The annual cost to the U.K. economy of alcohol-related sickness / lateness / absence / accidents / reduced efficiency is estimated at around £1,500m. (- research conducted in 1987).

An estimated 8 - 14 million working days are lost each year as a result of alcohol - related problems.

7 % of males report having had a hangover at work in past 3 months.

3 % of the U.K. workforce report having had a day off due to drink in the past year.

7 % of men and 3 % of women admit that their work has been below par because of drinking in the past year.

Up to 25 % of workplace accidents are drink-related - resulting in injuries / wastage / damage to property.

Workers who misuse alcohol are 2 to 3 times as likely to be involved in industrial accidents.

75 % of employers say that alcohol misuse is a problem in their organisation.

Reduced efficiency - alcohol use may result in lowered alertness / impaired accuracy / poor judgement. These effects amy be present in both the boardroom and on the shop floor.

Alcohol problems may be associated with poor work discipline / low morale / petty crime / poor time-keeping.

Heavy drinking may result in problems for the employee such as loss of pay / promotion, disciplinary action, dismissal & unemployment.

Many companies have recently introduced "alcohol in workplace" policies and instigated work place counselling services A study by Maynard ( 1991 ), however, revealed a general lack of awareness of alcohol-related problems in the workplace.