Dry January | Leadership's role in supporting sober and sober curious staff in the workplace

Sobriety and being 'sober curious' are on the rise. More and more people are looking to cut down on their alcohol intake and even be sober - and that will include your staff and teams. It might even include you!

As Dry January begins, alcohol consumption is on the news agenda. But it's not just something to think about at the start of the year - if your staff and employees are choosing sobriety, they'll be looking to their leadership for support long-term.

Despite the positive aspects of choosing sobriety, individuals may face challenges in the workplace, including social stigma, pressure to participate in alcohol-related events, and potential isolation. Change is about way more than 'no-booze networking', that's for sure. And you ignore the changes in societal norms when it comes to alcohol at your peril, say experts.

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"The latest You Gov survey clearly shows a seismic shift in attitudes towards alcohol in the UK, with a staggering 39% of 18-24 year olds not drinking alcohol at all," says Janet Hadley, founder at Choose Sunrise which offers sober networking and in-house training on sobriety culture. "As gen Z enter the workforce, employers that continue to promote alcohol as the only way to reward colleagues will be seen as dinosaurs and will fail to attract and retain the very best of the top talent."