Alcohol frequently plays a big role in summer festivities, whether its families celebrating the summer holidays, weddings and reunions, or friends gathering for barbecues, outdoor concerts, or long days on the water. Even work-related events can follow the trend, often pairing fun in the sun with coolers of refreshing beverages.
Summer’s fine weather, relaxed settings and frequent gatherings seem to conspire, encouraging many to drink more than they normally might. For those who struggle to control their alcohol intake, summer activities and the temptations they offer can be particularly daunting.
In the United States, roughly 221 million people over age 12 drink alcohol and of those, about 29.5 million have an alcohol use disorder. Binge drinking, where a woman has four or more drinks or a man has five or more on the same occasion, was reported by 61.2 million people. With numbers that substantial, it’s likely that alcohol use affects your employees and peers. And as HR professionals, you may be looking for ways to help your team manage their intake and their health.
How to Get Started?
The first step is to create awareness by normalizing discussions about alcohol. Removing barriers and fostering an open dialogue will make it easier for employees to share their personal goals and to ask for help, when needed. Talk openly about policies related to substance use and be sensitive to not making alcohol the star of the show during summer work parties. You may even want to proactively share tips to help employees drink less during peak social times. Consider these five tips from Oar Health to help employees manage alcohol intake during social events:
- Commit to a specific, measurable plan for how much – if any – you will drink during a social event.
- Share your goal with friends, family and co-workers who can help you stick to your plan.
- Substitute non-alcoholic drinks such as a fun mocktail for alcohol.
- If you have been prescribed medication to manage an alcohol use disorder, stick to your medication plan. Consistency matters.
- If you fear you can’t successfully stick to your plan, consider establishing new summer holiday traditions.
Educate Employees About Their Health Benefits
It’s quite likely that the health plan your organization offers provides coverage for treatment of a diagnosed alcohol use disorder, but there are other benefits that can help employees who recognize the negative impact that alcohol can have on their health and life, and who want to proactively manage or reduce their intake.
For example, organizations that offer a health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA) can give employees access to telehealth programs and supportive resources that are eligible for reimbursement with pre-tax dollars. This removes potential financial, social, and logistical barriers to care.
It’s important to remember that not everyone who drinks is addicted to alcohol. Yet with a few beers, slushy cocktails or glasses of sparkling wine, it’s easy for extra alcohol to sneak into a person’s life. Fortunately, HR teams and employers can be a positive influence and essential support to employees during the social summer months, and year ‘round.
Jenna Everhart is senior vice president of human resources for Health-E Commerce, parent brand to FSA Store and HSA Store. Jonathan Hunt-Glassman is founder and CEO of Oar Health.
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