Work Hard… Drink Hard? Occupational, Sociodemographic and Health Determinants of High-Risk Alcohol Consumption Among...

Although occupational stressors are acknowledged as contributors to high-risk alcohol consumption, their impact relative to sociodemographic and health factors is not well understood. This study investigated how occupational stressors compare with sociodemographic and health factors in influencing three high-risk drinking patterns among Australian workers.

This analysis included 26,255 employed individuals (48.2% female) drawn from 23 waves (2001-2023) of the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey. The study conducted multivariate regressions on three types of high-risk drinking: (i) high-risk drinking across the week; (ii) single-occasion high-risk drinking; and (iii) any high-risk drinking.

Working more than full-time hours was associated with higher odds of high-risk drinking across the week (OR 1.12, 95% CI [1.05, 1.19]). Shift workers were associated with single-occasion high-risk drinking (OR 1.09, 95% CI [1.02, 1.16]). Desiring to work more hours was associated with single-occasion high-risk drinking (OR 1.16, 95% CI [1.09, 1.24]). Workers aged 18-29 years had a twofold increased odds of any high-risk drinking (OR 1.99, 95% CI [1.77, 2.23]), while women had decreased odds (OR 0.11, 95% CI [0.10, 0.13]). Smoking was the modifiable risk factor most strongly associated with any high-risk drinking (OR 2.80, 95% CI [2.60, 3.02]).

This analysis found that occupational factors were associated with high-risk drinking; however, their impact was less substantial than sociodemographic and health factors. Interventions targeting risk factors among high-prevalence groups and health promotion campaigns highlighting the health risks associated with high-risk alcohol consumption are warranted.