Alcohol use in shiftworkers

It has been suggested that shiftworkers may consume alcohol to help them sleep, resulting in greater consumption. A large study in Australian workers suggested that those on non-standard schedules (outside 8 am-6 pm, Monday-Friday) do not drink more, but are at increased odds of binge drinking (heavy periods of drinking followed by abstinence) than workers on standard schedules. However, differences in types of non-standard schedules were not examined in the study. The current study examined the alcohol intake of Australian shiftworkers on fixed and rotating shifts. Shiftworkers (n = 118, age = 43.4 ± 9.9 y, 68% male) on 12 h-rotating (n = 29), 8 h-rotating (n = 29), morning (n = 33) and night (n = 27) schedules from printing, postal, nursing and oil industries participated. They completed a Cancer Council Dietary Questionnaire, recording frequency and amount of alcohol consumed on average per day over the preceding year. They also completed a shortened Standard Shiftwork Index, including questions on shift schedule, sleep duration, tiredness, gender and age. Average alcohol consumption was 9.6 ± 13.1 standard drinks/week. One in six reported using alcohol as a sleep aid between shifts at least sometimes and nearly one third reported consuming 12 or more drinks in 24 h. Alcohol consumption was higher for males and decreased with age. Controlling for gender and age, there were no significant differences between shift types in standard drinks/week (p = 0.50). However, those on 12-h rotating shifts consumed more drinks per 24 h (p = 0.04) and had less sleep (p < 0.001). Results support the suggestion that shiftworkers are likely to binge drink, particularly younger, male workers and those on long, rotating shifts. Alcohol use in shiftworkers may put increased pressure on already vulnerable physiological systems.