US Navy culture and workplace leads to heavy drinking

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-06/sp-unc060909.php

Public release date: 9-Jun-2009
Contact: Jim Gilden
SAGE Publications

Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore and Washington DC (June 9, 2009) The nature of the U.S. Navy workplace leads to higher heavy drinking for sailors than for civilians, according to an article in the May issue of the Journal of Mixed Methods Research published by SAGE.

Several issues specific to the Navy contribute to problem drinking, according to the study, including the youth of recruits, alternating periods of exertion and boredom, and a culture that emphasizes drinking as a mechanism for bonding, recreation, and stress relief. These conclusions were reached using methods that included a statistical analysis of survey data as well as an analyses of interviews and observations on bases, ships and submarines.