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64% of workers admit they drink for work-related reasons, here's how we can change that.

A new survey from Alcohol Change UK has found that the workplace is contributing to just how much alcohol we drink-with 64% of workers admitting they drink for work-related reasons. According to award-winning sober coach Sandra Parker, of Just the Tonic Coaching, https://justthetoniccoaching.com/ these stats show a wider picture that many corporations across the UK need to recognise.

 "These statistics reveal something I see with my clients every day - and it's exactly why traditional approaches to alcohol issues miss the mark completely. 40% of workers drinking more due to work-related anxiety. 38% using alcohol to cope with workplace stress, whilst over a third reaching for a drink because of pressure and deadlines. This isn't about "alcoholics" - this is about successful professionals using alcohol as their primary stress management tool," she explains.

Part of the problem is that organisations aren't doing enough to have conversations about alcohol consumption with their staff. The research also found more than a third of workers saying they'd actually be more comfortable talking about mental health in the workplace than they would be about sharing about their alcohol consumption.

 "When 36% of workers feel more comfortable discussing mental health at work than alcohol use, it is evidence that we have destigmatized anxiety and depression, but alcohol remains a taboo subject," says Parker, a former city worker who now works with professionals across the UK to help them tackle their relationship with alcohol.

Whilst mental health might be more talked about, corporations still need to work to tackle this-since anxiety around work is contributing to drinking due to job pressures. "I see this constantly with my clients. "A" told me: "I was opening a bottle of wine as soon as I got home from work... I felt like I was caught in this horrible trap." What I've discovered, with the people I work with is that once they understand alcohol is actually increasing their stress, not relieving it, they bring the same commitment and follow-through that made them successful in their careers. They just need the right approach," adds Sandra.

How business can practically tackle work-related drinking.

It's clear we need to tackle employees drinking due to work stress and anxiety, Sandra shares her top tips for corporation wanting to tackle the problem for good.

• Stop making alcohol the default at company events.
• Train organizers to lead with non-alcoholic options, and offer a good selection.
• Design activities that don't revolve around drinking. When senior leaders choose alcohol-free drinks, they demonstrate that career success doesn't require liquid courage.
• Eliminate casual coercion—"just one won't hurt" isn't friendly encouragement, it's workplace pressure that excludes non-drinkers.
• Address the hidden crisis: 80% of high-functioning people with alcohol problems won't discuss it with their doctor, let alone their employer. Make confidential support as visible as your pension scheme. Develop policies that emphasize help over punishment.
•  Give employees absolute clarity about what happens when they seek support—they'll only ask for help when they trust it won't damage their career.
• The goal isn't banning alcohol from company events; it's ensuring professional success doesn't depend on drinking culture, and that seeking help signals strength, not weakness.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sandra Parker .