HOSPO HEROES is a platform for anyone who works or has worked, in or with the hospitality industry. We want to amplify the voices of those working in hospitality by creating a space where people can share their experiences and impart their wisdom about working in the industry. This is all about building community and creating a happier and healthier hospitality. We believe that voices have the power to create positive change.
This week, we spoke to Davide Segat (he/him), a renowned figure in the bar world. Davide’s experience and expertise span over 20 years in the trade. Throughout that time he has worked in a variety of venues and roles, from Bar Back to Bartender, Head Bartender to Bar Manager, and Brand Team Member to Global director. His career began to flourish when he moved from the northeast Italian countryside to London in 2003. Here, he worked as a young bartender at The Connaught Hotel, moving on to enjoy working at The Green and Red Tequila Bar, Hawksmoor and the Bulgari Hotel, in London. He then joined the luxury hotel chain, Edition, for 5 years during their opening and moved on to become their Director of Beverage, overseeing the expansion of their brand from 1 hotel to 11. He is now Bar Manager at the NoMad hotel in London, a place very close to his heart.
Davide’s Story:
Alcohol & Hospitality
If you worked a 9 to 5 office job, it wouldn’t be normal to have a tequila shot 3 hours into your shift but in hospitality it somehow is.
- Davide Segat
Firstly, I want to be clear that I am not against alcohol itself. I understand the pleasure of having a beer on a hot day or a glass of wine with a steak or champagne to celebrate. I don't believe we should ban alcohol, alcohol is my job! What I do believe is that our approach to alcohol needs to change.
Having worked for years and years in bars, I know that we are prone to abuse alcohol. This is because somehow, it’s acceptable to. There’s even sometimes pride in drinking more or “better” but this is not normal. If you worked a 9 to 5 office job, it wouldn’t be normal to have a tequila shot 3 hours into your shift but in hospitality it somehow is. But when we work with alcohol and are surrounded by people having a party it's very easy for this behaviour to become the norm.
Having worked for years and years in bars, I know that we are prone to abuse alcohol. This is because somehow, it’s acceptable to. There’s even sometimes pride in drinking more or “better” but this is not normal. If you worked a 9 to 5 office job, it wouldn’t be normal to have a tequila shot 3 hours into your shift but in hospitality it somehow is. But when we work with alcohol and are surrounded by people having a party it's very easy for this behaviour to become the norm.
I was at a crossroads. I could be another one of these people that we lost or I could try and change.
- DAVIDE SEGAT
I have always been a big drinker but my drinking started to become a problem in 2017 when it moved from being a social affair to a mood regulator. When I had any sort of negative emotion, the answer was to drink. Feeling unmotivated, tired and down were the warning signs here - I can recognise this now but at the time I didn’t realise. When I ignored the warning signs I started to spiral. I would miss work days and deadlines and if I was meeting someone who didn’t drink that much, I would plan to have a couple of drinks beforehand so I could maximise my consumption. This was where the shame started to set in and I began to really hide my drinking. I then drank more by myself which resulted in some of my friendships and relationships breaking down.
As well as my personal life I lost some great people in the industry that were very close to me. I can't say it was all because of alcohol but it was likely due to things that we didn’t talk about. At that point, no one would talk about mental health. When my depression hit really hard, there were a few very dark days and I felt like I had hit the bottom of the barrel. I was at a crossroads. I could be another one of these people that we lost or I could try and change.
After I learned that alcohol wasn’t working for me (it took many many tries) I decided to change. At first, I tried to moderate my drinking like I knew other people could but I quickly discovered this was something that I couldn’t do. I could control it for 1 to 2 days but it wasn’t sustainable. So I tried to be sober. The first year that I tried, I really struggled. After 8 months sober I would drink again and I began to find it hard to be by myself in the house because as soon as a bad day came, the quickest way I could soothe it was with alcohol. But over time, and through trial and error, I found different ways to soothe my bad days. I tried yoga and the gym, which made me feel a bit better but wasn’t quite my thing...then I tried running.
After I learned that alcohol wasn’t working for me (it took many many tries) I decided to change. At first, I tried to moderate my drinking like I knew other people could but I quickly discovered this was something that I couldn’t do. I could control it for 1 to 2 days but it wasn’t sustainable. So I tried to be sober. The first year that I tried, I really struggled. After 8 months sober I would drink again and I began to find it hard to be by myself in the house because as soon as a bad day came, the quickest way I could soothe it was with alcohol. But over time, and through trial and error, I found different ways to soothe my bad days. I tried yoga and the gym, which made me feel a bit better but wasn’t quite my thing...then I tried running.
I can't tell you what to do but I can listen to you and tell you what worked for me.
- DAVIDE SEGAT
My good friend Matthias Lataille, whom I used to work with at The Connaught Hotel and the Green & Red Tequila Bar, is a person who didn't give up on me. He went through a journey with alcohol before I did, so he recognised the patterns and would come to my house almost every day to check on me. He was an avid runner and suggested I tried it. In the beginning, it was incredibly tough and it felt like it wasn't helping. But slowly, after every run, regardless of how hard it was, I felt better. Eventually, because of my addictive personality, I was running all the time and it became my alcohol substitute. Now that I’m 400 days sober when the bad days come I can approach them differently.
Something that my good friend Jack McGarry once said to me: "I can't tell you what to do but I can listen to you and tell you what worked for me." And I share the same opinion. In my lowest points, I tried everything. I went to the NHS, I had therapy, I tried meds, I tried going to Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.), I tried exercise and I tried reading. But everyone is different. For example, A.A. is an incredible organisation that accepted me with open arms but it just wasn't for me - if you are looking for recovery I do recommend you try it as it was still really helpful! Don't be ashamed to try anything. Slowly you find what works for you and what doesn’t. Eventually, I found my balance: therapy, high-demand running (which was a lot but I needed that stress) and something for my mind: chess - my religious Tuesday night activity and now a daily habit! This is only what works for me and is not in any way shape or form the rule for everyone.
Finally, it’s very hard to embark on this journey on your own. I was very lucky that I had people around me who were incredibly supportive. Without them, I couldn't have made it. For that reason, I’d like to give a special mention to my partner in life and at the NoMad hotel, Liana Oster. She, along with my family, have been a great light in my recovery. The first fundamental step is talking to someone who will listen without judgement. So please reach out, talk and don't dismiss the red flags your body is sending you - it’s sending them for a reason.
Finally, it’s very hard to embark on this journey on your own. I was very lucky that I had people around me who were incredibly supportive. Without them, I couldn't have made it. For that reason, I’d like to give a special mention to my partner in life and at the NoMad hotel, Liana Oster. She, along with my family, have been a great light in my recovery. The first fundamental step is talking to someone who will listen without judgement. So please reach out, talk and don't dismiss the red flags your body is sending you - it’s sending them for a reason.