The Dangers of Drinking After Work

Drinking after work is often seen as a sort of professional ritual. Whether you’re grabbing a beer at a bar with coworkers after a long day or having a glass of wine while attending a formal event to make connections, alcohol can be prescient. Many may consider a drink after work as a way to destress. However, drinking after work can have hidden dangers, regardless of your profession. In honor of Labor Day, we’ll be exploring the dangers of drinking after work.

The Dangers of Drinking After Work

Alcohol has long been connected with work, particularly manual labor. It is believed the beer was initially given out as rations to workers in Ancient Mesopotamia, establishing the persistent cultural link between beer drinking and manual labor. Today, many in workers may engage in drinking after work. Statistics confirm that heavy drinking after work is a growing problem for many professions:

• Nearly one-third of miners report partaking in heavy drinking.
• Between 15 and 20 percent of construction workers engage in heavy drinking on a monthly basis.
• Over ten percent of those working in hospitality or the food service industry reported engaging in heavy drinking after work.

Alcoholism doesn’t just affect the working class. Those in the professional class also struggle with substance abuse, possibly fueled by after work drinking. Those with professions such as office workers, lawyers, doctors, accountants, and management, may also find themselves struggling to control their drinking habits. For example, nearly one in five lawyers struggle with heavy alcohol use. Additionally, nearly 15 percent of healthcare professionals struggle with alcohol abuse.

Controlling Your Drinking After Work

Regardless of what career you have, there are steps you can take to monitor your after-work drinking. One of the best ways is simply to limit the amount of drinks you have. There are several drink counting apps to help you keep track of how much alcohol you’ve had. While there can be peer pressure to drink from your coworkers, it’s important to remember that drinking is not required. Opting to have some sparkling water or a soda can be viable alternatives. Further, your supervisor will likely appreciate a commitment to professionalism, even when with coworkers after hours.

You can also suggest sober activities to your company’s HR department. After-work drinking can be cultivated by company culture. Sober team-building activities that offer fun experiences can often prove more valuable than spending a few hours at a bar with coworkers. Escape rooms, bowling, mini-golf, or dinner shows can be great sober activities to help build connections with your coworkers.

Finding Treatment for Alcohol Addiction

If you find that you can’t control your drinking, or know a loved one who is struggling with addiction, know that there is help out there. American Addiction Centers stands ready to help you find recovery. At AAC, we’re open and committed to providing critical care in a safe environment, even during the ongoing pandemic. If you’re ready to quit drinking and reclaim your life from addiction, call now, or click to chat.