Portman Group chief Henry Ashworth urges action on workplace alcohol policies
Henry Ashworth, co-chair of the Responsibility Deal Alcohol Network, urged more businesses to get involved in the Deal and highlighted some positive actions taken so far, such as serving lower-strength drinks and using smaller glassware.
But he said: “There is more that we can do. We’re working with Dame Carol Black [chair of the Government’s Responsibility Deal health at work network] to look at alcohol in the workplace and I think it’s essential for employers in 2013 to think about what they do to put in place employee alcohol policies.”
Similar suggestions have previously attracted criticism from industry leaders. Last year Marston’s chief executive Ralph Findlay wrote to the Department of Health saying calls to persuade young people to eat more healthily, drink less and stop smoking, obliges employers to “assume a level of responsibility for their behaviour of employees that intrudes into their personal lives”.
Speaking in a podcast on the Responsibility Deal website, Ashworth said: “March is the second anniversary of the Responsibility Deal – we’re three months away. So now is a really good time to take stock and see what progress has been made. There are some great pledges on the table but obviously we are looking for more people to join us as we go forward.”
He said that nationally there were “encouraging” patterns in alcohol consumption, but added that it was “a bit worrying to see that there are certain local areas that are way out of kilter with the national picture”.
“So the localism pledge to support local areas with industry initiatives such as Best Bar None, community alcohol partnerships, purple flag and business improvement districts is really important to get a better more co-ordinated response to those areas that need it.”
Ashworth added: “There are many organisations and businesses - that could be local authorities, public health communities, alcohol producers, retailers or restaurateurs - that can get behind the Responsibility Deal pledges and continue to make sure we make great progress in 2013.”
