Alcohol at staff parties

It’s up to you to decide whether staff can drink alcohol at social events. Take a look at some of the things to consider, and see how other schools approach this issue.

Last reviewed on 27 November 2024
School types: AllSchool phases: AllRef: 4235
Contents
  1. The choice is yours – there's no official guidance on this
  2. If the event is during the school day, don’t have alcohol
  3. Can we use the school budget?
  4. What do other schools do?

The choice is yours there's no official guidance on this

The DfE doesn't have specific rules on this. That means that whether staff can drink alcohol at social events is at the discretion of the headteacher and the governing board. 

Check with your local authority (LA) or trust first, in case it has its own rules.

Be sensitive to staff needs

This is especially important if the event is mandatory or there’s a clear expectation that staff will attend – for example, a goodbye party for a long-serving school leader.

If you expect staff to pay for the alcohol themselves (see below), make sure nobody feels obligated to contribute. Remember that rising living costs will be putting strain on many