LONDON – A new report, The Gender Pint Gap: Revisited, shines a light on the persistent underrepresentation of women in leadership roles within the beer industry. The report, released by Dea Latis, reveals that while women make up a significant portion of brewery employees, they remain significantly underrepresented in management and executive positions.
According to the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), only 17% of women hold board positions and a mere 7% are CEOs in the beer sector. The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) reports a similar disparity, with only 3% of women holding brewing roles despite making up 30% of brewery employees overall.
Annabel Smith, beer sommelier and editor of the report, highlights the challenges faced by women entering and advancing in the industry.
“Brewing is physically demanding work with long hours in extreme temperatures,” she explains. “Many women brewers have had to overcome the perception that brewing is a man’s domain and prove themselves in a male-dominated field.”
Smith emphasizes the importance of addressing sexism and harassment within the industry, referencing the impact of Brienne Allan’s campaign, which brought attention to these issues and spurred breweries to take action.
However, she cautions that the lack of women in leadership roles has a direct impact on consumers, influencing the styles of beer produced and the industry’s marketing strategies.
Smith proposes solutions like apprenticeship schemes, scholarships, and mentorship programs to create pathways for women to enter and succeed in the field. She also calls for greater visibility of women in the industry, urging breweries to actively recruit and promote women in leadership roles.
“The use of terms like ‘female head brewer’ or ‘female beer sommelier’ is unnecessary and reinforces the perception that women are a novelty in the industry,” Smith argues. She further criticizes the often-masculine imagery used by breweries in their online presence, which can deter women from considering careers in the sector.
Smith concludes by highlighting the unacceptable level of misogynistic comments and abuse that women in the industry regularly encounter on social media, asking, “Why would any woman want to put themselves in that position?”
The report serves as a stark reminder of the need for greater diversity and inclusivity within the beer industry to ensure a more equitable and representative future.
