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Only one in four UK employees want alcohol at workplace social events while little more than half attend after-hours events owing to travel time and family duties, according to research that signals the end of the boozy Christmas party.
Some 24 per cent of UK workers said alcohol was “something [they] would want to see” at work-related social events, according to 2,000 respondents polled in a wider survey that was commissioned by catering group Compass.
Events outside work hours attracted only 52 per cent of UK workers, the study of 30,000 people in 21 countries found, with respondents citing family, sports and caring commitments as well as travel time as barriers to participation.
In a sign of the drop in alcohol consumption by young people, 55 per cent of UK students said having non-alcoholic drinks at work-related events was “a great way to be inclusive”, higher than 49 per cent globally. Some 59 per cent said they expected future employers to lay on games-based events.
Compass said the findings of the poll, which was conducted by data research company Mintel, suggested that “the days of the traditional after-work office party centred around alcohol” were over, with students’ responses showing “immersive and inclusive events are key to attracting future employees”.
Christmas is the most important period in terms of revenue for the hospitality sector, and businesses that help organise office parties say demand from clients is shifting to alcohol-free, activity-based events that start during work hours.
In the UK low-alcohol beer sales increased more than in any other market last year, boosted by more health-conscious consumers.
Convene, which provides venues for workspace and events, said the number of event contracts adding mocktails had doubled in the past year in the UK, compared with an average 10 per cent increase globally.
Niamh Martin, UK managing director, said the company would also offer fully non-alcohol package options for parties from early next year, while requests for a separate non-alcoholic bar were on the rise.
Participation in parties that started at 4pm or 5pm at Convene’s London office space was 45 per cent higher compared with parties that started at 6pm, she added.
Restaurant Associates, a subsidiary of Compass that provides catering for events and office parties, said demand for non-alcoholic drinks had jumped by at least 50 per cent since before the pandemic.
Gavin Gooddy, UK marketing director, said the company was increasingly focusing on “social activities engagement”, such as events where attendees could meet and share a meal with a famous chef.
Employees are there “for a reason to speak to [their] colleagues, but they [also] want to get something from us”, he said.
Socialising venue operators have said shared activities can help bosses build team culture when employees split their week between the office and home and have less face-to-face contact.
Alex Harman, president of Toca Social, a chain of bars across the UK offering indoor football, said 20 per cent of bookings came from employers looking for team building opportunities.
Some 45 per cent of hybrid workers globally said they would “come into their place of work more often if there were more opportunities to socialise with colleagues”, according to the study.
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