It's not unusual for workers to let off steam and relax by tipping a few after a long day on the job, and it's more common among certain occupations. According to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) statistics, about 8 percent of the U.S. workforce are heavy drinkers, with significantly higher rates among construction workers (17.6 percent); handlers, helpers and laborers (16 percent); machine operators or inspectors (14 percent); and wait staff, bartenders and food preparers (12 percent). Heavy alcohol use is defined as drinking five or more drinks on five or more occasions during the past 30 days.

Alcohol is the most widely abused drug among working adults, especially among full-time workers aged 18-25, of whom 38 percent are binge drinkers (at least five drinks in a row for men, four for women).

Whether on the job or after work, drinking among workers can threaten public safety, affect job performance, and result in costly medical and social problems. For instance, each time an employee is involved in an impaired driving crash or is arrested for driving under the influence, businesses must absorb the costs of increased absenteeism, tardiness, reassigning and retraining, and increased health care benefits.

In 2001, 70 percent of Minnesota crash fatalities were blue-collar workers who were drinking and driving. Alarmed by this fact and the SAMHSA findings of high alcohol abuse among blue-collar workers, Minnesota's Department of

Public Safety recently produced a training called "Last Call" directed to blue-collar workers. Last Call, funded by a special National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) grant, consists of a training guide and a hard-hitting 18-minute video that shows how lives have been impacted by impaired driving. It is for businesses, unions and other organizations to educate employees about the consequences and alternatives to driving drunk. Terry Wiederich, director of the Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust (LECET) for Minnesota, said his organization incorporates "Last Call" into the overall training they provide for apprentice construction workers. LECET also educates workers about job hazards and what they can do to prevent injuries.

"I don't look at this [Last Call] any differently than talking about the importance of an annual physical or a smoking cessation program," said Weiderich. "It's about taking precautions so they won't miss work or hurt themselves. It heightens awareness and makes impaired driving less of a taboo subject." Wiederich said trainings can be supplemented with testimonials from people who have suffered the consequences of a DUI and are willing to share their experience. This offers Last Call participants a real-life warning about the hazards of driving while under the influence.

It pays for businesses to have prevention, intervention and treatment information for their employees, because alcohol abuse affects an employer's bottom line. In 1995, productivity losses attributed to alcohol were estimated at $119 billion. Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) usually train supervisors on how to recognize substance abuse problems among their workforce and how to refer employees to the EAP. The EAP, in turn, can provide confidential assistance and link the worker to appropriate resources. The Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) reports that Ramada Corporation achieved a 50 percent reduction in absenteeism and 82 percent reduction in accidents through its EAP substance abuse prevention program.

--Published August 11, 2003