More than a third (36%) of workers agree that they feel more comfortable talking about mental health in the workplace than alcohol, according to research published yesterday (7 July).
The research, conducted by the charity Alcohol Change for of Alcohol Awareness Week (from 7 to 13 July 2025), also found that 64% of UK workers drink alcohol for work-related reasons, with job stress, pressure and anxiety behind increased consumption in the past 12 months.
More than 2,000 respondents were asked to what extent they agreed with the statement: “I feel more comfortable talking about mental health in the workplace than I do about alcohol in the workplace.”
In response, 35.5% said that they agreed, 28.3% said that they disagreed and 29.4% said they neither agreed nor disagreed. A further 5.1% said they were not sure and 1.7% preferred not to say.
Susan Laurie, consultancy and training manager at Alcohol Change, said that the findings highlight the need to improve how comfortable employees feel discussing alcohol in the workplace.
Laurie told said: “Much progress has been achieved to de-stigmatise mental health in the workplace and encourage open, honest and positive conversations about the various ways this can show up in our lives.
“Yet, as reflected in our latest data, there’s still work to do to improve comfort levels when talking about alcohol in the workplace. Sadly, what we see in many workplaces is that alcohol is still a ‘loaded’ topic full of stigma, shame and fear, when it is in fact a vital part of the wellbeing agenda.”
The results also found that more than eight in 10 (83%) workers believe employers have some responsibility to address alcohol in the workplace.
Rebecca Reed, workplace wellbeing and mental health specialist at Siendo, a workplace wellbeing consultancy, emphasised the prevalence of dual diagnosis, in which mental health conditions and substance abuse coexist, and explained why this underscores the need for comprehensive wellbeing support in the workplace.
Reed said: “Research clearly shows that more than half of people with a drug or alcohol problem also have a mental health issue. Considering that one in four adults experiences at least one diagnosable mental health problem in any given year, this becomes a workplace conversation too.
“This overlap is so important, because it highlights the need for integrated, holistic support in workplace wellbeing strategies.”
Reed advised reviewing absence policies, employee assistance programme (EAP) posters or disciplinary actions, to see if they “subtly shame people” who may be struggling with alcohol. She also suggested equipping line managers with the necessary skills to create safety, and running awareness workshops company-wide, not just with managers.
“Make psychological safety part of your culture,” she added. “Without it, no one speaks up, no matter how many policies or toolkits you offer.”
Sandra Parker, founder of Just the Tonic Coaching, specialising in helping high-achieving professionals gain control over alcohol without feeling deprived, pointed out that many organisations “inadvertently promote drinking”, for example, through networking and client relationships, while also expecting employees to maintain perfect professional standards.
Parker said that HR leaders need to “reframe the conversation entirely” and stop using stigmatising language like “addict” or “alcoholic”. Instead, discuss “gaining control over alcohol” or “drinking more than intended”.
