Report: Westminster’s 'alcohol-soaked' culture persists as MPs offered free drinks from midday

Parliament has been described as "Britain's last alcohol-soaked workplace" in a report that highlights how drinking remains woven into daily life at Westminster.

The Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) surveyed 190 MPs and parliamentary employees. It found that alcohol is often available for free throughout the day, and that some MPs have ended up in hospital after drinking so heavily that their stomachs were pumped. One MP said it was not unusual to attend a midday meeting where alcohol was served.

According to the report, loneliness, the pressure of the job, and the need to network with ministers all contribute to a culture in which drinking is normalized. Organisations also host events on the parliamentary estate with free alcohol as a way to lobby politicians.

The survey showed that 42% of MPs interviewed had been offered an alcoholic drink at a work meeting or event at least weekly during the previous six months, with 13% saying this happened daily. A further 22% said they had concerns about a colleague's drinking.

The report cites recent incidents, including a police investigation after a researcher's drink was allegedly spiked in Strangers' bar, and the revelation that Labour MP Neil Coyle was at one point drinking around 200 units of alcohol a week — the equivalent of 10 pints an evening.

Green MP Hannah Spencer, who called the culture "unprofessional and worrying" in April, said people could smell alcohol on colleagues between votes. Several MPs said Westminster should reconsider its relationship with alcohol. Labour MP Cat Smith compared drinking legislators to surgeons or drivers, asking why those voting on laws should be any different.

Beccy Cooper, a former public health consultant and now a Labour MP, described the report as a wake-up call. She noted that almost one in ten respondents had a negative experience due to someone else's drinking, and 70% did not know how to raise concerns. She suggested parliament introduce its first formal workplace alcohol policy.

IAS chief executive Katherine Severi said free alcohol should be limited to evening events, noting that few workplaces allow drinking from midday. Previous reviews have also flagged alcohol as a factor in misconduct, and a parliament spokesperson said staff are reminded to drink responsibly, while any changes would be for members to decide. Efforts to reduce harm include more no- and low-alcohol options and the right of venue staff to refuse service to intoxicated people.