“From an individual perspective, alcohol use increases the risk of physical and mental harm which impact health and can lead to undesirable labor market outcomes such as loss of personal income, injury, and termination of employment. Job loss can also lead to worse outcomes in alcohol use through increased consumption and increased risk of morbidity and death.”

Generally speaking, the occupations that housed the heaviest drinkers varied between genders.

For men, skilled trade occupations yielded the most robust association with alcoholism. Women in managerial positions were more likely to drink heavily compared to the women featured in the analysis who worked lower-class positions.

Conversely, male clergies, medical practitioners, and town planners evidenced the lowest alcohol intake among their cohort. While female school secretaries, biological scientists, biochemists, and physiotherapists represented the lowest alcohol intake among their cohorts.

Similarly conducted studies have produced slightly different results in the US.

A recent SAMSHA (Substance Abuse and Mental health Services Association) study found the service industry workers tend to drink the most, followed by construction workers, and those working gigs in entertainment, sports, design and the arts.

Police officers and other justice workers, bank tellers, teachers, bookkeepers, therapists, laboratory technicians, child care workers, dental aides, physicians, and dentists represented the lowest alcohol intake per profession in the US.

“In the largest study of its kind, we found evidence for associations between a wider variety of occupations and the risk of heavy alcohol consumption than identified previously, particularly in females, although causality cannot be assumed. These results help determine which jobs and broader employment sectors may benefit most from prevention programs.”