The more we work, the more we turn to alcohol, a study confirms, with those working more than 48 hours a week at the highest risk.
In a cross sectional analysis of 333,693 people in 14 countries, researchers found that longer working hours increased the likelihood of higher alcohol use by 11%. A prospective analysis found a similar increase in risk of 12% for onset of risky alcohol use in 100,602 people from 9 countries.
Individual participant data from 18 prospective studies showed that those who worked 49-54 hours and 55 hours per week or more were found to have an increased risk of 13% and 12% respectively of risky alcohol consumption compared with those who worked 35-40 hours per week, the study in the BMJ reported.