This International Men’s Day, we’re highlighting the importance of wellbeing across every part of the drinks industry. We spoke with Steve Gamble, founder of Anchor Health, about how the industry can continue to prioritise health, connection and balance, and why simple, everyday actions can make a lasting difference.
Breaking down stigma
While progress has been made in how we talk about mental health, Steve says stigma still lingers.
“Unfortunately, I still see there is a high level of stigma around mental health across the country,” he explains. “The good news is we’re seeing real change across all gender types and demographics, with some groups moving with more momentum than others.”
For men in particular, the workplace can still be a tough environment to open up. “There’s still fear around how others will perceive the individual and their performance,” Steve says. “We often see people overcompensate by throwing themselves into work, which impacts other parts of their lives – their physical and social health – leading to burnout or even risk-taking behaviours.”
He believes a simple shift in language could make a big difference. “As an industry, we need to adopt the attitude that ‘health is health’. If we change the narrative from physical and mental and just refer to ‘health’, straight away the unhelpful attitudes start to shift. It improves communication, connection and early intervention.”
The unique pressures of the drinks industry
Having worked with many organisations across the drinks sector, Steve has seen firsthand both the progress and the challenges that come with the territory.
“I love working within the drinks industry and have been blessed to work with many fantastic organisations,” he says. “Over the last five years I’ve seen a lot of change, which creates uncertainty for some while others see it as a new challenge and opportunity to grow.”
That change, he adds, can affect emotional and professional wellbeing, particularly when combined with the industry’s social nature. “There’s a lot of entertaining and networking – it’s the nature of the beast. That often means drinking, travel and late nights, which over time impact our mental, physical, emotional and social health. Finding balance and supporting healthy choices is important to maintain overall health.”
While some have questioned his work with the industry, Steve is quick to counter: “All industries deserve the support and literacy around mental health for their people.”
He also points out the progress being made behind the scenes. “Many wouldn’t know the efforts that organisations make to empower a healthier culture around substances. Perhaps we need to celebrate this as an industry.”
Empowering workplaces and individuals
Steve believes education and early intervention are the keys to progress. “Building mental health literacy removes stigma, increases empathy, improves help-seeking and early intervention. But most importantly, it empowers connection and conversation.”
Through Anchor Health, Steve and his team have worked to make support more accessible. “We launched bespoke employee assistance programs for small and medium businesses about 24 months ago. We could see the benefits of these programs but also the barriers, particularly cost. We wanted to remove those so all staff and their families could seek confidential, timely support.”
For individuals, he suggests focusing on small, consistent actions that support overall wellbeing:
- Connection and communication: “Connection builds hope, perspective and purpose.”
- Sleep: “Everything stops and starts with sleep. It supports brain growth, mood regulation and performance.”
- Diet: “Around 80% of our serotonin is produced in our stomachs. It’s vital for both physical and brain health.”
- Exercise: “Exercise is now reported to be twice as powerful as antidepressants and just 20 minutes a day can help.”
- Mindfulness: “It’s the untapped superpower that reduces head noise, improves focus and builds resilience.”
Supporting balance at work
Ultimately, Steve says supporting mental health isn’t separate from achieving high performance; it’s the foundation of it.
“The most important asset of any organisation is its people. When we support balance in life, we see our teams thrive,” he says. “Performance and wellbeing go hand in hand. To support a culture of balance is to supercharge your team to become high-performance athletes in their respective roles.”
This article was written as one in a series exploring men’s health and wellbeing for International Men’s Day 2025. By recognising this day, we’re creating space for reflection on men’s health, social connection and the challenges that often go unspoken.