April is National Alcohol Awareness Month, and employers, unions and other organizations are encouraged to participate by educating workers about the dangers of alcohol abuse, both on and off the job, and resources available to help those struggling with alcohol problems.  Research demonstrates that employers have the power to play an important role in reducing alcohol abuse and alcoholism in their communities. 

For example, employers can organize onsite training sessions, guest speakers or brown-bag lunches focused on the topic of alcohol.  A variety of related brochures, posters and fact sheets are available through the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information to support such efforts or for dissemination to employees through other channels, such as employee newsletters or worksite displays.

National Alcohol Awareness Month also presents an opportune time to remind employees about Employee Assistance Program (EAP) or Member Assistance Program (MAP) services, if available.  Such programs offer free, confidential services to help all employees resolve personal problems, such as alcohol abuse, that may be affecting their work performance.

Organizations also can offer employees the opportunity to privately assess how alcohol may be affecting the way they live and work.  For example, they can inform employees about confidential, self-administered online screening tools and make sure all employees have access to the Internet in a private location if they wish to use them.  Examples include Alcohol Screening.org, a service of Join Together, a program of Boston University’s School of Public Health, and GetFit.SAMHSA.Gov, a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Web site.   

Even if screenings are not offered, organizations can educate employees about community resources that can help someone struggling with alcohol abuse.  Help is likely available nearby through a hospital, local health department or stand-alone Substance Abuse Treatment Center. Also, self-help programs, such as the 12-step programs of Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon, are free and available nationwide.  Rethinking Drinking, a new Web site from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), is designed to help users define their drinking patterns and develop strategies and options for dealing with alcohol-related problems.  This Web site is part of a broader effort to increase understanding of the array of alcohol-related disorders and redefine the way terms like "abuse" and "dependence" are used.

Employers and unions have a vested interest in helping to prevent worker alcohol abuse and supporting individuals with alcohol problems.  Alcohol can significantly impair a worker’s judgment and coordination, leading to an increased risk of on-the-job accidents and injuries.  It also can lead to lower levels of productivity and employee morale—not only that of those with alcohol problems, but also those working alongside them.  More information about strategies employers can adopt to address alcohol and other drug problems—during National Alcohol Awareness Month and all year round—is available on the U.S. Department of Labor’s Working Partners for an Alcohol- and Drug-Free Workplace Web site.