Work-related Alcohol Use

Abstract

Drinking alcohol with co-workers is a common practice in many countries. However, because consumption of alcohol is socially unaccepted in several religious groups, the use of alcohol in an occupational context may be discriminatory and have negative side-effects. In annual surveys of part- and fulltime employees in Norway conducted between 2015 and 2022, we found that employees affiliated with religious minorities more often experienced social exclusion due to work-related alcohol use than non-religious employees and the religious majority. Experiencing alcohol-related social exclusion was related to more negative perceptions of the social work environment and more absence from work. Restrictive alcohol practices and policies at the workplace were associated with less social exclusion and appeared to be protective for religious minorities, without impairing the social work environment of other employees. Social exclusion of religious minorities can be reduced if employers limit or avoid serving alcohol to employees.