Brits hitting the bottle to cope with redundancy, says Drinkaware
10 Jun 2009
People are turning to alcohol to relieve the stress caused by redundancy, according to new research launched by alcohol charity Drinkaware*.
One in 10 British adults has either been made redundant or knows someone who has been made redundant in the last six months and is drinking more as a result. Being out of work also affects people’s drinking patterns with almost half (49%) of this group drinking more during the day.
With the UK in the grips of recession, the number of people being made redundant is on the rise. Two fifths of people in Great Britain (39 per cent) have either been made redundant, or know someone who has been made redundant in the past six months. More than half (55 per cent) of this group have noticed a negative effect on emotional well-being resulting in mood swings, anxiety or boredom.
To help people cope positively with redundancy, Drinkaware has teamed up with top careers coach John Lees** to produce a free advice booklet. Made redundant? The practical guide to getting back into work and staying healthy, includes expert information on knowing your rights, coping with loss of income, and preparing for a new job search. It can be downloaded from drinkaware.co.uk and is also widely available from GP’s surgeries, Jobcentre Plus, and recruitment agencies.
Of the people who reported an increase in drinking patterns, the research* also shows that:
• More than two thirds (71 per cent) directly attribute the increase in drinking alcohol to redundancy;
• Six out of 10 (61 per cent) are concerned about the increase in alcohol consumption.
Chris Sorek, CEO of Drinkaware, says: “The country is facing one of its worst recessions in history and redundancies are making daily headlines. Losing your job is recognised as one of the top 10 most stressful life events, and many people are turning to alcohol as a coping mechanism. But alcohol is a depressant and can lead to further stress and anxiety, which can make the effects of redundancy much worse.
“People who have been affected by redundancy – whether they’re drinking more alcohol or not – can take a look at our advice booklet for practical ways to move forward and make a fresh start.”
Drinkaware suggests the following tips to help people deal with the immediate aftermath of redundancy:
• Try to avoid alcohol and take exercise to burn off tension. If you think you might be drinking too much, or are concerned about any aspect of your drinking, seek advice and help. Talking about it to someone you trust is the first step, or call Drinkline, the national 24-hour helpline on 0800 917 8282;
• Make an appointment with a recruitment agency or careers advisor to review your CV and discuss career opportunities;
• Check your finances, bills, savings and any other income you might have, and work out a budget for the next three months;
• Stay healthy – eating a wide variety of food, especially fish, wholegrain cereals, nuts, beans, fruit, vegetables and protein, and drinking plenty of water will help lift your mood.
Made redundant? The practical guide to getting back into work and staying healthy forms part of Drinkaware’s wider education programme which aims to change British drinking culture by giving consumers information to make informed decisions about the effects of alcohol on their lifestyles. For further advice and information visit drinkaware.co.uk.
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For further information, including interviews with case studies and spokespeople, please contact:
Emily May
Communications Officer
The Drinkaware Trust
tel: 020 7307 7459
mob: 07827 971 738
email: emay@drinkawaretrust.org.uk
Notes to editors:
* All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2253 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 17th - 19th March 2009. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).
** John Lees is a leading career strategist and writer. He has helped people from a huge variety of backgrounds with difficult career decisions, and developed a wide range of career breakthrough tools, some of which are included in How To Get A Job You'll Love and Take Control of Your Career. A graduate of the universities of Cambridge, London and Liverpool, Lees is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development, and qualified in the use of psychometric tests (BPS Intermediate Level B). He was made a Career Management Fellow by the Institute of Career Certification International. He is retained as a Senior Associate by Career Management Consultants Ltd (CMC).
• Drinkaware advises men to stick to the recommended guidelines of 3-4 units of alcohol per day (a pint of lager) and women to stick to 2-3 units per day (a 175ml glass of wine).
• Drinkaware (www.drinkaware.co.uk) provides consumers with information to make informed decisions about the effects of alcohol on their lives and lifestyles. Our public education programmes, grants, expert information, and resources help create awareness and effect positive change. An independent charity established in 2007, Drinkaware works with the medical profession, the alcohol industry, government and independent members to achieve its goals.
• For a copy of Made redundant? The practical guide to getting back into work and staying healthy please contact Emily May, Communications Officer:
emay@drinkaware.co.uk
Phone 020 7307 7459
- Page last updated by
- Root User, 19 Apr 2010.
