Estimating the cost of alcohol-related absenteeism in the Australian workforce: The importance of consumption patterns.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the extent and cost of alcohol-related absenteeism in the Australian workforce.


METHODS
A secondary analysis of select data obtained from 13 582 Australian workers (aged > or = 14 years) collected as part of the 2001 National Drug Strategy Household Survey.


METHODS
Self-reported measures of alcohol-related absenteeism, illness or injury absenteeism and alcohol consumption categorised according to National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) guidelines for short- and long-term risk.


RESULTS
The use of self-reported measures of alcohol-related absenteeism resulted in an estimate of 2,682,865 work days lost due to alcohol use in 2001, at a cost of 437 million dollars. The use of self-reported measures of illness or injury absenteeism to determine the extent of absenteeism attributable to alcohol use resulted in an estimate of 7,402,341 work days lost, at a cost of 1 .2 billion dollars. These estimates are about 12 to 34 times greater than previous estimates based on national data. Low-risk drinkers and infrequent or occasional risky and high-risk drinkers accounted for 49%-66% of alcohol-related absenteeism.


CONCLUSIONS
The extent and cost of alcohol-related absenteeism is far greater than previously reported, and more than half the burden of alcohol-related absenteeism is incurred by low-risk drinkers and those who infrequently drink heavily.
Pidd
Kenneth J
KJ
National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia. ken.pidd@flinders.edu.au
Berry
Jesia G
JG
Roche
Ann M
AM
Harrison
James E
JE
D000041:Absenteeism; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004651:Employment / Q000191:economics*; D004813:Epidemiology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012737:Sex Factors; D013695:Temperance; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology