In ten years, the number of alcohol abusers in the workplace has increased by around 32 percent. The biggest increase was almost 91 percent between 2011 and 2021 in Saxony-Anhalt, as the commercial health insurance fund (KKH) announced on Thursday in Hanover. The increase in Hesse was the lowest at just under five percent. During the corona pandemic between 2019 and 2021, according to the KKH, the number increased nationwide by 4.2 percent.

In Berlin, the corona pandemic in terms of excessive alcohol consumption seems to be having an impact primarily on absenteeism at work. The number of days absent from alcohol-addicted employees has increased in recent years. In the past year, they were missing an average of 59 days at work. In 2019 it was 50 days.

According to the KKH, one and a half percent of working people in Berlin were recently diagnosed with excessive alcohol consumption. The proportion of men was two and a half times as high as that of women.

"The dangers of alcohol are often underestimated and only then perceived as a problem when the line to abuse and dependence has already been crossed," explained Michael Falkenstein from the KKH. Many sought help far too late.

According to its own statements, the KKH assumes that the number of unreported cases is high. Falkenstein recommended that employees who observe co-workers having alcohol problems should contact the company's next-level manager or company doctor.