Alcoholism plagues the restaurant industry. A new St. Louis group offers help.
St. Louis restaurant workers find relief in addiction group St. Louis Post-Dispatch
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Supporting Sobriety in the Hospitality Industry
By Hannah Wyman
WEBSTER GROVES — Taylor Streiff is often surrounded by alcohol. As an employee at O+O Pizza and The Clover and the Bee and a professional musician, Streiff said that alcohol is always accessible — and often free.
A few years ago, Streiff found himself turning to the bottle to deal with the stress of work more and more.
“Throughout the hospitality industry you have to drink or engage with some of the shenanigans to be accepted,” Streiff said.
Eventually, Streiff’s drinking habit became a drinking problem. So he entered treatment.
Today, Streiff is two years sober and one of the organizers behind the local chapter of Ben’s Friends, a national network that provides addiction support to workers in the hospitality industry, where alcohol, drugs, and partying are the norm. The chapter had its first meeting this month at Olive + Oak.
Statistics on Alcohol Abuse in the Hospitality Industry
- Reports have found that about 17% of employees in the hospitality industry suffer from serious alcohol-related problems and that employees in restaurants and hotels have the highest rates of substance abuse in the American workforce.
“People in the hospitality industry have some unique stressors and unique lives,” Streiff said. “We’re hoping we can be a safe space for people to come.”
The Ben’s Friends started in 2016 after Ben Murray, a chef in Charleston, South Carolina, killed himself in a hotel room after struggling with alcoholism. Murray’s friends and colleagues Steve Palmer and Mickey Bakst founded the organization to offer hope and community to industry workers struggling with substance abuse and addiction.
Max Bredenkoetter, chef at Mainlander Supper Club in the Central West End, said he was looking a few months ago for an industry support group in St. Louis, but came up empty-handed.
“I couldn’t find anything that catered to the restaurant industry,” Bredenkoetter said. “Even this is really kind of a new thing on the national level which shocked me because of how prevalent addiction and substance abuse is in the industry.”
Bredenkoetter said alcohol — whether a drink after work, cooking, or wine tasting — “permeates every level and aspect in the restaurant industry.”
Bredenkoetter got sober about three years ago, as he was becoming a professional chef. He said some friends and family recommended he not enter the industry given his addiction, but Bredenkoetter wanted to follow his passion.
And while staying sober was difficult, Bredenkoetter said he found it easier to be honest with people about his struggles as most people knew others going through the same thing.
“Everyone has seen it happen with friends,” he said.
This month, Bredenkoetter hosted his first Temperance Kitchen pop-up, an alcohol-free multi-course dinner series hosted at the Mainlander. All proceeds go to Ben’s Friends organization. The next event is scheduled for May 20.
Bredenkoetter thinks programs like Ben’s Friends could economically benefit restaurants and business owners.
“There really is a win-win benefit for the struggling employee and for ownership to help,” Bredenkoetter said. “When you’re hungover you have a shorter fuse and are less productive. Restaurants would want their chefs to get sober.”
Tatyana Telnikova, owner of HandleBar in the Grove, said she is all for the program as drinking is “just the culture” in the industry.
“There’s nothing innately wrong about consuming alcohol,” Telnikova said. “I would imagine productivity would go down if you’re inebriated. I definitely want people who are healthy.”
Support Meetings
Meetings are held every Monday at Olive + Oak — at 10 a.m., so as to not interfere with dinner service schedules. Members can remain anonymous.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. No Poverty
- Target 1.3: Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable.
- Indicator 1.3.1: Proportion of population covered by social protection floors/systems, by sex, distinguishing children, unemployed persons, older persons, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, newborns, work-injury victims and the poor and the vulnerable.
3. Good Health and Well-being
- Target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.
- Indicator 3.5.1: Coverage of treatment interventions (pharmacological, psychosocial and rehabilitation and aftercare services) for substance use disorders.
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Target 8.8: Protect labor rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment.
- Indicator 8.8.1: Frequency rates of fatal and non-fatal occupational injuries, by sex and migrant status.
10. Reduced Inequalities
- Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
- Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, by age, sex and persons with disabilities.
16. Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
- Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
- Indicator 16.1.2: Conflict-related deaths per 100,000 population, by sex, age and cause.
Analysis
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
The SDGs that are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article are:
– SDG 1: No Poverty
– SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
– SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
– SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
– SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
Based on the article’s content, the specific targets under the identified SDGs are:
– Target 1.3: Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable.
– Target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.
– Target 8.8: Protect labor rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment.
– Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
– Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
Yes, there are indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. These indicators include:
– Indicator 1.3.1: Proportion of population covered by social protection floors/systems, by sex, distinguishing children, unemployed persons, older persons, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, newborns, work-injury victims and the poor and the vulnerable.
– Indicator 3.5.1: Coverage of treatment interventions (pharmacological, psychosocial and rehabilitation and aftercare services) for substance use disorders.
– Indicator 8.8.1: Frequency rates of fatal and non-fatal occupational injuries, by sex and migrant status.
– Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, by age, sex and persons with disabilities.
– Indicator 16.1.2: Conflict-related deaths per 100,000 population, by sex, age and cause.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 1: No Poverty | Target 1.3: Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable. | Indicator 1.3.1: Proportion of population covered by social protection floors/systems, by sex, distinguishing children, unemployed persons, older persons, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, newborns, work-injury victims and the poor and the vulnerable. |
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | Target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol. | Indicator 3.5.1: Coverage of treatment interventions (pharmacological, psychosocial and rehabilitation and aftercare services) for substance use disorders. |
| SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | Target 8.8: Protect labor rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment. | Indicator 8.8.1: Frequency rates of fatal and non-fatal occupational injuries, by sex and migrant status. |
| SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status. | Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median
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