Alan C. Posted October 16, 2015 Posted October 16, 2015 The $250billion hangover: Binge drinkers are draining the U.S. economy due to health issues, car crashes, deaths and reduced productivity at work, study reveals Impaired productivity in the workplace - resulting from excessive drinking - cost the economy $77billion in 2010, says the study, published in the American Journal of Preventive Health.When teamed with sick days and other factors, the total price tag rose to nearly $90billion.Other economic drags were found to be alcohol-induced car crashes, crime and health care.Deaths resulting from the excessive use of alcohol was also listed as a big expense - with an average of 88,000 people ever year passing away across the country for this reason.The total cost of excessive drinking on the U.S. economy in 2010 (£249billion) was a 'significant' increase from $223.5billion - or $1.90 per drink - four years earlier, the CDC said in a statement.This equals an estimated 2.7 per cent rise annually, Bloomberg reports.More than $100billion of the 2010 cost was paid by governments, the study shows.. . .In terms of states, Washington D.C. was found to have the highest excessive drinking-induced cost on the U.S. economy per person - $1,526, compared to the $807 national average.
Mister Mister Posted October 16, 2015 Posted October 16, 2015 Wow. What constitutes excessive drinking? How does the US compare to other countries in this area, I wonder...for example I know Japan and S Korea are really bad.
dsayers Posted October 16, 2015 Posted October 16, 2015 I didn't read the whole article. Did they point out that the reason why what that guy over there does costs me anything is because the State is stealing from me to pay for it? Or how government school raised people have children of their own that they neglect, abuse, and put into government schools, damaging the brain in a way that imbibing poison in excess is appealing to them?
shirgall Posted October 16, 2015 Posted October 16, 2015 My definition of excessive drinking is "whenever you borrow money to pay for alcohol." For the most part, never borrow money unless it's for something that will produce real returns.
Alan C. Posted October 16, 2015 Author Posted October 16, 2015 The article defines binge drinking as follows: For men, binge drinking is defined as the consumption of five or more drinks on one occasion. It is one fewer drink (four or more) for women. Russia is also known for its excessive alcohol consumption.
Jer Posted October 16, 2015 Posted October 16, 2015 Is it correct to say lost productivity is a cost? It seems like it wouldn't necessarily follow that stopping excessive drinking would result in fewer sick days. I think maybe it's a faulty assumption that every worker wants to maximize the number of hours worked. Particularly so with people who drink to excess, I'd think they are less likely to enjoy their work and might be taking the max sick days the employer will allow regardless. I guess my point is that drinking wouldn't be the "first cause" of the problem, but rather a symptom.
st434u Posted October 16, 2015 Posted October 16, 2015 I don't drink alcohol other than an average 1 cup of red wine per month as a health supplement. But you can't seriously consider studies like this. Counting car accidents caused by drunk driving is fine (if properly and statistiscally compared to accidents caused by sober people), but sick days and whatnot is not really a meaningful study. People use alcohol as a form of entertainment and to enhance or share social interactions. You can't measure such things in dollars. Because people who drink alcohol consider it a good, they are willing to work harder (increase productivity) to be able to afford their drinking. So how much productivity would there be if nobody drunk alcohol? Nobody knows. Maybe the total would actually be lower.
NotDarkYet Posted October 16, 2015 Posted October 16, 2015 How much does productivity increase with alcohol? At my office we have a weekly happy hour. People do a lot of brainstorming during that time.
shirgall Posted October 16, 2015 Posted October 16, 2015 How much does productivity increase with alcohol? At my office we have a weekly happy hour. People do a lot of brainstorming during that time. https://www.fastcompany.com/3048571/know-it-all/why-you-shouldnt-bother-having-brainstorming-meetings Although one of the central tenets of brainstorming is that groups produce more ideas than individuals, one study conducted by scientists and advertising executives from 3M showed the opposite was true. Half of the participants were placed in groups of four while the other half worked alone. Those who worked alone generated 30% to 40% more ideas than those who worked in groups. Not only did individuals generate more ideas, but their ideas were of higher quality. Another study showed working as individuals was actually more productive. Those who were working in groups generated fewer and worse ideas because they were more likely to get fixated on one single idea. 1
Flying Posted October 19, 2015 Posted October 19, 2015 Is it correct to say lost productivity is a cost? It seems like it wouldn't necessarily follow that stopping excessive drinking would result in fewer sick days. I think maybe it's a faulty assumption that every worker wants to maximize the number of hours worked. Particularly so with people who drink to excess, I'd think they are less likely to enjoy their work and might be taking the max sick days the employer will allow regardless. I guess my point is that drinking wouldn't be the "first cause" of the problem, but rather a symptom. And you have to take in to account people like me. Who drink excessively when they see how much taxes they pay. I use drugs to help sedate myself to the insanity of this socialist hell hole I live in. I don't drink alcohol other than an average 1 cup of red wine per month as a health supplement. But you can't seriously consider studies like this. Counting car accidents caused by drunk driving is fine (if properly and statistiscally compared to accidents caused by sober people), but sick days and whatnot is not really a meaningful study. People use alcohol as a form of entertainment and to enhance or share social interactions. You can't measure such things in dollars. Because people who drink alcohol consider it a good, they are willing to work harder (increase productivity) to be able to afford their drinking. So how much productivity would there be if nobody drunk alcohol? Nobody knows. Maybe the total would actually be lower. We have the middle east as an example.
