Three martini lunches may be a thing of the past, but for many workers heading out to happy hour or grabbing a drink is a normal way to wind down at the end of a long day on the job. And new research suggests there is a strong link between working long hours and drinking.<\/p>\n
An international study published in the British Medical Journal<\/em><\/a> found people who work 48 hours or more per week are 11% more likely to drink in excess than those who work less than 40 hours.<\/p>\n The study found no difference between blue collar and white collar jobs<\/a>, and the results also transcended geographic locations and income levels. The study also determined that those who moved into a more stressful job during the study were 12% more likely to develop a drinking problem.<\/p>\n Some experts theorize that workers are self-medicating with alcohol to overcome stress. However, others are quick to point out that correlation doesn\u2019t equal causation. Some question which came first: stress or heavy drinking. Individuals who are driven to work long hours may operate under a \u201cwork hard, play hard\u201d mentality. Another theory is that high-stress workplaces may attract individuals with alcohol issues by providing them an excuse to consume more alcohol and an opportunity to drink frequently with others.<\/p>\n Many jobs require long hours and come with high levels of stress. But alcohol misuse and abuse account for 46% of lost workplace productivity in the U.S.<\/a>, so companies benefit from taking steps to help their workers prevent or address alcohol issues. Below are a few ways companies can support employees and promote healthy alternatives:<\/p>\n What are some other ways that companies can\u00a0help workers make healthy choices\u00a0around stress relief and alcohol consumption?<\/p>\nAlcohol misuse impacts\u00a0workplace productivity<\/h3>\n
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