What is a workplace alcohol and drug policy?
Workplace alcohol and drug policies are an integral part of your workplace health and safety strategy. These policies target workplace factors that contribute to workers’ alcohol and drug use, minimise alcohol- and drug-related workplace risk, and enhance workers’ health, safety and wellbeing. Policies are the essential component in addressing workplace alcohol and drug issues.

Why develop a workplace alcohol and drug policy?
Employers should develop alcohol and drug policies because:

• most Australian workers use alcohol (84%)
• approximately 1 in 5 (2.1 million) workers used an illicit drug and/or a prescribed drug for non-medical purposes during 2019.

Workers’ alcohol and drug use:

1. is influenced by workplace conditions and culture
2. directly and indirectly impacts workplaces as it can impair workers’ physical, mental, and social health, safety, and wellbeing
3. can result in:
   ■ accidents and injury
   ■ absenteeism
   ■ presenteeism & lower productivity
   ■ poor morale & worker turnover.