A restrictive workplace drinking culture curbs an individual's overall alcohol intake, even outside of work, suggests research published ahead of print in Occupational and Environmental Medicine, as reported by Newswise. The researchers base their findings on a detailed analysis of workplace attitudes towards drinking and drinking behaviors in over 5,000 employees in 16 different organizations, representing a range of different sectors.
One finding was that rates of heavy, frequent and workplace drinking were significantly lower in organizations that discouraged social drinking than in those that most tolerated it. After taking account of other influential factors, workers in organizations that most discouraged social drinking were 45 percent less likely to be heavy drinkers than those in workplaces with the most relaxed attitudes to drinking. They were also 54 percent less likely to be frequent drinkers and 69 percent less likely to drink during the work day.
Reprinted with permission. © CCH