Laura Uberoi explains why lawyers should embrace a no- or low-alcohol-focused approach to work events
The Junior Lawyers Division of the Law Society (the JLD) launched a new guide—Creating a healthy alcohol culture in the legal profession (the guide) earlier this year. Its aim is not to stop individuals drinking alcohol, but to promote awareness and create opportunities to foster a healthier, more inclusive approach to work-related activities. The guide was featured in nearly every national newspaper and discussed on various radio stations, so why is it attracting so much attention and what can you take from it?
Time for change?
There are four main factors encouraging organisations and lawyers to rethink their approaches to alcohol:
- Improved mental and physical health. Harmful drinking is the biggest risk factor for death and ill health among 15-49 year olds in the UK. Since 2017, the JLD has run an annual survey examining the levels of extreme stress and mental-ill health among junior lawyers. This survey highlights that alcohol is a contributing factor to mental ill-health
