Carlsberg staff strike over beer ban

[dutchman]

Warehouse staff at Danish brewer Carlsberg have held a second day of strikes in protest over a decision to remove their free drinks throughout their working day.

Employees were previously entitled to free beer during the day, in addition to any drinks they purchased at lunch, Sky News reports.

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. [On Wednesday], beers were removed from all refrigerators. The only place you can get a beer in future is in the canteen, at lunch."

He added that while the company's drivers have a "very old right" to have up to three beers per day outside lunch hours, the warehouse workers do not share that right.

"Because of that, the warehouse staff went on strike yesterday, with other staff striking in sympathy," Bekke explained. Around 800 workers went on strike on Wednesday, with 250 staying away from work yesterday.

The spokesman noted that the firm's trucks are fitted with alcohol-locks to prevent employees from drinking and driving

Bekke said that fines would be imposed on striking staff after the Confederation of Danish Industry and trade union 3F reportedly agreed that the strike was illegal.