Hard Workers Susceptible to Risky Alcohol Use
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Getty Images(NEW YORK) — People have different ways of unwinding after a long work day and that includes consuming alcohol. Although most who do drink, practice moderation, there are others who drink to excess.
As it turns out, the longer the work day, the greater the chances of engaging in risky alcohol use, according to a report in the journal BMJ.
In a meta-analysis of 430,000 people from 14 developed nations including the U.S., workers who spent 49 or more hours on the job were 13 percent more prone to heavier drinking than those who typically worked 35 to 40 hours.
Risky alcohol use is defined as 14 drinks weekly for women and 21 a weeks for men. The researchers estimated that over two million people in the workforce may be drinking to excess based on the figures analyzed.
As for why some workers seek solace with booze, there are several theories, including that alcohol relieves stress while many who work hard also like to “play hard.” People suffering from insomnia or are depressed may need more time to do their job and as a result, will turn to the bottle when their work is done for the day.
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