Fresh Knowledge launches responsible Christmas party seminar programme

Yorkshire based alcohol-management consultancy, Fresh Knowledge, has launched a seminar programme offering advice to local companies on holding responsible end-of-year functions.

Christmas parties can significantly boost office morale. They give staff a chance to relax, to reflect on the achievements of the past year and the opportunity to interact with colleagues on a social basis. However, the positive aspects of office parties can be quickly overshadowed by the misuse of alcohol.

Staff-members telling the boss exactly what they think of him or lewd usage of the photocopier after a drink too many is one thing. A member of staff suffering injury or death through an alcohol-related incident is quite another.

Companies need to be aware that the onus is on them to ensure that employees celebrate safely. Case law has established that employers have significant legal responsibility for what employees do in the course of employment.

There are five simple rules that a company can follow to decrease the likelihood of an office party ending in embarrassment, injury or even tragedy.

• Arrangements should be made for staff to get home safely, either by pre-ordering taxis or ensuring that staff-members are taken home by a sober driver.
• Non-alcoholic drinks, plenty of water and food should be provided to help offset the effects of alcohol consumption.
• Parties should not be held in places where machinery is present.
• The ‘spiking’ of drinks with ‘date-rape’ or other drugs is a danger at Christmas parties. To reduce the risk of spiking, companies should avoid punch bowls and provide anti-spiking stoppers or drug screens (available in certain supermarkets and on the internet).
• Supplying unlimited amounts of free alcohol can encourage staff to binge drink. Companies should consider a cap on the amount of free alcohol they provide. Closing the bar thirty minutes before the party ends will stop staff downing drinks as quickly as possible.

Sue Stone, Managing Director of Fresh Knowledge, warned that adhering to these rules will not guarantee an incident-free party. “If companies have fostered an institutional drinking culture, they will have difficulty implementing rules and management will struggle to be taken seriously by staff.”

“One way around this in the short term is to shift the focus away from alcohol and towards activities that do not require drinking for their enjoyment. Games, quizzes, dancing and mock-award ceremonies all go some way to divert employees’ attention away from getting drunk,” she said.

Fresh Knowledge will be running workshops for management and HR staff on holding safe and responsible Christmas parties over November and December. Companies that would like to sign up for a two-hour session can contact Sue Stone on 01937 573 991 or email info@freshknowledge.co.uk.