[Alcohol consumption by refuse collection workers: a problem of public health]

A total of 485 workers were interviewed employed by the municipal urban refuse collection corporation of Venice; 87.6% consumed alcoholic beverages, 24.5% of whom exceeded 1 litre of wine per day. Only 9.7% of the interviewees thought that an acceptable alcohol consumption level should not exceed 1 litre, whereas more than 23% thought that 2 or more litres of wine per day was not harmful. The variables associated with a high alcohol consumption in this working community were mainly: level of education and of specific knowledge about alcohol and long-term residence in the historical centre of Venice. The authors discuss the possible factors connected with the type of job which could influence the incentive to drink and the public hygiene actions that could be taken. The need for community medicine programmes is emphasized.