Patterns of alcohol consumption in white collar‐workers–a cross‐sectional and longitudinal study

A 6-year follow-up of a cohort of male and female white collar workers in whom there was baseline information on alcohol consumption and access to data on sickness absence, promotion and labour turnover, revealed that even moderate alcohol and consumption in this population was associated with social costs for the employer and the employee, particularly in terms of sickness absence. The longitudinal examination of consumption in this study suggests that early intervention in a drinking career may reduce alcohol consumption and consequently avoid years of morbidity and sickness absence, as well as having a favourable influence on promotion prospects and labour turnover.