Research Plus

Workplace drinking culture

Research across 16 US worksites, involving more than 5,000 workers in 137 supervisory workgroups found that workplace attitudes to drinking significantly affected individuals’ overall alcohol intake. Workplace culture was assessed according to a psychometric scale of social norms of drinking behaviour and attitude. Individuals in the most discouraging drinking workgroups were 45% less likely to be heavy drinkers, 54% less likely to be frequent drinkers and 69% less likely to drink at work than those in the most encouraging groups. Workplace interventions should target group norms rather than individual beliefs.

Occupational and Environmental Medicine (online first); 2007; doi: 10.1136/oem.2006.031765

Tags evidence based practice substance misuse

Occupational Health at Work August/September 2007 (vol. 04/2) pp40