*This was originally recorded as a webinar on Monday 8th December 2025*

Our 7th webinar within our Manifesto Sessions webinar series focused on the specific alcohol exclusion clause within the Equality Act (2010). As part of our ‘Setting the blueprint for a more equal and prosperous Wales for people who use substances’, we want an alcohol-related exclusion clause removed within the Equality Act 2010. The Equality Act 2010 is legislation that legally protects people from discrimination, both in the workplace and in wider society.

However, it does not protect people with alcohol dependency. Within the Act it specifically excludes alcohol, noting ‘addiction to alcohol, nicotine or any other substance is to be treated as not amounting to an impairment for the purposes of the Act.’ Compared to international counterparts including Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States, the UK stands alone with its alcohol dependence exclusion stance within discrimination law.

Our speakers were:

Ailar Hashemzadeh (Director of Research and Public Affairs, Alcohol Change)

Dr. Sarah Wadd (Senior Researcher, University of Bedfordshire)

Contents of the video:

00:00 Introduction

02:01 Ailar Hashemzadeh

20:40 Dr. Sarah Wadd

42:40 Q&A