[Thoughts on a prevention campaign: alcoholism in the workplace]

In an undertaking, apart from the unavoidable health effects of alcohol drinking, an alcoholic often ends up by losing his job and, if this is guaranteed, he is shunted to one side and loses all prospects of promotion. The alcoholism prevention campaign took place in an electricity and gas distribution centre at Blois in 1981. A newly occupational health doctor, who was convinced that lasting and efficient work in an undertaking could be carried only with the agreement of the staff and its representatives, saw to the smooth running of the campaign. He was assisted in this task by an occupational health nurse who was well integrated in that working community. Between October 1981 and December 1982, a number of meetings were held - 25 in all - to assess the scope of the problem and outline ways to carry out a campaign. The campaign was implemented on the basis of the following principles: the rejection of the moralizing or punitive approach to the problem, the concern to consider all the employees and the refusal to aim at target groups. 95% of the employees participated on a voluntary basis in the various information meetings. A few months after the campaign was started, during medical examinations the employees were routinely asked whether they would undergo a gamma glutamyl transpeptidase test. Twenty refused. After the campaign, it was easier for the doctor to discuss with patients the health effects of drinking during the medical examinations. Alcoholism affects worker's skills.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)