Alcohol Consumption among Employees: A Case of Selected Companies in Nairobi County

The purpose of this study was to understand alcohol consumption among employees among selected companies in Nairobi County. The objectives of the study were to determine the levels of alcohol consumption at the work place; to determine the gender difference in relation to alcohol consumption among employees in selected companies; and to assess the current measures taken to address alcohol and drug abuse problems in the selected companies in Nairobi County. Descriptive design was adopted and a total of 101 respondents participated in the study selected by convenience sampling technique. The result of the study showed that most of the workers 80.2% had low levels of alcohol consumption, 18.8% had moderate levels of alcohol consumption and overall the sample participants had a mean alcohol consumption rate of 6.5 (SD = 4.79). On the itemized consideration of the drinking, 44.6% of the respondents indicated that they frequently consume a drink containing alcohol about 2-3 times a week. About 37.6% said that they had the drink between 2-4 times per week. On the gender differences in relation to alcohol consumption at the work place, 82.7% of females and 77.6% males had low levels of consumption with females having a mean level of 6.12 (SD = 5.53) and males had a mean of 6.96 (SD = 3.86). Statistical determination of the gender differences in alcohol consumption showed that there was no gender difference t (99) = -0.884, p = 0.38 in alcohol consumption between females and males. On the current measures taken to address alcohol and drug abuse problems in the selected companies, the result of the study shows that 64% of organizations enforces the implementation of alcohol policy to reduce alcohol consumption. Twenty eight percent use health educations to sensitize the individuals on alcohol use problems and 13.9% suspend staffs with alcohol use problems whilst 8.9% apply brief intervention to their staffs. This study recommends that organization should establish a psychological center where workers can get mental health or psychosocial support in relation to alcohol and substance use disorders and they should hold periodical staff trainings and workshops on the effect of alcohol consumption at the workplace.