Alcohol use and caloric intake from alcohol in a national cohort of U.S. career firefighters

Both media reports and preliminary research suggest that problem drinking is a concern in the U.S. fire service. However, no national epidemiological research has been conducted. This study presents the first national data on alcohol consumption patterns among firefighters.

Data are from 954 male firefighters at 20 career fire departments. The departments covered 14 U.S. states, commonwealths, and/or territories and each of the four major U.S. Census Bureau Regions. Alcohol use was assessed through both surveys and, in a subsample, 24-hour dietary recall interviews from an off-duty day.

More than 85% of participants consumed alcohol, nearly half reported excessive drinking, and approximately one third reported episodic heavy use when off duty. Firefighters (in comparison with officers or chiefs) and those with fewer years of service had particularly high levels of alcohol intake. Among firefighters who drank, the energy derived from alcohol averaged 539 kcals, or nearly 18% of total energy. Twenty five percent of firefighters consumed more than 770 kcals from alcohol in a single day.

Given the high prevalence of excessive and episodic heavy drinking and the impact of alcohol on energy intake in this population, national surveillance programs and targeted prevention interventions for problem drinking in the U.S. fire service are critically needed.