Alcohol in the Workplace: Making the Link Between Alcohol Consumption and Chronic Disease
Of Canada's workers, 80 per cent are current drinkers and 6.5 per cent to 22 per cent of these individuals admit to drinking at the workplace, or shortly before going to work. Safety and performance are compromised when employees use alcohol and/or drugs on the job. Consider using the information below to raise your employees' awareness about the link between alcohol consumption and chronic disease.
Alcohol
If you don't already drink, don't start drinking for health reasons.
More than 1 or 2 drinks per day increases your risk of stroke and cancer! www.frcentre.net/asc.htm
Alcohol is a greater risk factor for burden of disease and disability than those posed by cholesterol, body mass index, low fruit and vegetable intake, physical inactivity, and illicit drug use.
| Stroke Binge drinking (more than 5 standard drinks at one time) significantly increases the risk of stroke www.preventstroke.ca |
 |
High Blood Pressure Consuming more than 2 standard drinks per day increases the risk of high blood pressure www.heartandstroke.on.ca |
| Cancer Drinking more than 1 or 2 standard drinks per day can put you at risk for many types of cancer www.cancer.ca |
Breast Cancer Drinking 1 or more standard drinks per day can increase your risk for breast cancer www.cbcf.org |
Resources:
Book out Project Health's display, "A Hangover is the Least of Your Worries" that makes the link between alcohol consumption and chronic disease. In addition to this display an "Alcohol Kit" containing models demonstrating a standard drink size can be borrowed by calling the Project Health phone line at 519-883-2287.
Watch for Project Health's Virtual Vacation Kit being launched in the Fall of 2009 at the Going South Networking Session. This kit will be a health promotion party in a box containing all you will need (like Mocktail/non-alcoholic recipes and information on alcohol policy) to throw a fun, educational party for your employees.
Additional Websites:
Visit www.lrdg.net for alcohol consumption guidelines.
The Alcohol Help Centre has strategies for reducing alcohol consumption, a consumer support forum as well as personalized tools and exercises that visitors can use. The services are free and anonymous.
For more information on Alcohol in the Workplace, please visit our Project Health Resources section, or contact Carol Perkins, Region of Waterloo Public Health Nurse, at 519-883-2008 ext. 5441.
Archive: