A report by the Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) has exposed Parliament as “Britain’s last alcohol-soaked workplace,” where MPs are routinely offered free drinks as early as midday, despite a series of alcohol-related scandals. The survey of 190 MPs and their staff found that alcohol is “embedded” in how Westminster operates, driven by loneliness, networking, and lobbying, with some MPs even having had their stomachs pumped after excessive drinking.
Alcohol availability and consumption
The report reveals that alcohol is available throughout the working day, often for free, and is intertwined with career advancement. One MP noted, “Going to a meeting at noon and alcohol’s available. Of course, I’m not used to that in my old job.” Another added, “You can start drinking here from 12 o’clock onwards and go around and consume large amounts of alcohol, and it’s relatively freely available.”
Free alcohol at lobbying events on the parliamentary estate was a particular concern. One MP described these events as a “legitimised opportunity to drink alcohol,” while another said the routine provision creates a “casual attitude to drinking.” The report also highlighted that 42% of MPs had been offered an alcoholic drink at a work meeting or event weekly in the past six months, with 13% saying this occurred daily.
Impact on health and behaviour
The report found that 22% of MPs had concerns about a colleague’s drinking, and one MP referred to colleagues having had their stomachs pumped in hospital and returning to Westminster the following day. The availability of alcohol was seen to encourage unhealthy behaviour, affecting sleep and stress levels, and potentially normalising high-risk drinking.
Hannah Spencer, a Green party MP, labelled Westminster’s drinking culture “unprofessional and worrying,” noting that “you can smell the alcohol when people are in between votes.” She received a mixed reaction from fellow MPs when she raised the issue in April.
Calls for change
Some MPs are calling for a rethink. Labour MP Cat Smith said, “We wouldn’t accept a surgeon operating after a drink or a driver getting behind the wheel – so why should we accept legislators voting on the laws of the land after one?” Beccy Cooper, a former public health consultant and Labour MP, described the report as a “wake-up call” and suggested Parliament should draw up its first formal workplace policy on alcohol.
Katherine Severi, IAS’s chief executive, urged Westminster to limit free alcohol to evening events, stating, “Very few professions these days would allow free alcohol from midday, or regularly host outside organisations sponsoring events where drinking is the norm during working hours.”
Background and response
The report follows incidents including an alleged drink-spiking in Strangers’ bar and revelations that Labour MP Neil Coyle was drinking up to 200 units of alcohol a week. In 2023, Parliament’s independent complaints scheme said alcohol was a “frequent factor” in misconduct investigations, leading to intimidating behaviour.
A Parliament spokesperson said everyone had been reminded to use alcohol responsibly, but any changes to provision would be for members to decide. Measures already in place include more no- and low-alcohol products and the right of venue staff to refuse service to intoxicated individuals.
