William Grant & Sons and the USBG Partner on Health and Wellness
May 23, 2017
William Grant & Sons and the United States Bartenders Guild (USBG) walk into a bar. Scratch that. William Grant & Sons and the USBG walk into a boxing gym. The first sounds more likely, but the latter is the true story. The two organizations joined forces last week at TITLE Boxing Club as part of their continued commitment to health and wellness.
The event, sponsored by Milagro, consisted of an hour-long boxing class followed by a happy hour with snacks and Milagro margaritas — demonstrating firsthand that there is such a thing as balance in the industry.
“Being part of an industry like the spirits business, people may think that it’s all about having fun and less about staying healthy,” said Jacqueline Gramer, Chicago’s on-premise district manager for William Grant & Sons. “This is far from the truth as many members of our community place an importance on finding a balance between the two in order to live a healthy lifestyle.”
The USBG also recognizes the potential for unhealthy behaviors within its community, which is why they have an entire committee dedicated to its members’ health and wellness.
“Bartenders often work late nights, and their sleep schedules are off…they have constant access to alcohol… all of which can lead to abuse, depression, and a whole slew of physical ailments,” said Kristen Slagter, USBG Health and Wellness chairwoman.
Slagter says the hope of the USBG Health and Wellness program is to provide resources to keep bartenders healthy so that they can continue to grow in their career and personal life.
The USBG Health and Wellness program hosts monthly events geared towards getting members active and exposing them to a variety of ways in which one can maintain a healthy lifestyle. As chairwoman, Slagter says she’s trying to create a holistic program. “Beyond physical exercise, we also host events that focus on healthy eating and cooking, and mental health and relaxation, to name a few.”
Programs like the USBG’s align with suppliers like William Grant & Sons, whose values include sustainability and making a positive contribution to its communities.
“With events like these, we can showcase something we’re passionate about as suppliers, which is giving back, and the wellness of our community,” Gramer said.
William Grant & Sons participates in USBG Health and Wellness programs yearly, having hosted past events at popular spots including Soul Cycle, Shred 415 and CorePower Yoga. According to Gramer, it’s their hope that these events will encourage industry members to engage in healthy routines more often. “If one person goes back for another class, or is inspired to take pride in their health – I think that’s incredible.”