Helping the Servers

Two recent survey studies indicate that workers in the hospitality industry are at increased risk for health problems related to alcohol and tobacco use.

Moore and colleagues (2009) found that 41% of food service workers surveyed reported problem drinking.

Additionally:

Findings of variables associated with problem drinking in this survey analysis include higher rates among young adult restaurant workers who are: (a) male; (b) white; (c) aged 21–24; (d) educated post-high-school; (e) frequently socializing with coworkers after work; and (f) current smokers (p. 331).

The authors note past research which indicates problem drinkers may self-select into the restaurant industry, with the possible sustaining factors of increased access to alcohol and counterproductive workplace norms and culture.

Those findings are consistent with a reanalysis of government data undertaken last year by Eric Goplerud and a team from the Ensuring Solutions to Alcohol Problems (ESAP) initiative at George Washington University.  Goplerud determined that the hospitality industry was the most prone to risk, with 15% of employees suffering from “serious alcohol-related problems” (ESAP, 2008).

Along the same lines, 44.7% of workers in the food preparation and serving-related occupations reported past month cigarette use, according to SAMHSA (2009).

ESAP recommends the widespread adoption of screening and brief intervention (SBI) in primary care, workplace wellness programs and employee assistance programs.

References:

Ensuring Solutions to Alcohol Problems (2008). Workplace screening & brief intervention: What employers can and should do about excessive alcohol use [report].  Retrieved on October 18, 2009, from http://www.ensuringsolutions.org/usr_doc/Workplace_SBI_Report_Final.pdf.

Moore, R.S., Cunradi, C.B., Duke, M.R. & Ames, G.M. (2009). Dimensions of problem drinking among young adult restaurant workers. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 35(5), 329-333.

SAMHSA (2009).  Nationwide survey reveals that 33.6 million full-time employees (aged 18 to 64) in the U.S. reported using cigarettes in the past month [news release].  Retrieved on October 18, 2009, from http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/090928cigarette0821.aspx.