Starmer's vision quest

[Pblakeney]

Imagine what you'd have achieved if you went for bubble tea instead.

No.

 

[bobzmyunkle]

I'll admit I'm a less minimal drinker in France where I can get a 5L box of very drinkable Côtes du Rhône for 12.49€.

My experience of France is that most bars are shut by about 8:30 pm. According to Starmer's logic French productivity should be booming.

Edit - sorry, not quite waking up this morning*.By Starmer's logic French productivity should be sluggish. And indeed France has been labelled the new sick man of Europe by the Telegraph.

*I did go to the pub last night but was home by 10.

 

[briantrumpet]

My experience of France is that most bars are shut by about 8:30 pm. According to Starmer's logic French productivity should be booming.

But quite a few seem to open at 7am, so...

 

[AndyRM]

Starmer does this too


View: https://x.com/TRobinsonNewEra/status/1976009989946053032?t=3W2kH3gxPUExDtM5c3z9YQ&s=19

You're a landlord, are you not?

I don't really get why Wee Stevie feels the need to highlight this. Dublin is an expensive place, as is any capital city.

 

[First Aspect]

I think UK productivity would be improved if Wetherspoons ran every pub.

Or alternatively, Wether spoons os holding UK productivity back.

Seriously, think some people in think tanks would be better disappearing up their own.....

 

[Ian H]

My experience of France is that most bars are shut by about 8:30 pm. According to Starmer's logic French productivity should be booming.

Edit - sorry, not quite waking up this morning*.By Starmer's logic French productivity should be sluggish. And indeed France has been labelled the new sick man of Europe by the Telegraph.

*I did go to the pub last night but was home by 10.

French productivity is higher than the UK's. Of course there are other economic factors in play.

 

[Ian H]

Taking you at your word... (not précised)

For many of us, post-work pints are an integral part of office life. But now they are being blamed for wrecking economic productivity.
“Workplace drinking culture” is driving sickness absences and harming the economy, according to a report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), an influential progressive think tank.

One in three UK workers said they had called in sick during the past year while hungover after going out with colleagues. Meanwhile 22 per cent reported working while hungover, and 29 per cent observed colleagues being tired or sluggish after drinking.

The report, based on a survey of more than 2,000 adults, found that heavy drinkers were three times more likely to exhibit presenteeism — when they are at work but not being productive.

It warned that “alcohol poses a significant threat to the UK’s economic performance” due to this impact on workplace productivity. “This harm is especially concerning in the public sector, where taxpayers foot the bill for avoidable costs,” the report said. “Addressing alcohol-related productivity losses is not solely a matter of public health, but also a strategic imperative for economic growth and productivity in both the public and private sectors.”

Experts called for workplaces to do more to provide alcohol-free alternatives at social events, and for the government to introduce minimum pricing on alcohol.

Dr Jamie O’Halloran, a senior research fellow at IPPR who wrote the report, said: “We often think of alcohol harm as a public health issue, but this research shows it’s a national economic problem. When nearly half of young professionals are calling in sick after workplace drinking, it’s not just a hangover, it’s a productivity crisis. If the government is serious about growth, it needs to take alcohol harm seriously too.”
Sebastian Rees, head of health at IPPR, said: “Employers have a huge opportunity here. By shifting away from alcohol-centric cultures and offering real support, they can boost wellbeing, improve performance, and build more inclusive workplaces. This isn’t about banning drinks — it’s about giving people the choice to thrive without pressure. The evidence is clear: doing nothing is costing us all.”

The report found that senior executives and young professionals were the most likely to call in sick after drinking. Some 43 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds reported calling in sick after drinking at work-related events, and more than one in three said they felt pressured to drink to fit in or progress professionally.

Latest data show one in five of Generation Z, the term for adults aged 18-27, do not drink alcohol. Experts say workplaces should adapt to this shift in habits and provide more alcohol-free alternatives.

The survey also found that one in five workers have said something they regretted to a colleague while drinking or attending a work event. More than a quarter had overheard something they should not have, and 28 per cent said that drinking at work created cliques.
However, the report found that more than half of employees said their employer had not provided any guidance, training, or inclusive alternatives to alcohol.

Employers are being urged to build a healthy culture around drinking by engaging with staff about alcohol awareness and offering proactive support to those struggling with drink. Social events could be activities such as yoga, crafting or run clubs, rather than just drinking in a bar or pub.

One of my friends runs an HR company. He loves the New Year and the rich crop of apres Christmas party disciplinary cases it brings. The stories make him the life and soul of our business breakfasts, at least for the first part of the year.

