As an employer, what should you do?

Alcohol is harmful to health, even in small amounts. Its consumption has numerous health consequences, such as illness, accidents, poor sleep, and more. However, alcohol consumption is widespread and at high levels in France. As an employer, here are some ideas and tools available to help you address this issue with your employees:

Enforce workplace rules. Only certain beverages (wine, beer, cider, and perry) are permitted by law in the workplace.

• Regulations prohibit alcohol consumption in situations where worker safety can no longer be guaranteed (for particularly high-risk positions, for example).

• drogues.gouv.fr/en-matiere-dalcool

De-stigmatize alcohol consumption in the workplace and reduce associated harm.

• Alcohol is consumed on many occasions, often festive and sometimes work-related, such as after-work gatherings, farewell parties, seminars, holiday celebrations, etc. During these events, you can limit alcoholic beverages (avoid open bars, do not provide alcohol), offer appealing non-alcoholic drinks, and be vigilant against social pressure that encourages consumption… These are all ways to de-normalize alcohol consumption and prevent the harms of excessive drinking (accidents, physical or verbal violence, sexual assault, regrettable remarks, etc.).

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Discuss this with occupational health and safety services.

• These are key players in preventing substance use in the workplace. They are a resource for implementing individual or group prevention initiatives on this topic.

Promote a work environment that supports mental and physical health

• Alcohol and other psychoactive substance use can be exacerbated by workplace stress, irregular schedules, etc. The workplace culture and working conditions are significant factors in influencing employee health.

Santé publique France also provides a range of tools available for download and order. For example, you can:

Raise awareness about the health risks of alcohol and guidelines for lower-risk consumption.

• The goal is to raise awareness that alcohol, regardless of the level of consumption, is not good for your health, and to encourage reduced consumption. Experts have defined consumption guidelines that should not be exceeded to limit health risks: a maximum of 2 alcoholic drinks per day and at least 2 alcohol-free days per week.

• List of available tools:

  • Risk posters: Reducing your alcohol consumption reduces health risks

  • Guideline poster: For your health, limit alcohol to a maximum of 2 drinks per day and not every day

  • Alcohol flyer: Live better with less alcohol

  • Brochure: Understanding Alcohol

Encourage people to reflect on their relationship with alcohol and assess whether their drinking poses any risks.

• You can promote the alcohol meter tool available on the alcool-info-service.fr website so that everyone can assess their consumption and learn about the associated risks: alcoometre.fr

• List of available tools:

  • Alcoometer poster: Got 5 minutes? Assess your alcohol consumption

Organize fun activities within your company in a group setting.

• For example, by organizing or participating in a challenge that involves abstaining from alcohol for several days or even weeks, such as the Dry January challenge. This kind of experience helps people realize the role alcohol plays in their lives and in society, and feel the physical and mental benefits of this break. It’s often easier to stick with it when you’re part of a group!

Spread the word about the Alcool Info Service.

• Spread the word about the service so that people struggling with their drinking or those with a loved one affected can find help, but also for anyone who has questions and is looking for advice on how to reduce the risks associated with their drinking.

• List of available tools:

  • Poster: Alcool Info Service

  • alcool-info-service.fr