The policy was introduced after "roughly half" of grievance and disciplinary procedures in the past year were reportedly found to relate to the misuse of alcohol. The ban is included in the Employee Guide, which has been reviewed by HR. However, staff are unimpressed with the new rule, which will stop them from enjoying a drink at lunchtime. Comments from employees on an internal intranet seen by the Evening Standard include complaints that the measure is "heavy handed" and was imposed without consultation.
Workers at the UK 's historic Evening Standard insurance market have reacted angrily to a new directive banning them from drinking alcohol during their lunch breaks. The ban, issued in response to claims that one of all disciplinary cases were alcohol related, applies to the market's about half staff. “ Lloyd ’s used to be a fun place to work. Now it is the PC capital of the world where you can’t even go out for a lunchtime pint anymore?” one worker complained to the Evening Standard newspaper.