Brief

Buckingham Palace staff receive alcohol‑awareness training from charity

The royal household asked the charity to run sessions on spotting intoxicated colleagues and fostering inclusive workplace policies.

By Felo News Desk · Published Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:32:09 GMT

Buckingham Palace staff attended alcohol‑awareness training provided by the charity Alcohol Change UK, the independent reported on 29 September 2026.

What happened

The training covered the risks of drinking on the job, how to identify colleagues who may be intoxicated, and how to support non‑drinkers, including those with religious prohibitions.

What the reports add

Richard Piper, chief executive of Alcohol Change UK, told The Times that the royal household specifically requested the sessions. He noted that over 20% of people do not drink alcohol, compared with about 6% who are vegetarian, and highlighted safeguarding and inclusion concerns for Muslim staff members.

What was said

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

“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,” he added.

How it came about

The training follows a wider modernisation drive at the palace, which recently introduced an employee pulse survey and mental‑health first‑aider training. It also follows a December 2024 incident where a housemaid was arrested after a drunken altercation at a nearby bar.

Key facts

Buckingham Palace staff received alcohol‑awareness training from Alcohol Change UK (independent.co.uk)
The charity’s chief executive Richard Piper said the royal household requested the sessions (independent.co.uk)
Training addressed safeguarding, inclusion and support for non‑drinkers, including Muslim staff (independent.co.uk)