Alcohol and the workplace

Counselling can help workers address potential risks.

- RHYS EVANS

Alcohol consumption in the workplace isn't just about immediate risks like intoxication. It contributes to a broader range of psychosocial challenges affecting employee well-being.

Psychological factors like impulsiveness and low self-esteem, often stemming from unresolved emotional trauma, can lead to inappropriate drinking behaviour, while for others, alcohol becomes a misguided form of self-medication for emotional struggles existing This reliance on alcohol can exacerbate psychosocial risks in the workplace, and impaired cognitive function, emotional instability, and strained interpersonal relationships are just a few of the consequences.

For employees, reliance on alcohol is a double-edged sword that can worsen psychosocial risks in the workplace. Impaired cognitive function manifests as reduced concentration, poor judgment, and slower reaction times, which often result in mistakes and safety hazards.