Working more than 40 hours a week may affect how much alcohol you drink

©Louis Hansel via Unsplash

There are days that end without really ending. You close the laptop, turn off the lights in the office, go home with your head still entirely in overdrive. The body lies on the couch, the mind remains upright. In that in-between space of fatigue and stillness, a glass of something to drink is often sought for.

According to a study led by Dr. Gianluca Di Censo from the Flinders University, alcohol consumption increases as soon as the work week exceeds forty hours. This happens during the week, on evenings that are actually meant to be spent to recharge, at times when we tell ourselves that we are starting over tomorrow.

The researchers followed thousands of Australian workers for more than 20 years. From that, a clear picture emerges. Work takes up more and more space and alcohol becomes an everyday response to accumulated pressure.

Irregular shifts and broken nights make us reach for the drink more

Those who work night shifts know the feeling of living on the outskirts of time frames. Sleep comes when it can, the body follows constantly changing rhythms, the head is always one step behind. In that fragile balance, alcohol comes in as a simple, immediate, familiar gesture. The numbers show concentrated use (...) The reason remains human and recognizable: slowing down, turning off, quickly finding a 'releif'. Sleep comes faster, rest remains superficial, after all, fatigue awaits the next day.

The desire to work more also fits into that same picture. Financial worries and the pressure to keep up the pace push people beyond their own limits. The body registers everything and seeks compensation. Among workers between the ages of 18 and 29, excessive consumption is more common. At this stage of life, drinking often takes the form of binge drinking, coupled with moments of discharge and togetherness.

Men appear to be more vulnerable, especially in physically demanding occupations. Fatigue accumulates in muscles, back and hands: there's a need for a revitalizing snap in the evening. Smoking often accompanies these habits. Nicotine and alcohol keep each other company and reinforce the search for immediate relief.

Work affects our health much more than we think

Work determines the rhythm of our days. It determines how much time is left to recover, sleep, breathe. Company policies thus have a very concrete weight in our daily well-being. More humane working hours, less extreme shifts, accessible listening rooms reduce the pressure that accumulates over time.

This research, published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Review, links alcohol consumption, the way work is organized and the rhythms that define our days. It outlines a reality of stopping and starting, fatigue and attempts to persevere. Too much drinking often arises as a silent response to days that demand more than they give back. Recognizing that connection opens up a shared space for awareness: our well-being is also related to how we work and the time we manage to keep for ourselves.

(©Drug and Alcohol Review via GreenMe.it2026 / Managing Editor: Julie Morgan - The Press Junction / Picture: ©Miguel Bruna via Unsplash)