Booze is 'number one threat' to worker well-being

The study by Norwich Union Healthcare showed that almost a third of employees (32%) had been to work with a hangover and 15% had been drunk at work. One in 10 said this happened at least once a month, while one in 20 said it was once a week.

Of those who had gone to work with a hangover or had been drunk at work, 85% said it affected their performance or mood. More than a third (36%) found it hard to concentrate, while 35% admitted to being less productive and 42% felt tired to the point of being sleepy.

A quarter of workers (25%) said their drinking meant they did the minimum amount of work and went home as soon as possible and almost one in 10 "made lots of mistakes".

Don Shenker from Alcohol Concern commented: "With many people drinking at harmful levels it's not surprising to find that it is having an effect on the workplace.

"After work or lunchtime drinks are the norm for many and in some cases this is promoted by companies as a way to build teams or just as the way 'to do business'. Employers need to watch out for the early warning signs that alcohol may be affecting their workers in a serious way."

Alcohol policy

The research also revealed that a fifth of people working in construction and 15% of those working in wholesale and agriculture go to work with a hangover once a week - worrying, given the poor health and safety performance of these sectors.

Workers in labour intensive occupations admitted that their alcohol use did not only affect productivity, but that it could potentially threaten the health and safety of themselves and others.

A third of construction workers and nearly a quarter in manufacturing also admitted that they made lots of mistakes that they needed to rectify the following day.

Dr Douglas Wright of Norwich Union Healthcare told us: "It seems that alcohol and the workplace often do go hand in hand. Sadly, alcohol use is associated with a number of medical conditions which can cause significant morbidity and therefore affect performance and attendance at work, costing UK plc.

"It's essential that companies have a robust drug and alcohol policy and procedure to tackle and, where possible, prevent any problems developing. This should include provision for support and, potentially, referral to appropriate facilities."

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) up to 14 million working days are lost each year due to alcohol related problems, costing British industry about £2 billion each year.