Alcohol Awareness Week 2025 – Alcohol and Work

Whether it’s feeling pressured to join colleagues for after-work drinks, using alcohol to cope with stress, or even drinking during the day, alcohol can show up in many ways in your working life. The effects of alcohol can impact workplace performance, safety and relationships.

Alcohol and Work – The Statistics

Increased risk of accidents and injury: The International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates that up to 40% of accidents in the work place were linked to alcohol use.

Reduction and loss of productivity: The Institute of Alcohol Studies (2024) estimated that it cost the wider economy more than £5 billion due to lost productivity, caused by things such as absenteeism and underperformance.

Work-related stress: 27% of employees attribute work related stress as a reason for drinking more.

How Can Alcohol Impact Our Work?

In addition to the impacts on our health, wellbeing and personal lives, alcohol can also affect our work by:

• Reduced productivity and reliability – increased sick days, lateness, and decreased performance.
• Higher risk of accidents – especially in roles involving machinery
• Strained relationships – with colleagues, clients, or managers

Reducing Impact

There are a number of measures you can take to help reduce the impact of alcohol on your work and overall health and wellbeing:

• Take more drink-free days – give your body time to recover
• Find alternatives – try alcohol-free drinks or new social activities
• Stay hydrated – alternate alcoholic drinks with water
• Eat before and during drinking – it helps slow alcohol absorption
• Don’t drive or operate machinery – understand alcohol and the law, and alcohol units

Know Your Drinking

Want to understand your drinking better? Check your drinking with the free, confidential DrinkCoach Alcohol Test.

Support on Offer

If alcohol is starting to impact your work, your health, or just how you feel day-to-day, you’re not alone and there is support.