UK: Festive workers pay the price for partying through the 'Cinderella hour'
With the festive season in full swing, new research from Aviva UK Health has identified that a fifth of workers need to leave the office party by 11pm in order to turn up sober at work the next day. A hefty 20% of people admit to drinking more than ten units at each festive event1 which means they need to slip away from the party proceedings before midnight in order to sober up in time for the start of the working day.2
More than three quarters of those questioned (86%) attend up to five Christmas events during December. Of the 3,000 people surveyed, the average amount of alcohol drunk at each event was 5.5 units, way over the Government’s recommended daily allowance for both men (3-4 units a day) and women (2-3 units a day).
The research also reveals that Christmas parties are taking their toll on people’s sleep, which in turn could have a significant impact on productivity and health and safety at work.
To make matters worse, nearly one in five people (17%) admit to pulling a sickie the next day, meaning that the UK economy could be faced with over 39 million, lost hours due to the Christmas hangover3.
- A third of workers (32%) have been so tired/hungover they’ve been unable to function at work the next day
- Almost one in ten men (9%) admit to powering on through to the next morning without going to bed at all
- More than one in ten people (11%) admit to spending more than ten hours at each Christmas event
- Only one in five (21%) make sure they get home early enough to have a good night sleep.
Worryingly the research shows that more than 12% of those working in healthcare and almost 13% of those in manufacturing admit to sacrificing sleep to continue the party spirit. As a result a third of healthcare workers (31%) and a quarter of those in manufacturing (24%) have been too tired/hungover to function properly the next day.
Unsurprisingly, two thirds (65%) of workers surveyed admit to drinking more during December than in an average month. Public sector workers are the worst offenders, 70% drink more in December, averaging almost six units per event. The media and marketing fraternity party hardest, almost 4% have more than ten events to attend over December and drink an average of six and a half units per event. Teachers, however, lead by example consuming fewer than five units per event.
Aviva’s research also shows that the festive period changes or intensifies other behaviours:
- A fifth (22%) have conveniently “forgotten” embarrassing incidents from the night before
- A high number have had to call in sick with men the worst culprits – 18% have failed to make it into work the next day, with women not far behind at 16%
- A third of people (31%) admit to eating junk food after the event
- A further third (30%) will take to the dance floor
- Almost 15% admit to flirting more but just 2% confess to having one night stands
- 16% admit to mixing their drinks
- Nearly one in ten (8%) admit to speaking their mind to friends or colleague.
Dr Doug Wright, head of clinical development at Aviva UK Health said “It’s important that staff have a chance to let their hair down and enjoy socialising with friends and colleagues at this time of year. However a lack of sleep and the general ‘morning after the night before’ hangover can leave you feeling the worse for wear. Clearly for those who need to drive or operate machinery the next day the dangers of overdoing it are obvious but being in good form is equally important for many jobs.
“With alcohol flowing freely it can be easy to lose track of exactly how much you’re drinking, especially if generous fellow party-goers are topping your glass up continually. For those that need to be at work the next day it’s a good rule of thumb to work backwards from your planned start time – one hour per unit drunk to be processed through your system.
“You can also help the process along by ensuring you don’t drink on an empty stomach and alternate alcohol with soft drinks. None of these are fail safe options though so make sure you plan ahead to keep yourself and others safe.”
-ends-
If you are a journalist and would like further information, please contact:
Amber Chable: Aviva Press Office : 02380 359383 : amber.chable@aviva.co.uk
¹ Unless otherwise stated, the nationwide survey of 3,000 British adults in employment was carried out for Aviva by market researchers OnePoll. The opinion poll was hosted online at www.OnePoll.com between the 3rd and 8th December 2010 and was available to its registered members.
2 This is based on the assumption that each unit of alcohol consumed takes an average of one hour to leave the body. “How long does alcohol stay in your blood?” NHS Choices, July 2009.
3 Annual employment figures, Office for National Statistics, 8th December 2010. Calculation based on average 8 hour working day, UK employment figure of 28.7mill and 17% of UK workers admitting to calling in sick the next day.
Notes to editors:
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*based on gross worldwide premiums at 31 December 2009
**Source: ABI data released August 2010