Working Long Hours Is Associated with Risky Alcohol Use

Working long hours has been linked to risks for injury, depression, and anxiety. In this systematic review and meta-analysis of 63 studies from 14 countries, researchers examined whether long work hours were associated with risky alcohol use.

In cross-sectional analysis of data on 334,000 participants, working long hours (≥55 hours weekly) was associated with greater likelihood of high alcohol use (odds ratio, 1.11). In prospective analysis of data on >100,000 participants, the odds ratios of new-onset risky alcohol use (>14 drinks weekly for women and >21 drinks weekly for men) for people who worked ≥55 hours weekly and 49 to 54 hours weekly were 1.12 and 1.13, respectively, compared with risks for people who worked 35 to 40 hours weekly. T…