Buckingham Palace staff given ‘alcohol awareness’ training to spot rogue colleagues

Staff at Buckingham Palace have been given “alcohol awareness” training sessions to help them spot rogue colleagues under the influence of alcohol.

The course, given by educational charity Alcohol Change UK, spoke to staff about the dangers of drinking on the job and how to deal with colleagues who may be drinking excessively.

Richard Piper, the chief executive of the charity, told The Times that the royal household had asked for its sessions, which cover topics including mindful drinking.

“We’ve worked with the royal household, with all workplaces where there may be the ability to implement better workplace policies,” he said.

“In workplaces, there’s a really important point about inclusion. More people don’t drink than are vegetarian. About 6 per cent of the population is vegetarian, whereas over 20 per cent of people don’t drink alcohol.”

He said a number of non-drinkers, including those who do not drink for religious reasons, may feel “uncomfortable” around heavy alcohol consumption.

“If you look at staff turnover, we say consider Muslim colleagues, because their religion will have a prohibition on alcohol and staff may feel uncomfortable [in a heavy drinking environment],” he continued.

“You’ve also got safeguarding issues. So, this isn’t just about the stigma around whether drinking is a good or bad thing. We try and get away from that and focus on health and individuals and making everyone feel included.”

It reportedly comes as part of a wider push to modernise everyday working life at the Palace, which has also seen staff partake in an employee “pulse” survey and a number of mental health first aiders trained.

It comes after a Buckingham Palace housemaid was arrested in December 2024 after a staff Christmas party erupted into chaos, with glasses smashed and punches thrown at a popular bar near the royal residence.

The staff member, described as “hysterical” by witnesses, was detained on suspicion of common assault, criminal damage, and being drunk and disorderly following the boozy evening at All Bar One on Victoria Street, according to reports at the time.

“We are aware of an incident outside the workplace involving a number of Household staff who had previously attended an early evening reception at the Palace,” a Palace spokesperson said at the time.

“While this was an informal social gathering and not an official Palace Christmas party, the facts will be fully investigated, with a robust disciplinary process followed in relation to individual staff and appropriate action taken.”