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The Herald Scotland

Time to challenge normalisation of drinking at work events, medics say

A partnership of the Medical Royal Colleges and the Faculty of Public Health in Scotland and based at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, SHAAP was set up in 2006 to combat the escalation in alcohol-related health damage in Scotland. It provides the authoritative clinical voice on how policy makers and clinicians can reduce alcohol-related harms in Scotland. Scotland continues to face a significant alcohol problem, with adults who drink alcohol consuming an average of 21.6 units per week, according to the most recent Public Health Scotland figures. This is more than 50% above the Chief Medical Officers' safe drinking guidelines of 14 for both men and women. READ MORE: Swinney urged to act in bid to reverse near-record alcohol deaths Programme for Government: Alcohol ban on trains to end Scotland's drug and alcohol deaths remain among worst in Europe Meanwhile, according to research, the cost of workplace hangovers to the UK economy has been calculated at £1.2bn to £1.4bn a year. Official statistics also show that employed people are more likely to drink heavily than unemployed people - and and that the proportion of workers drinking excessively is highest in managerial and professional occupations, where about a third of staff report heavy drinking. SHAAP has produced advice for heavy drinkers who are thinking about cutting back or stopping drinking alcohol which can be accessed by any employer. Dr Alastair MacGilchrist, Chair of SHAAP, commented: "Alcohol can often be present at work-related events such as socials, networking and conferences and fears about peer pressure, performance and fitting in can make people feel like they have no choice but to drink. Employers have a duty of care to ensure that no one feels pressured to drink alcohol and having robust alcohol policies for every workplace is essential. This Alcohol Awareness Week, SHAAP is encouraging employers to look at their own practices and consider whether alcohol is being prioritised over health and wellbeing. Alcohol deaths have increased to highest level in 15 years (Image: PA) 'We also need a national conversation about the role alcohol plays in the workplace. The evidence is clear that it negatively affects productivity and leads to lost working hours, while causing serious health problems among working age people. It can also lower inhibitions, causing people to behave inappropriately, which can lead to stress, anxiety and even the loss of employment. 'Despite these known harms, drinking has become normalised at work events. It's time to challenge this and ask the question: should an intoxicating, health-harming substance like alcohol really be a part of work?' Last year, SHAAP called upon the Scottish Government to ban alcohol sponsorship and advertising in sport, arguing there is a duty to protect vulnerable groups from exposure to a 'health-harming product'. Elinor Jayne, who leads SHAAP, said it is unfair on vulnerable groups such as recovering alcoholics and young people to be exposed to alcohol advertising when they are watching or attending sports such as football. Furthermore, she shared her belief that the prevalence of such marketing contributes to an increase in consumption across the general population, running contrary to the Scottish Government's stated aim of reducing alcohol intake in Scotland. She said: All the evidence from the World Health Organisation and elsewhere suggests that if the government do want to protect our health, they do have to take measures such as banning sports sponsorship by the alcohol industry. 'When you change something like this it is difficult to imagine what it is going to be like, but sometimes you've got to be brave and have a bit of political leadership on issues like this if we are to try and reset our relationship with alcohol. 'That is something we desperately need to do, and we can't just rest on one policy alone like minimum unit pricing. We need to shift the whole lot and take forward measures like banning sports sponsorship by alcohol companies.'