Our vibrant industry thrives on creating memorable experiences every minute of every day but often at a hidden cost.
Substance abuse is an escalating issue within hospitality, and employers who choose to ignore it do so at their peril, according to Camilla Woods, Services Director at Hospitality Action.
Whilst alcohol often plays a prominent role in the hospitality landscape, behind the scenes, the pressures of long, unsocial hours, demanding customers and personal challenges can push some workers to experience serious issues such as substance abuse, mental health struggles and burnout. These challenges not only take their toll on individual wellbeing, but they can negatively impact team dynamics and undermine the productivity of entire organisations.
Drug use in the UK is on the rise, with 3.1m people reporting that they have used drugs in the last 12 months (gov.uk). Likewise, alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of death in the UK after smoking and obesity. While alcohol is more easily accessible, Hospitality Action’s data also indicates that drug use is increasingly normalised in the industry.
The ‘Norm’
Hospitality settings often operate in a league of their own, far removed from what others may consider ‘normal life’. High pressure environments, late-night cultures and close proximity to substances can create an environment that normalises substance misuse in the industry. As such, drugs and alcohol are increasingly being used as a coping mechanism to help deal with the demanding nature of the work.
The issue is further exacerbated by informal workplace cultures that accepts drug use amongst teams making intervention even less likely. Research indicates that 1 in 5 hospitality workers use drugs (Business Cloud), and a report from the Morning Advertiser suggest that nearly 80% of hospitality employees have observed drug use amongst colleagues, further normalising the behaviour.
The impact of alcohol in the workplace is also on the rise. Pub owners and licensed premises’ staff are almost three times more likely to be heavy drinkers than employees in other sectors (University of Liverpool), and 51% of London chefs reported experiencing depression due to being overworked, with 27% saying that they rely on alcohol to get through shifts (Unite).
Substance abuse and mental health
Substance abuse does not exist in isolation and is often tied to broader mental health challenges. In our 2024 Taking the Temperature survey, we found that 71% of hospitality workers have experienced a mental health problem, with 61% attributing these issues directly to their job.
Furthermore, research by Ripple found that 1 in 2 hospitality workers have had thoughts of suicide or self-harm, 30% more than the national average outlined by the NHS. Whilst it’s natural to seek ways to relax and unwind, it’s essential to learn and develop healthy coping strategies to avoid long term issues. This support must begin in the workplace, where access to the right education and tools to address underlying problems and promote healthier coping mechanisms is crucial. However, for many employees, this critical support remains unavailable.
Lack of employer awareness
The reality is that historically, our industry has left little room for self-care and structured routines, and whilst times are changing for the better, there are still significant gaps to address. Lack of employer awareness
