Occupational risk factors in alcoholism.

This study has investigated the presence and influence of six of the eight risk factors previously identified, which are common to occupations associated with high rates of alcoholism. The factors studied were availability of alcohol at work, social pressure to drink from colleagues, separation from family due to work commitments, lack of supervision, collusion by colleagues, and stresses and strains. The sample was drawn from problem drinkers attending a community drug treatment centre in London. None of the six factors was found to have a significant influence on the development or maintenance of these subjects' alcohol problems. It is concluded that these risk factors, while previously shown to be associated with those who seek medical treatment for the physical consequences of long-term alcohol misuse, are not of significance in the different populations of those who present for psychological alcohol treatment.