Warehouse staff at Carlsberg went on strike more than week ago in protest against a company decision to limit beer drinking at work to lunch breaks.
Workers claim they’re entitled to three beers a day – on top of any drinks they consume at lunch, reported Sky News. The strike in Denmark follows a move the previous week to change the rules for on-site drinking at the world’s fourth-largest brewer. Carlsberg spokesman Jens Bekke said: “We think times have changed and we need an alcohol policy that is accepted by society – 93% of Danish companies have an alcohol policy. “There has been free beer, water and soft drinks everywhere. Beers were removed from all refrigerators. The only place you can get a beer in future is in the canteen, at lunch.”
Mr Bekke said Carlsberg drivers claim a “very old right” to have up to three beers per day outside lunch hours. The warehouse workers say they share that entitlement – a claim the brewer disputes. “Because of that, the warehouse staff went on strike, with other staff striking in sympathy,” Mr Bekke said. He added that Carlsberg’s trucks have alcohol locks so drivers would not be able to drink too much and drive. Mr Bekke said the Confederation of Danish Industry and trade union 3F had agreed the strike was illegal and would impose fines on workers.