Alcohol consumption is heavily influenced by profession and gender, with tradespeople being particularly prone to excessive drinking, according to a study by the University of Liverpool. The research, published in the BMC Public Health journal, analysed data from 100,000 adults aged between 40 and 69 from the UK Biobank, a database containing information on 500,000 UK citizens who were interviewed and examined between 2006 and 2010. The study defined heavy drinking as 50 units per week for men and 35 units per week for women. One unit is equivalent to 10 millilitres of pure alcohol, with a half-litre of beer or a glass of wine containing between one and three units. The study found that tradespeople, including industrial cleaners, plasterers and publicans, were particularly prone to heavy drinking. There were also significant gender differences, with male tradespeople most likely to drink heavily, while female managers and senior civil servants were most likely to do so.
The study also found that there were significant differences in alcohol consumption at the lower end of the scale, with male doctors, town planners and clergy drinking little, while female school secretaries, biologists and biochemists were the least likely to drink. The study’s authors suggested that workplace interventions could be used to address alcohol consumption in particularly affected professions, with the potential to benefit both individuals and the economy. High alcohol consumption can cause physical and mental damage and reduce productivity. However, the authors cautioned that the study was a cross-sectional one, meaning that it was not possible to draw conclusions about an individual’s alcohol consumption based solely on their profession.
The findings of the study highlight the complex factors that can influence an individual’s relationship with alcohol, including their profession and gender. The authors suggest that targeted interventions in the workplace could help to reduce excessive drinking, improving public health and productivity. However, it is important to recognise that the study has limitations, and further research will be needed to fully understand the relationship between profession, gender and alcohol consumption.
