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NOEN

Alcohol

Alcohol is the most widespread intoxicant in Norway, and 88 per cent of employed people say they have drunk alcohol in the last 12 months. Of these, 15 per cent have a risky alcohol consumption. Drinking alcohol during working hours is uncommon, but it is relatively common to drink alcohol in work-related social situations.

The workplace is a favourable arena for preventing and managing problematic alcohol use.

In a survey of employees by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH), as many as 95 per cent want guidelines for alcohol use during working hours, and 66 per cent want guidelines for alcohol use in work contexts outside working hours, such as seminars, representation, travel and staff parties (NIPH, 2016). These are strong arguments for having a clear stance on alcohol use in work-related situations.

Absence 

In a survey of employees (NIPH, 2016), 2 per cent answered that they had been absent for part of the working day due to drinking the day before, and 1–2 per cent answered that they had been absent the whole working day due to drinking the day before. Researchers believe such surveys under-report, and that the actual alcohol-related absence is higher. There are large variations across industries.

1–2 per cent have been absent a whole working day due to drinking the day before.

The largest share of absence is found among employees with moderate consumption, because this group is the largest. For that reason it is important to work preventively among all employees. But a large share of absence is due to a small group of high consumers. This group would gain major health benefits from reducing their consumption, and the workplace can be a good arena for facilitating a healthier alcohol culture by setting limits for what is and isn't okay. 

Inefficiency 

One of several negative consequences of alcohol use at work is inefficiency.

11 per cent report having been less efficient at work in the past year due to drinking the day before. The figures vary greatly between industries, and it applies to more men than women (12 per cent men versus 9 per cent women). Of those who had been less efficient, 24 per cent said they had done about half or less of what they usually do.

Costs for employers 

Based on the figures from NIPH, calculations by Samfunnsøkonomisk analyse in 2018 show that:

Alcohol-related absence and inefficiency cost Norwegian employers at least NOK 1.1 billion annually. 

Check what alcohol-related absence may cost your company via NAV's absence calculator.

In addition to the financial costs of inefficiency and absence, several social consequences arise that can cause strain in the working environment and to the organisation's reputation: 

  • 12 per cent report having experienced pressure to drink in work-related social situations in the last 12 months (NIPH, 2019). 
  • 11 per cent have not attended social work events and felt excluded in the last 12 months because of colleagues' alcohol use (NIPH, 2019). 
  • 7 per cent report having experienced unwanted sexual attention from colleagues who had been drinking in the last 12 months (NIPH, 2016).
  • 4 per cent report having been verbally abused in the last 12 months by colleagues who had been drinking (NIPH, 2016).
  • 2 per cent have been physically injured in the last 12 months by colleagues who had been drinking (NIPH, 2016).

Test the alcohol culture in your organisation: try our conversation tool The drink chat.

Sources