Working over 40 hours a week and drinking more alcohol? A new study says there’s a link

An Australian study has found that work-related factors such as full-time employment, shift work and dissatisfaction with work hours are linked to higher-risk alcohol consumption, even after accounting for demographic and health factors. The study’s lead author, Gianluca Di Censo, says employees who work excessive hours or want to work more may be particularly vulnerable. The analysis examined 26,255 employed individuals using data from 23 years (2001–2023) of the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey.