14.12.2022

Rise of ‘dry’ Xmas party: 44% of Gen Z avoid work socials due to drinking pressure

A new study reveals alcohol-fuelled office Christmas parties are becoming old hat, as the younger generations seek healthier workplace social alternatives.

As a new report finds younger employees are the most likely to avoid company socials because of pressure around alcohol, this Christmas experts are encouraging inclusive work celebrations where alcohol alternatives are available and all employees feel comfortable.

According to the 2022 Diversity & Inclusion in the Workplace Report, nearly half (44%) of employees aged 21-24 avoid company socials so they don’t experience pressure to drink. This figure falls to 19% of those aged 25-34, and to 10% of those aged 35-54 and 55+.

The report was conducted by Christmas team building specialists Wildgoose who surveyed employees from 133 UK workplaces. Employees were asked if their workplace is an inclusive environment, what areas of diversity their organisation could improve upon, and whether they have experienced discrimination or inequality in the workplace.

The desire to avoid company socials because of drinking culture is strongest in London workplaces, at 30% of employees. Closely behind are Welsh employees, 25% of whom won’t attend company socials to avoid pressure to drink.

These findings follow recent research by Raptor which found that Gen Z is putting the brakes on drinking culture: 41% of 18-24 year olds in the UK associate alcohol with ‘vulnerability’, ‘anxiety’ and ‘abuse’. When they do drink alcohol, Gen Z cites their top reasons as a way to socialise, connect and have fun, not to get buzzed, relax or fit in.

How to make your seasonal celebrations a welcoming place for non-drinkers

Founder of Caleño Drinks and Moderation Drinking Advocate, Ellie Webb says: “Younger employees are still just as social as they’ve ever been, but they are no longer bothered about drinking loads of alcohol. We have to be mindful that not everyone is going to want to drink huge amounts of alcohol for a variety of reasons.”

Webb advises if you’re an employer, here are just a couple of things to be thinking about throughout the party season:

Ensure your workplace party serves beer, wine and spirit alcohol alternatives (again, water and OJ don’t count)
Ask staff in advance if they have any particular alcohol-free brands they enjoy drinking and cater for these
Don’t revert to the blanket ‘a bottle of wine’ company gift - not everyone values alcohol at Christmas
Whilst you want everyone to have a great time at your Christmas party, be aware of the negative side effects that can follow a particularly boozy Christmas do; Hangover anxiety, poor sleep quality and reduced productivity to name just a few.

Wildgoose managing director Jonny Edser states: “Alcohol has always been a big part of workplace culture, but with many younger employees choosing to steer clear of alcoholic-drinks, companies need to quickly rethink how inclusive their social events really are.

“Company socials, especially at Christmas, should be about having fun and thanking your employees for their work. But when the event revolves around alcohol, it can make non-drinkers feel uncomfortable or left out.

“It’s so important that employers are respectful of everyone’s personal drinking preferences. Organising events that aren’t centralised around alcohol helps to create an inclusive environment where employees don’t feel pressured to have a drink.

“At Wildgoose we provide a variety of Christmas-themed team building activities which help employees to connect and have fun, without needing to drink alcohol.”

Rory Cockhaw, who went teetotal at age 19/20 and is a campaigner at leading vegan charity ‘Viva!’ says: “Having get-togethers take place in more low-key, toned-down venues and not pressing too hard on the reasons for others’ choices and behaviours is key. It goes almost without saying that a general atmosphere of drinking alcohol being opt-in extra, rather than a presupposed default that must be opted out of, also really helps anybody like me to feel like slightly less of a social pariah!

"The best advice I can give somebody who is in a pub matching their colleagues’ pints with tap waters or mocktails is simply listen to your own instincts. If you want to leave, make your apologies and head out the door; it’s not being a killjoy to recognise that your own night has come to an end while others might just be getting into the swing of things. FOMO (the fear of missing out) is only as powerful as you let it be.”

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