 

[Bazzer]

Many pubs in these parts are closing before 11pm on a regular basis as they don’t have enough customers to justify the staff costs so I don’t see how staying open even longer with increased staffing costs and electricity bills is going to help. It’s another example that politicians of all persuasions are living several decades in the past.

It may depend upon where you live.
The town nearest to me, some 5 miles away, late in the evening, what I would describe as Channel 5 click bait.
A friend who for the last 40 years has lived in the same property in the Castlefield area of Manchester, is now intending to move from his flat because of late night noise and behaviour. The tipping point has been two bars in the area applying for a licence to serve alcohol from their existing time (1am I think) until 4:30am. They presumably have a customer base which warrants the application.

 

[CXRAndy]

You're a landlord, are you not?

I don't really get why Wee Stevie feels the need to highlight this. Dublin is an expensive place, as is any capital city.

I am, but I dont do illegal immigrants. Everyone has pass application vetting.

AND I dont evict my tenants for a better rental price to house illegal immigrants.

 

[BoldonLad]

Taking you at your word... (not précised)

For many of us, post-work pints are an integral part of office life. But now they are being blamed for wrecking economic productivity.
“Workplace drinking culture” is driving sickness absences and harming the economy, according to a report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), an influential progressive think tank.

One in three UK workers said they had called in sick during the past year while hungover after going out with colleagues. Meanwhile 22 per cent reported working while hungover, and 29 per cent observed colleagues being tired or sluggish after drinking.

The report, based on a survey of more than 2,000 adults, found that heavy drinkers were three times more likely to exhibit presenteeism — when they are at work but not being productive.

It warned that “alcohol poses a significant threat to the UK’s economic performance” due to this impact on workplace productivity. “This harm is especially concerning in the public sector, where taxpayers foot the bill for avoidable costs,” the report said. “Addressing alcohol-related productivity losses is not solely a matter of public health, but also a strategic imperative for economic growth and productivity in both the public and private sectors.”

Experts called for workplaces to do more to provide alcohol-free alternatives at social events, and for the government to introduce minimum pricing on alcohol.

Dr Jamie O’Halloran, a senior research fellow at IPPR who wrote the report, said: “We often think of alcohol harm as a public health issue, but this research shows it’s a national economic problem. When nearly half of young professionals are calling in sick after workplace drinking, it’s not just a hangover, it’s a productivity crisis. If the government is serious about growth, it needs to take alcohol harm seriously too.”
Sebastian Rees, head of health at IPPR, said: “Employers have a huge opportunity here. By shifting away from alcohol-centric cultures and offering real support, they can boost wellbeing, improve performance, and build more inclusive workplaces. This isn’t about banning drinks — it’s about giving people the choice to thrive without pressure. The evidence is clear: doing nothing is costing us all.”

The report found that senior executives and young professionals were the most likely to call in sick after drinking. Some 43 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds reported calling in sick after drinking at work-related events, and more than one in three said they felt pressured to drink to fit in or progress professionally.

Latest data show one in five of Generation Z, the term for adults aged 18-27, do not drink alcohol. Experts say workplaces should adapt to this shift in habits and provide more alcohol-free alternatives.

The survey also found that one in five workers have said something they regretted to a colleague while drinking or attending a work event. More than a quarter had overheard something they should not have, and 28 per cent said that drinking at work created cliques.
However, the report found that more than half of employees said their employer had not provided any guidance, training, or inclusive alternatives to alcohol.

Employers are being urged to build a healthy culture around drinking by engaging with staff about alcohol awareness and offering proactive support to those struggling with drink. Social events could be activities such as yoga, crafting or run clubs, rather than just drinking in a bar or pub.

A sample of 2,000, how inclusive.

Clearly, they did not draw their sample of Generation Z from Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Discourage alcohol consumption, and, people will simply switch to some other drug.

 

[Psamathe]

Seriously, think some people in think tanks would be better disappearing up their own.....

... too late. (Maybe you should have used the past tense?)

 

[CXRAndy]

That's all I hear, restaurants, pubs, shops. Reform is mentioned everywhere


View: https://x.com/Basil_TGMD/status/1976245195265147073?t=p_IBVE9a6Fhifkan6iLQlw&s=19

 

[CXRAndy]

Joker


View: https://x.com/Basil_TGMD/status/1975846697759916083?t=pwISUmXnZMzWYjmPjY3UcQ&s=19

 

[AndyRM]

I am, but I dont do illegal immigrants. Everyone has pass application vetting.

AND I dont evict my tenants for a better rental price to house illegal immigrants.

I see.

So you're happy to profit by acquiring property and renting it out?

 

[CXRAndy]

I see.

So you're happy to profit by acquiring property and renting it out?

Business investment 👌