Lloyds of London launch 'Orwellian' booze ban

"The days of the three-hour, five-bottle City lunch appear to be well and truly over," says the BBC, following the news that Lloyds of London has banned staff from drinking during working hours.

From 9am and 5pm, the 800 staff directly employed by the insurance market will be barred from drinking alcohol.

"An internal memo to employees… reveals the ban was introduced after an analysis of grievance and disciplinary cases over the last two years found 'roughly half' were related to alcohol misuse," says the London Evening Standard.

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It adds that the diktat "could see employees sacked for gross misconduct if caught breaking the new rule".

The Financial Times says the memo suggests that if staff are caught drinking, the "issue would first be taken up with their manager", but it "could eventually, after a disciplinary procedure, lead to dismissal".

Staff have reacted angrily, posting messages on the company's internal intranet site branding the move "Orwellian".

“Did I just wake up from my drunken drug induced slumber to find we are now living in Orwell’s 1984?" wrote one.

“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?”

Another employee asked: “Will we be asked to go to bed earlier soon?”

Lloyd’s said the move, "introduced as part of a regular update to staff rules", is to bring it "into line with others in the industry", adds the FT.

Other insurers have similar policies in place, although most stop short of an outright ban.

Staff at Hiscox "are expected not to drink during the day", continues the FT, while QBE, "has guidance advising staff not to drink during the day".

Lloyds' memo said staff could still drink in the evenings, even when representing the company, as long as "no business is being conducted" and the employee "remains… professional at all times", says the Standard.