{"id":77306,"date":"2026-01-14T09:20:16","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T08:20:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ascert.biz\/?p=77306"},"modified":"2026-01-14T09:20:16","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T08:20:16","slug":"alcohol-costs-uk-workplaces-1-4bn-a-year-charity-offers-free-alcohol-awareness-sessions-to-ni-businesses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/devserva.inicodigital.com\/maina\/alcohol-costs-uk-workplaces-1-4bn-a-year-charity-offers-free-alcohol-awareness-sessions-to-ni-businesses\/","title":{"rendered":"Alcohol Costs UK Workplaces \u00a31.4bn a Year Charity Offers Free Alcohol Awareness Sessions to NI Businesses"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">As many people across Northern Ireland\u00a0think about cutting down on alcohol\u00a0following increased drinking over the festive period, leading\u00a0local\u00a0alcohol and drugs charity ASCERT is calling on employers to support staff wellbeing through free workplace alcohol awareness sessions.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">January is traditionally a month when people reflect on their health,\u00a0finances\u00a0and habits. After the holidays, many employees may be drinking\u00a0alcohol\u00a0more than\u00a0the\u00a0recommended\u00a0guidelines\u00a0without realising\u00a0it, which has\u00a0a huge\u00a0impact\u00a0on their sleep, mental\u00a0health\u00a0and performance at work.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Alcohol-related absence is estimated to cost UK businesses\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a31.4 billion each year in lost productivity<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, with poor wellbeing often going unnoticed in the workplace.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">To address this, ASCERT is offering FREE \u201cRethink Your Drink\u201d Alcohol Awareness Sessions to organisations across Northern Ireland\u00a0to support\u00a0ongoing\u00a0workplace-based\u00a0wellbeing initiatives.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Founded in 1998, ASCERT supports young people, individuals,\u00a0families\u00a0and communities affected by alcohol,\u00a0drugs\u00a0and mental health challenges. The charity says workplaces are a key setting for early awareness and prevention.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Each one-hour, informal session is designed to fit easily into the working day and helps employees:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Understand recommended alcohol guidelines<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Recognise how alcohol affects physical and mental wellbeing<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Identify\u00a0when and where to seek support<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Learn how\u00a0small changes\u00a0can lead to long-term benefits<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Speaking about the initiative, Gary McMichael, Chief Executive of ASCERT, said:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cJanuary is a time when many people are already thinking about cutting back or reassessing their relationship with alcohol after the festive season. Employers have a unique opportunity\u00a0to support their staff at this point, not through judgement, but through information,\u00a0awareness\u00a0and practical support.\u201d<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cOur free sessions are about empowering people to make informed choices. Even\u00a0small changes\u00a0can improve sleep, mood,\u00a0attendance\u00a0and productivity,\u00a0benefiting\u00a0both employees and organisations.\u201d<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">ASCERT says the sessions are not about telling people what to\u00a0do, but\u00a0about creating healthier conversations around alcohol in the workplace, particularly at a time when stress, financial pressure and post-holiday fatigue can increase reliance on alcohol.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">ASCERT\u2019s sessions are available\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">free of charge<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0to organisations across Northern Ireland\u00a0at any\u00a0time\u00a0throughout 2026.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">To book a session or find out more<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, email\u00a0marketing@ascert.biz<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Alcohol-related absence is estimated to cost UK businesses\u00a0\u00a31.4 billion each year in lost productivity, with poor wellbeing often going unnoticed in the workplace.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>To address this, ASCERT is offering FREE \u201cRethink Your Drink\u201d Alcohol Awareness Sessions to organisations across Northern Ireland\u00a0to support\u00a0ongoing\u00a0workplace-based\u00a0wellbeing initiatives.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4915,"featured_media":77307,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[272],"tags":[446],"class_list":["post-77306","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-alcoholawarenesssessions"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/devserva.inicodigital.com\/maina\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77306","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/devserva.inicodigital.com\/maina\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/devserva.inicodigital.com\/maina\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/devserva.inicodigital.com\/maina\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4915"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/devserva.inicodigital.com\/maina\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=77306"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/devserva.inicodigital.com\/maina\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77306\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/devserva.inicodigital.com\/maina\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/77307"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/devserva.inicodigital.com\/maina\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=77306"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/devserva.inicodigital.com\/maina\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=77306"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/devserva.inicodigital.com\/maina\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=77306"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}