A YouGov survey as part of the Government's ‘Know your limits' initiative found IT
workers are the next highest alcohol consumers, drinking an average of 34 units a week, followed by service-sector workers at 33 units and people in finance, insurance and real estate at 29 units.
One in 10 drinkers felt their alcohol consumption is affecting their work but nearly a third (29%) in both the media and IT sectors and a quarter (25%) in the finance sector admitted to feeling pressurised to drink by colleagues at times.
More than half (52%) of those surveyed drink after work to relieve stress, with around a third in education (30%), construction (31%), media, publishing and entertainment (31%) and finance, insurance or real estate (33%) saying they drink due to stress at least once a week.
Although teachers consume the least alcohol overall, the survey revealed they are among those most prone to rely on booze to unwind after a stressful day. But 50% of respondents in the education sector count their units.
Ben Willmott, senior public policy adviser at the CIPD, said: "This survey illustrates how work colleagues can influence how much we drink, even when we want to cut back. After-work drinks are often part of the fabric of many of our working lives, and it's often tempting to just go along with the crowd, even when you know your body needs a rest.
"It seems some industries are particularly prone to this effect - especially those where entertaining clients or colleagues goes hand in hand with a drink. The key is to try to keep an eye on just how much you're drinking, and if you realise you are regularly drinking above the recommended daily limits, think about what that might mean for both your health and your professional reputation."
Staff in the media sector are England's biggest drinkers
Employees who work in media, publishing and entertainment are the biggest drinkers in England - getting through an average of 44 units a week, the equivalent to four bottles of wine or 19 bottles of beer.
