Employers the length and breadth of the country are bracing themselves for the introduction of new licensing laws, which come into effect in February 2005. The 2003 Licensing Act will allow pubs and clubs to stay open 24 hours a day.



Companies fear it will lead to an escalation in hangover-induced sickies that are already estimated to cost the UK economy £2.8 billion a year. This figure is a culmination of 10 million days lost through sickies and 19 million days’ worth of work affected through staff turning up to work with hangovers.



The powers that be hope it will lead to a more ‘mature and continental’ attitude to drinking, reduce binge drinking and therefore increase productivity. They have clearly yet to sit through an episode of ‘Ibiza Uncovered!’



In a poll of 8,500 employees more than half of all workers (51 per cent) feel that the introduction of 24-hour pub licenses will cut productivity for UK organisations. The research by Reed also revealed that many respondents had passed out, felt apathetic or ill, had been unable to deal with things, spoken out of turn, or thrown up during the working day.



The survey reveals a shifting attitude to alcohol, with 31 per cent of those polled believing it is now more acceptable to turn up to work with a hangover than it was three years ago.



In spite of this attitude most still believe the new licensing laws will impact negatively on the workplace. Only six per cent felt that 24-hour opening hours will lead to increased productivity, while 37 per cent believe there will be no change.



Those interviewed at the younger end of the scale – 18 to 25 – as well as being the most likely to binge drink are also the most concerned about the new drinking laws. 55 per cent of this age group believe the relaxed laws will affect productivity.



Martin Warnes, Manager of reed.co.uk, comments:



“It is interesting to recall that the licensing laws were first introduced because munitions workers in the First World War couldn’t perform tasks properly. Perhaps the Government should bare this is mind before trying to introduce European a drinking culture through legal changes.”