Alcohol Awareness Week is an annual campaign coordinated by Alcohol Change UK, a leading UK alcohol charity, formed from the merger of Alcohol Concern and Alcohol Research UK. They focus entirely on reducing alcohol harm, working across the whole range of serious alcohol harms, from mental and physical to societal and economic.
Alcohol Awareness Week is a chance for the UK to get thinking about drinking. It’s a week of awareness-raising, campaigning for change, and more. This year the campaign is running from 7th to 13th July on the theme of alcohol and work to look at the links between alcohol and work and to help make change for yourself and others.
Alcohol and Work
Around 10 million people are drinking alcohol regularly in ways that harm out health and wellbeing. From sleepless nights and headaches to lower productivity and worsening symptoms of anxiety and depression, alcohol impacts us in more ways than we realise. Yes, few of us stop to consider how our work might influence our drinking habits. Longer hours, higher stress, blurred boundaries between work and home and workplace cultures that put alcohol, rather than people, at the centre of things, all of which contribute to this complex relationship.
Whether it’s Friday night drinks, networking events, or rewards, alcohol often takes centre stage in workplace socials, leaving some of us feeling pressured or excluded for not drinking. On tough days, it can be tempting to turn to alcohol to try to cope with stress or anxiety but this can worsen the symptoms and make us feel worse the next day. And this doesn’t just affect us as employees. Whether we’re freelancing, volunteering, or studying we can feel the effects of drinking in a similar way.
Transitions in and out of work – like unemployment, retirement or parental leave – can also influence how we drink. Life changes such as these can often leave us feeling unsettled or isolated, increasing the risk of us drinking more than we’d like. This can lead to additional challenges, affecting our health and wellbeing and relationships.
This Alcohol Awareness Week, we’re opening up a conversation about the link between alcohol and work, offering practical advice on recognising the signs and making positive changes. By cutting down on our drinking and creating healthier, more inclusive workplace cultures that out people first, we can improve our wellbeing, productivity and motivation in all sectors – from offices to frontline staff. Together we can create safer, happier environments for everyone.
Getting involved in Alcohol Awareness Week 2025
There are lots of ways your can get involved in this year’s campaign including:
- Sparking your change in your workplace
- Making changes for yourself and taking steps towards healthier habits
- Taking part as an organisation, workplace or community group
Click here to find out more and to access resources from Alcohol Change UK to start taking part in the campaign.
Accessing local alcohol support
If you’re looking to access local support around your relationship with alcohol, you can speak with your GP and there are local organisations who can offer support including:
Click here to find more local organisations.
