The relationship between heavy alcohol use and work productivity loss in active duty military personnel: A secondary analysis of the 1995 Department of Defense Worldwide Survey

This cross-sectional study examines the association between heavy alcohol u se among active duty military personnel and five work productivity loss eve nts that may have an adverse effect on military performance and readiness, Data for light [N = 3,147) and heavy (N = 2,242) drinkers, categorized by g ender and pay grade, were obtained from the 1995 Department of Defense Worl dwide Survey. Drinking classification was predefined using a standard algor ithm that factored quantity and frequency of wine, beer, and liquor consume d. The relative risks of experiencing a productivity loss event at a partic ular level and 95% confidence intervals were calculated by applying the Man tel-Haenszel method after adjusting for age, The relative risks for increas ed self-reported lateness, leaving early, low performance, and on-the-job i njury were all higher for heavy drinkers than for light drinkers. This asso ciation between the heavy-drinking population and four of five work product ivity loss events indicates that prevention programs should target all pers onnel.