How work stress can lead to an unhealthy relationship with alcohol

What’s included?

1. Introduction
2. Dealing with work stress
3. How to spot a colleague is struggling
4. How Delamere Can Help

A recent study conducted by pharmaceutical company, STADA, found that weekly consumption of alcohol in the UK is higher than any other European country. 

Nearly one in five (18%) participants said that they drink every week to relieve stress. It is widely reported that employees in the UK are more stressed than ever before, so it is expected that this number is likely to rise.

Mental Health UK’s Burnout Report 2025 found that “many are at risk of burnout, with nine in ten experiencing high or extreme levels of pressure or stress in the last year.”

This week is Alcohol Awareness Week (7th-13th July), and 2025’s theme is alcohol and work.

Many people turn to alcohol for light relief, to distract, escape or lessen the feelings of stress that sometimes come from work, but this can quickly turn from being unhealthy to a long-term addiction problem. 

As drinking with colleagues can sometimes feel like an integral part of work culture, it can be difficult to know when to seek help.

Need help?
Call us confidentially at any time to speak to a member of our team.

Call us now: 0330 111 2015

Dealing with work stress

Whilst work stress is somewhat unavoidable, ensuring that you have a toolbox of ways to cope with pressure and tension can help you to reduce the impact this has on your day to day life. 

Building a routine outside of work hours can help to set you up strongly for the day, and help you to disconnect afterwards.

Exercise is a stress reducing tool that can benefit you long beyond the movement itself. Aerobic exercise increases endorphins, benefitting the mind whilst you shake the tension out of your muscles and get outside. 

Maintaining a nutritious diet that can fuel you through stressful days at work is a natural way to keep your head above water. Reactions can be heightened when your body is underfuelled and it can be harder to concentrate. 

Setting boundaries with colleagues, not just about deadlines and capacity in the workplace but after work drinks and alcohol intake can be difficult, but it’s an important step to ensuring that alcohol does not become a coping mechanism. 

If most of the events in your workplace, speaking to HR to encourage more alcohol free socials is a way to ensure everyone can be included. 

84% of work related social events included alcohol in 2024, according to research conducted by Easy Offices.

The same study revealed that more than a third (34%) of employees avoid social events for this very reason. 

If you’re struggling with work burnout and want to find out more about treatments and more please contact Delamere.

How to spot a colleague is struggling

Alcohol addiction can present itself in many different ways, but the key signs a colleague might be struggling include:

• Excessive alcohol use during work socials
• Suddenly becoming unreliable in the workplace
• Smelling of alcohol
• Increased absenteeism
• Looking unpresentable or unprofessional at work
• Frequent trips to the bathroom
• Performance issues and showing signs of high stress
• Working longer hours
• Personality changes such as heightened aggression, paranoia or irritability
• Financial difficulties

How Delamere can help

If you’re concerned about a colleague or yourself, Delamere’s holistic approach to alcohol addiction treatment can help.

Following a clinical detox from alcohol addiction upon arrival at the clinic, guests will work through a four step treatment programme: the Stop, Start, Grow, Bloom method.

Incorporating holistic practices such as yoga, reiki, breathwork, and equine therapy with traditional practices such as CBT and 1-1 talking therapy, Delamere’s treatment model is designed to give guests the tools to grow beyond addiction. 

Need help?
Call us confidentially at any time to speak to a member of our team.

Call us now: 0330 111 2015

Summary

Article Name

How work stress can lead to an unhealthy relationship with alcohol

Description

A recent study conducted by pharmaceutical company, STADA, found that weekly consumption of alcohol in the UK is higher than Europe.

Author

Chris Lomas

Publisher Name

Delamere Health Ltd

Publisher Logo

About the author: Alex Molyneux

Alex is the Admissions Manager at Delamere. Alex has organised more admissions into treatment than most. Find out more about Alex on our team page.