Our responsibilities
Ethical business practices
We carry out our business honestly, ethically and with respect for the rights and interests of all of those involved. We expect relationships with customers, suppliers and business partners to be mutually beneficial and expect our business practices and standards to be upheld, while the relationship continues.
Our environmental policy already commits us to working with our suppliers, contractors and partners to minimise our environmental impact and to encourage ecologically sustainable and, where possible, local sourcing of products and services.
Some key achievements in this area include, for the eighth consecutive year, a place in the FTSE4Good Index, designed to identify those companies with good records in corporate social responsibility.
We believe that we are making steady and continuous progress with our suppliers, to ensure that best efforts are made to balance the needs of the consumer with those of the producer.
The launch of Lavazza Tierra coffee is helping to make a positive contribution to growers’ communities in Colombia, Honduras and Peru – building schools, homes and medical facilities, as well as planting 27,000 native trees.
So, we learn from and encourage our suppliers – one of our biggest achievements is understanding that, ethically, we have a responsibility to the environment in which we live and work – a responsibility from which we will not shy away.
Challenge 21
As a responsible seller of alcohol, Wetherspoon works hard to ensure that the law on underage drinking is adhered to, in all of our venues.
As part of that process, we invest in the best training for our staff. We have also introduced customer information in our establishments, under the ‘Challenge 21’ banner. This initiative explains the need for acceptable photographic evidence for those who appear to be under 21.
Since the scheme’s widespread introduction back in 2007, awareness has increased, and customers have become more readily accepting of being asked to prove their age and identity.
The idea is simple: if you are lucky enough to look under 21, you may be asked to prove your age, using an acceptable proof-of-age ID. This acts as a safeguard to remove any ambiguity in the mind of the busy bar staff. So, please, if you intend to drink in Wetherspoon, bring along your ID.
By the way, we do receive letters from customers querying why the scheme specifies the age 21, since the law requires that you be 18 or over to drink legally at Wetherspoon. In response, this is a one-size-fits-all scheme which can be used at a variety of licensed premises or events, some of which may be applicable only to those over 21. With the whole industry following one scheme, we all benefit – pub operators and customers alike.
A responsible approach to drinking
We are proud of the achievements of our pubs in gaining recognition for providing safe and relaxing environments.
We all want people to have fun, but we want people to be safe.
Well-run pubs, providing a convivial melting pot for society, are not only our lifeblood, they are a fabulous institution.
All of our managers are encouraged to be members of a pubwatch scheme; if there is none, we endeavour to be instrumental in setting one up. In addition, the company is a member of National Pubwatch and an associate member of The Portman Group, aiming to promote a sensible and responsible approach alcohol-retailing.
These efforts, coupled with solid and consistent training, as well as working closely in partnership with the police, licensing authorities and local authorities, far from restricting communities, actually galvanise them into socialising within understandable boundaries of acceptable behaviour.
During 2009, we have won over 130 awards for providing safer drinking environments, with over 100 Best Bar None awards for the manner in which we promote a safer environment for our customers to enjoy.