Workplace alcohol use and impairment directly affects an estimated 15 percent of the U.S. workforce, or 19.2 million workers, according to a recent study conducted at the University at Buffalo's Research Institute on Addictions (RIA) and published in the current issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol.

Survey participants were asked how often during the previous year they drank alcohol within two hours of reporting to work, drank during the workday, worked under the influence or worked with a hangover.

Based on those responses, Michael R. Frone, Ph.D., principal investigator on the study, estimates that 2.3 million workers (1.8 percent of the workforce) have consumed alcohol at least once before coming to work and 8.9 million workers (7.1 percent of the workforce) have drank alcohol at least once during the workday.

Frone says, "Of all psychoactive substances with the potential to impair cognitive and behavioral performance, alcohol is the most widely used and misused substance in the general population and in the workforce."

Most workers who drink during the workday do so during lunch breaks, though some drink while working or during other breaks.

The study uncovered that workplace alcohol use and impairment was more prevalent with men compared to women.

Also, working under the influence of alcohol or with a hangover occurred more with younger workers rather than older workers and among unmarried workers compared to married workers.