One for the Office

One for the Office

According to a latest survey, at least 7% of the total workforce in America consumes alcohol daily in the office and an additional 9% come to the office with a hangover.

A team of researchers at the Research Institute on Addictions, University of Buffalo analyzed data from a telephonic survey of 2,805 workers that were interviewed during an 18-month period from early 2004 to mid 2005. The sample which was representative of the American workforce consisted of respondents in the age-group of 18 to 65.

The respondents were questioned about their drinking habits in the workplace during the preceding year. On the whole 15% of the respondents acknowledged working under the effect of alcohol; they reported that they drank either at work or before leaving for work. Of those admitting to alcohol use in the workplace, the highest proportion was that of single, young men who were into sales, media or hospitality industry. For most, lunch time was the favorite time to toss down a drink.

“Of all psychoactive substances with the potential to impair cognitive and behavioral performance, alcohol is the most widely used and misused substance in the general population and in the work force,” observed Michael Frone the chief researcher of the study. Alcohol also weakens the decision-making abilities of a person. According to Elena Carr, the coordinator of an anti-addiction program of the labor department, “It slows down your reaction time, it impairs your decision-making.”

The findings of the study call for effective rules about alcohol use at workplace. “The prevalence rates are high enough that employers should have explicit policies regarding alcohol use and impairment at work and employees should be aware of these policies,” said Mr. Frone.

The study was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and was published in the latest issue of the 'Journal of Studies on Alcohol'.