Alcohol harm, mental health and opportunities for change in veterinary practice: A cross-sectional study

Evidence suggests that compared with the general population, a higher proportion of UK veterinary professionals engage in at-risk drinking; however factors influencing alcohol use and barriers to help-seeking remain under-explored.

An online survey was completed by 652 UK veterinary workers who currently consumed alcohol. Validated measures of alcohol-related risk of harm, drinking motives, mental health status and behavioural influences on alcohol reduction and help-seeking were used. Statistical analyses comprised correlations, multiple regression and mediation.

Overall, 40.4% of participants reported at-risk drinking, related to poor mental health, being male and older in age. Drinking to cope and for enhancement predicted alcohol risk and amplified the relationship between poor mental health and alcohol risk. Lower alcohol risk was predicted by self-efficacy and knowledge of low-risk drinking, viewing drinking as essential to socialise or a habit, having an enabling lifestyle and positive attitudes towards help-seeking. Perceived stigma remained a barrier.

Cross-sectional design limits causal inference. Self-reporting may introduce bias.

At-risk drinking was linked to drinking to cope, for pleasure and poor mental health. Interventions to reduce drinking and improve help-seeking for alcohol use should target promotion of adaptive coping, knowledge of low-risk drinking and stigma reduction.