New global survey aims to gain insight into the drinks industry

A new survey aims to provide a clearer picture of working conditions in the drinks industry, focusing on issues such as whether becoming a parent affects career progression and whether women feel safe travelling home after hospitality shifts. 

A global drinks industry survey is set to launch on Tuesday 25th February 2025, aiming to gather data on the experiences of professionals working across the sector. The initiative is led by Celebrate Her, in collaboration with hospitality training platform Allara Global and consumer intelligence firm CGA by NIQ. The survey is designed to collect insights from bartenders, managers, buyers, brand ambassadors, marketing professionals, and business owners. It will explore factors influencing career entry and exit, barriers within the industry, and workplace opportunities. Also in focus is parenthood, mental health, job safety, and career advancement. Key questions include whether becoming a parent affects career progression, whether female bartenders feel safe travelling home at night, and whether equal opportunities are available in different roles. The findings aim to highlight not only the challenges but also the benefits that professionals experience in the sector. The organisers aim to collect responses from a broad cross-section of industry professionals across various backgrounds, locations, and job levels. The findings are intended to inform discussions around employment standards and workplace culture. With hospitality often facing scrutiny over working conditions and career sustainability, this survey could provide valuable data to guide improvements in these areas. Anna Sebastian, bar consultant and founder of Celebrate Her, said the survey seeks to fill gaps in industry knowledge: "For a long time, we have lacked clear data on the people working within the drinks industry. Whilst Celebrate Her focuses on championing women, this survey will provide a broader understanding of industry-wide challenges and opportunities."

Personal experiences and broader trends

Beyond individual experiences, the data gathered is expected to shed light on broader trends shaping the sector, including the impact of economic pressures, staffing shortages, and workplace culture. By identifying areas where support is needed, the results may serve as a tool for industry leaders to create more sustainable and inclusive career paths within the drinks industry. Hannah Payne, consumer research director at CGA, said: "At CGA by NIQ, we focus on providing data-driven insights to support change within the hospitality sector. This research will help us explore key experiences across the industry." Andrew Lewis, CEO of Allara Learning and Allara Global, added: "Understanding different perspectives in hospitality is essential to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace." The survey will run for six weeks, after which CGA will analyse the responses. The findings will be shared with industry media and business leaders, with the aim of influencing workplace policies and employment practices across the sector. Whether the results lead to actionable changes remains to be seen, but the data could offer a much-needed foundation for future discussions on the working lives of drinks industry professionals. The survey, available in English, French, Chinese, and Spanish, will take approximately five minutes to complete. It will be distributed via industry websites, WhatsApp groups, and social media networks to encourage participation from as many professionals as possible.