MrCapitalism Posted October 19, 2015 Posted October 19, 2015 I don't agree with the premise of such an article.Binge drinking is a recreational activity, not an act of production. Although it's a stupid and potentially very costly one. It's supposed to cost something, that's the point of doing it. Impaired productivity in the workplace - resulting from excessive vacation - cost the economy $??billion in 2010, says the study, published in the American Journal of Preventive Health.When teamed with sick days and other factors, the total price tag rose to nearly $??billion.Other economic drags were found to be vacation related car crashes, crime and health care.Deaths resulting from the excessive use of vacation was also listed as a big expense - with an average of ??,000 people ever year passing away across the country for this reason.The total cost of excessive vacationing on the U.S. economy in 2010 (£???billion) was a 'significant' increase from $???.?billion - or $?.?? per day - four years earlier, the CDC said in a statement.This equals an estimated 2.7 per cent rise annually, Bloomberg reports.More than $???billion of the 2010 cost was paid by governments, the study shows.. . .In terms of states, Washington D.C. was found to have the highest lengthy vacation induced cost on the U.S. economy per person - $?,???, compared to the $??? national average.
bugzysegal Posted October 19, 2015 Posted October 19, 2015 https://www.fastcompany.com/3048571/know-it-all/why-you-shouldnt-bother-having-brainstorming-meetings What about the notion that it produces workplace satisfaction...wouldn't the measure of this be somewhat incalculable while also being invaluable?
shirgall Posted October 19, 2015 Posted October 19, 2015 What about the notion that it produces workplace satisfaction...wouldn't the measure of this be somewhat incalculable while also being invaluable? The biggest driver of workplace satisfaction is effective feedback (positive and negative both) and support from one's immediate manager. The adage is that still seems relevant is "people join companies but leave [because of] managers".
bugzysegal Posted October 19, 2015 Posted October 19, 2015 The biggest driver of workplace satisfaction is effective feedback (positive and negative both) and support from one's immediate manager. The adage is that still seems relevant is "people join companies but leave [because of] managers". Undoubtedly, but what about liking and being close with the people you work with who aren't necessarily your superiors?
shirgall Posted October 19, 2015 Posted October 19, 2015 Undoubtedly, but what about liking and being close with the people you work with who aren't necessarily your superiors? That's all good, but empirically, the biggest factor is your relationship with your manager.
bugzysegal Posted October 19, 2015 Posted October 19, 2015 That's all good, but empirically, the biggest factor is your relationship with your manager. Interesting. Loathing my managers in the food service industry was one of the reasons I was so happy to transfer from the branches I worked at. My final occupation with that company was with a group of managers I found more accommodating and I had a much better time there. If I had wanted to pursue a full time career in the industry, I would have likely done it at that store for those reasons. Dr. Carl Hart notes that there has never been a drug free society, and that we wouldn't want one if it were possible. Moreover, what if one merely enjoys altered states? Is that unhealthy mentally? Undoubtedly alcohol is physically unhealthy when consumed in great excess, but not in moderation.
regevdl Posted October 23, 2015 Posted October 23, 2015 WHat came to mind was drinking culture among college campuses and thereafter. I went to a prominent University and the drinking culture there is horrifying, as many other universities. . I'm not proud to say that I got wrapped up in those behaviors and looking back I am horrified how destructive it is. It still continues or is getting worse. What I also noticed is that many who graduate after college, regardless of how long after, still carry on this behavior. Maybe not as often but it's as if that really was the 'best time of their life' and they try to relive it in their 'adult' life.
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