DRINKLUSIVE
AN INCLUSIVITY MENTORSHIP FOR DRINKS LOVERS
MENTORs making change
~ A Quick Message From Aidy ~
Firstly, I would like to say thank you. The saying goes “we should be the change we seek” and that is exactly what you are doing. By being a DRINKLUSIVE Mentor you are allowing us to get one step closer to enabling an industry where everyone can flourish, regardless of what they look like, live with or who they love.
Looking back to when I joined the industry ten years ago, I wish there was a program I could have taken part in to have met more people, felt more confident or just been made to feel like I fit in. While some progress has been made during that time, we’re still a far cry from where we should be. That said, it’s actions from people like you who are paving the way for that change to become a reality.
There are countless communities out there who have no interest in exploring what’s in their glass because they’ve never had a voice to guide them. But here’s the magic: if they see and hear more people who look like them, understand like them, love like them and represent them, a natural interest will emerge, and for our sector, a new revenue potential will be accessed. This mentorship has the aim of allowing those from these communities to flourish, so that in turn, our industry can do exactly the same.
We’ll achieve this through WSET education, paid commissions on international publications, alongside 1-1 seminars and invaluable mentoring. The last bit is so important, and this is where you come in.
What Does A drinklusive Mentor Do?
Honestly, while it doesn’t seem to be a lot of work, the end result is really empowering. There are two main aims. The first is to help one of our mentees find confidence as they grow. The second is a simple action to help us spread awareness that the program exists. Each one of you has built a tremendous community of drink lovers and within this will undoubtedly be people who could truly benefit from this program. These are the people we want to apply!
1 x 60 Minute Mentor Session
Each of our mentees will embark on a 9 month fast-track course of learning and building their personality/profile. As part of this they will have invaluable 1-1 sessions with DRINKLUSIVE mentors. We will match you up with a mentee based on similarities and you’ll host one 60 minute 1-1 session with them at some stage over their 9 month program. It’s an opportunity for them to get two things. Firstly, they can grow their network and meet people who are doing exactly what they hope to in the future. Secondly, they can learn from the tips, tricks, challenges and so much more that you have experienced throughout your career. It’s an incredible opportunity for them and something that so many people have said they always wished they’d been able to benefit from when entering the industry! Please note that our mentees will be paired with more than one mentor, so they have a large network of friendly faces waiting to help them from the beginning of their DRINKLUSIVE journey.
1 x Instagram Carousel + Story Set
One of the most important parts of this Incubator is getting the word out and we couldn’t be prouder to associate ourselves with our incredible mentors - you. People follow you because they love what you do and within your community will be people from underrepresented communities who have always wanted to dip their toes into this world but never had the courage or chance. You can help them take that next step.
We know that creators care about what they share, and we don’t expect you to slap a random post on your feed that isn’t relevant to you. It needs to be about why you have chosen to become a mentor and why you feel others should be aware of this program. For that reason, we’ll work with you to create a unique carousel that includes your face and personality throughout.
The ‘Carousel’ will showcase a photo of you announcing that you are a mentor, a bespoke video from you about why you’ve decided to get involved, an image with more information on the program and a short video from our Founder celebrating your involvement while talking about why this is so important. All you need to provide is the portrait and video, we’ll do the rest!
Assets for the Carousel & Story (Example Imagery Below):
1) Profile Shot
2) A 60 Second Video (Important Dimension Notes Below!)
Profile Shot - Your profile shot will be showcased on the first slide of the ‘Carousel’ to celebrate that you are a DRINKLUSIVE Mentor! It can be whatever photo you like - one that depicts you best. Please make sure the photo is in portrait orientation.
60 Second Video - Your 60 second video will showcase why you have decided to join this program as a mentor. There are a couple of main points to get across (see below) but ultimately you decide what you want to talk about. It’s important to note that this will be turned into both a story and a carousel (4:5 ratio) post, so just make sure that your face is central when you film your video. You can use the default video function on your phone as it is the perfect size.
Intro: Mention (in your own words) that DRINKLUSIVE is a mentorship program set up to get more people from underrepresented communities in the drinks industry through content creation, writing support and WSET certifications (more info specific to the 2025 cohort can be found here).
Main Body: Talk about why you’ve chosen to become a mentor. Something that is personal to you. Maybe it’s a community you’ve worked with? That the industry will thrive with more diverse faces in it? An experience you’ve had or witnessed? The more personal this is to you, the better. If you were a mentor in 2024, you could mention what it meant to you and what the experience was like.
Sign Off: Mention (in your own words) how this is the most valuable mentorship of its kind, and you are so thankful to every person who shares the news to help us reach more people. Finally, ‘for more information, keep swiping left!’.
Carousel Example:
Story Example:
2 x Video Examples
Here are two video examples created by DRINKLUSIVE Mentors Ortis Deley and Beth Brickenden to give you a steer. Of course, it’s super important that you paint your own personality within your video, so present in any way you feel defines *you*! For even more examples, simply search #drinklusive in Instagram!
Delivering the Assets:
Please send all of your assets via Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud Link or equivalent by Friday February 21st (but the sooner, the better!) to sophie@thethreedrinkers.com. Our team will put everything together and send the files back to you with any messaging you may need.
Posting the Assets (February 24th from 12pm)
We’ll be asking our mentors if they can post their carousel and story announcements from 12pm on Monday 24th February during the first week the applications go live. The first 7 days are crucial as they allow the program to reach as many people as possible and our main concern is ensuring that this program reaches the people who need it the most.
Your Bio & Headshot: The Mentorship Hub
To recognise the fabulous talent that we are proud to call DRINKLUSIVE Mentors, we will be highlighting your bio and profile in our DRINKLUSIVE Mentor hub on our website.
Special Interview Article
We’re so keen to have you as a mentor because of all of your accomplishments and wisdom. For that reason, we’d love to have a special interview piece published about you on the website. You’re championing our mentees, so we want to champion you! A special link will be sent to you via email so you can fill in these questions.
…and finally, Thank You!
Once again, thank you for being a part of this change. By working together, we will make a true impact and make the drinks industry a welcoming place for people everywhere.
If you have any questions at all, please contact sophie@thethreedrinkers.com.
