For businesses, bars and restaurants
Supporting a more inclusive whisky culture
Let's Open Up Over Whiskey welcomes businesses, bars and restaurants that want to contribute to a more inclusive and sustainable whisky culture. As a non-profit organization, our role is not to evaluate, certify or audit our members, but to encourage reflection, dialogue and long-term cultural development within the whisky community.
For many businesses, whisky is not just a product, but part of a larger social and cultural context. The environments created around whisky — in bars, restaurants, at events and in brand communications — influence who feels welcome, represented and comfortable participating.
What membership means
Membership in Let's Open Up Over Whisky means a commitment to:
- support a whisky culture characterised by respect, openness and responsibility
- see inclusion as an ongoing process, rather than a completed task
- approach issues of representation, tone and accessibility in a thoughtful manner
- Membership does not mean that companies or businesses must:
introduce special policies or programs
meet predefined inclusion goals
submit documentation or reporting
We recognize that organizations differ in size, resources, and context. Our work is built on trust and shared responsibility – not on control or compliance.
Who can become a member?
Membership is open to:
- whisky producers and suppliers
- importers and distributors
- bars, restaurants and other businesses in the hospitality industry
- other companies operating in the whisky industry
Each member organization has the opportunity to appoint a representative.
Representation and engagement
Member organizations can nominate a representative to participate in dialogue and engagement within Let's Open Up Over Whisky. Representatives can also be nominated for a seat on the board at a future board meeting, after nomination and majority decision by the sitting board. Board members do not receive any compensation for their work. In cases where the board assignment means that one needs to forego other paid assignments, reasonable compensation can be decided by the board.
Membership fee for companies and businesses
The annual membership fee for companies is SEK 50,000. For bars and restaurants it is SEK 10,000. Membership fees are used to finance the organization's operations, visibility, administration and long-term work. Members have no decision-making mandate over the organization's finances or strategic direction. Suggestions and perspectives from members are welcome and are considered by the board.
Why become a member?
By becoming a member, companies and businesses can:
- openly show their support for a more inclusive whisky culture
- contribute to long-term cultural change that benefits the industry as a whole
- associate themselves with values that emphasize responsibility, dialogue and respect
- participate in creating environments where more guests and consumers feel welcome
Membership should primarily be seen as support for a common purpose – comparable to contributing to other non-profit initiatives – rather than as a commercial collaboration or marketing service.
A shared responsibility
Inclusion in the whisky world cannot be achieved by individual players on their own. It requires commitment from the entire ecosystem – producers, outlets, clubs, media and consumers.
Let's Open Up Over Whiskey exists to support this shared responsibility by creating space for conversation, reflection and collaboration.