pressured to consume alcohol to fit in.

Q: How does the pressure to drink at work events affect employee morale?

The pressure to drink can negatively impact morale by making employees who abstain feel excluded, fostering cliques, and causing stress for those who feel forced to participate. For younger generations who are drinking less, this cultural pressure can harm team cohesion, reduce feelings of belonging, and ultimately impact talent retention.

A new IPPR report reveals that one-third of UK workers have taken sick leave after work-related drinking, highlighting a direct link between office drinking culture and the nation's productivity crisis.

Claire Whitmore

October 7, 2025

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Source:

Fox News

Sickness and Absenteeism Linked to Drinking

A new report from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has exposed a significant link between the UK's workplace drinking culture and its ongoing productivity struggles. The survey found that one in three (32%) workers have called in sick in the past year after drinking at work events or with colleagues.

This issue is particularly pronounced among younger employees, challenging the notion of a universal office drinking culture.

Generational Divide in Post-Drink Absenteeism

The data reveals a stark contrast across age groups, with younger workers far more likely to miss work due to hangovers.

Ages 25–34: 47% have called in sick.
Ages 18–24: 41% have called in sick.

Even in critical sectors such as education and health, around a quarter of staff admitted to taking sick leave for this reason. A further fifth arrived late the following day, disrupting essential services.

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Ham & High

Cultural Pressure and Workplace Exclusion

The IPPR's findings suggest that traditional workplace social norms are clashing with the habits of a new generation. Despite a well-documented trend of Gen Z drinking less alcohol, many young workers feel compelled to participate.

Pressure on Younger Employees

Over a third of Gen Z workers reported feeling pressured to drink at work functions. This pressure to conform can create an uncomfortable and exclusionary environment, undermining efforts to build an inclusive company culture.

Furthermore, 28% of all workers believe that drinking at work events fosters cliques and deliberately excludes colleagues who do not drink, for cultural, religious, or personal reasons.

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Source:

Yahoo News UK

Economic Fallout and the Productivity Crisis

The report frames these cultural issues within the broader context of the UK's economic performance. The country has long faced a "productivity crisis," with output per worker lagging behind other advanced economies like the US, France, and Germany.

A Drain on Productivity

Alcohol-related absenteeism and presenteeism—being at work but performing poorly—act as a direct drain on productivity. This exacerbates structural economic problems, including a shift towards lower-productivity sectors identified in ONS data.

The IPPR connects these dots, arguing that outdated workplace norms are not just a social issue but an economic one.

Calls for Reform

In response, policy experts and the IPPR advocate for a two-pronged approach:

Policy Interventions: Proposals include raising alcohol taxes to discourage excessive consumption.
Cultural Shift: Employers are urged to create more inclusive social events that are not centered around alcohol, better aligning with the values of a changing workforce.

Economic Fallout and the Productivity Crisis

A Drain on Productivity

The IPPR connects these dots, arguing that outdated workplace norms are not just a social issue but an economic one.

Calls for Reform

In response, policy experts and the IPPR advocate for a two-pronged approach:

Policy Interventions: Proposals include raising alcohol taxes to discourage excessive consumption.
Cultural Shift: Employers are urged to create more inclusive social events that are not centered around alcohol, better aligning with the values of a changing workforce.

How does the productivity crisis impact the overall UK economy?

The productivity crisis leads to slower economic growth, stagnant wages, and a persistent output gap compared to other advanced economies. This structural weakness is exacerbated by factors like alcohol-related absenteeism, which further drains resources and output, according to analysis from think tanks like the <a href="https://www.ippr.org/" target="_blank">IPPR</a>.

How does the productivity crisis impact the overall UK economy?

What are the main reasons behind the shift away from alcohol among Gen Z?

How do different sectors in the UK compare in terms of productivity?

What measures can employers take to reduce workplace drinking?

How does the pressure to drink at work events affect employee morale?

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