Four members of the SSA’s conference committee write about a relatively modern conundrum for event organisers – ‘Should we serve alcohol?’
At the SSA’s 2023 Annual Conference, we had a busy evening reception, followed by a sit-down dinner. These are standard fixtures in our Annual Conference programme, but something was different that year. For the first time, we decided to provide alcohol-free beverages for our delegates instead of the usual choice of wine or ‘soft’ drinks.
Most people didn’t comment on this arrangement; a few people did. Some wandered over to members of staff and trustees to share their thoughts on going ‘alcohol free’. A handful more provided written feedback in our post-event survey. There were contrasting views. For example, some felt that serving alcohol would encourage people to stay and mingle, while others thanked us profusely for establishing alcohol-free networking as a default.
So, why did we take the position to curb the presence of alcohol in 2023, and what are our plans for the 2024 Annual Conference?
Bristol was a turning point…
Some of you may remember our conference in Bristol in 2022. For many, this was the first in-person conference after a long period of COVID-19 travel and event restrictions. Hotels had been having a tough time, and our Bristol venue was no exception; they faced a number of operational and organisational challenges. As delegates entered the room for the evening reception, there were two long tables filled with wine, and a tiny table at the far end with alcohol-free options that wouldn’t look out of place at a kid’s party. This presentation of alcoholic versus non-alcoholic drinks prompted some delegates – quite rightly – to take us to task in their comments and tweets.
The following year, the conference organising committee decided to trial not serving alcohol at the conference. And after this, the SSA decided that the organisation will not purchase or pay for alcohol in any setting at any time. Here were just a few of the arguments ‘for’ and ‘against’ that we considered:
For: ‘Alcohol can make attending our events difficult for people who do not drink’
The presence of alcohol and people consuming it can make it difficult for people who do not drink, including for people in recovery. For at least some of these people, a networking event focused on alcohol will be unwelcoming; indeed, some will choose not to attend.
Against: ‘Alcohol can help in settings where people are anxious’
Alcohol can make it feel easier to socialise – for example, by alleviating social anxiety and facilitating conversation. For science to become more effective, less parochial, and generally better, people need to network. And for some people, removing alcohol from the equation might diminish this possibility.
For: ‘We shouldn’t use charitable funds on addictive substances’
The SSA is a charity – and an addiction charity at that. Charitable funds should be used to serve the public good, which in our case is to promote the scientific understanding of addiction. It’s hard to argue that it is ‘in the public good’ to buy alcohol.
Against: ‘Conferences are not treatment centres, and alcohol is legal’
Whilst there are understandable restrictions on alcohol in treatment or clinical settings, research conferences are neither. By restricting alcohol, the SSA could be seen as making a moral judgement on delegates’ ability to consume a legal substance.
Weighing up the pros and cons, and ultimately deciding…
Socialising and networking are valued parts of conferences and are typically encouraged at coffee breaks, lunchtimes, and evening events. The norm at SSA events used to be for alcohol to be present throughout the evening social time. SSA events reflected the status quo. In 2023, feedback from Society members and conference delegates suggested that the status quo had shifted; free alcohol at events (especially addiction-themed events) was a bit of an anachronism.
The SSA isn’t alone in deciding to reduce the presence of alcohol at its events. And recent surveys suggest that doing so is a sensible step for organisations to take. For example, a survey by the Chartered Management Institute in 2023 suggested that companies should consider going alcohol-free for a range of reasons, including that alcohol at corporate staff parties is perceived to increase inappropriate behaviour and harassment. A poll by the academic journal Nature found that a quarter of respondents wanted alcohol banned completely at scientific conferences. Reasons included respondents believing it would prevent harassment, peer pressure to drink, poor behaviour, and negative interactions. One respondent said, “An inebriated senior scientist is not a good example for the next generation. Nor does it support accurate information-sharing.”
The SSA holds two major events each year – the PhD Symposium and Annual Conference. We want to include people with lived or living experience in these events, which means providing a supportive environment for those with substance use problems and behavioural addictions, who may or may not also be students, researchers, or clinicians. In 2023, there were opportunities for people to buy alcohol at the hotel bar if they wished, we simply didn’t provide it ourselves. In 2024, we’re trying the same thing again – with a bit more awareness that it won’t please everyone, but a bit more confidence that it could help someone in recovery.
by Rob Calder, Natalie Davies, Carol-Ann Getty, and Sarah Welch
