Vegans Should Be ‘Legally Exempt From Work Tea Rounds’ – Says Lawyer

Vegans should be ‘legally exempt from work tea rounds’ on the grounds of discrimination, says a senior lawyer.

Alex Monaco, who works for Monaco Solicitors – an employment law firm, is pushing for veganism to become a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010.

Monaco, who is vegan himself, told The Sun: “If you were Jewish or Muslim and told to get a round of bacon sandwiches in, no one would bat an eyelid if you refused.

“But if you’re vegan and refused to buy a pint of milk to make tea because you believe the dairy industry is torturing cows, then you would be laughed out of the kitchen.”

‘The tide is changing now’

Monaco added: “The tide is changing now. It’s a movement.

“If we can get the law changed, people’s views may follow on from that.”

Vegan discrimination

Last year, a survey undertaken by Go Vegan Scotland, found that vegans are being discriminated against in Scottish hospitals, schools, universities and local authorities in contravention of their rights under UK and European law.

“The responses from some 480 Scotland-based vegans highlighted a lack of understanding of the moral conviction that vegans live by, what it means to be vegan in terms of avoidance of all forms of animal exploitation and killing, and how vegan convictions should be taken into account by our state entities,” the report states.