Burnout and alcohol: a dangerous relationship

Understanding the 3 "Bs" of workplace exhaustion

Burnout: worn to the bone

Burnout is arguably the best-known form of professional exhaustion. It results from chronic stress linked to excessive workload, often coupled with a lack of recognition or control over one’s work. The symptoms are well documented: emotional exhaustion, cynicism or the dehumanisation of relationships, and a collapse in the sense of accomplishment. According to the latest estimates, 34% of French employees have already experienced it.

In this context of constant pressure, alcohol can become a release valve —a source of temporary comfort at the end of an overly demanding day. Studies estimate that around 10% of people suffering from burnout use psychoactive substances (alcohol, medication, drugs) to cope. A phenomenon that is all the more concerning because it can remain invisible, particularly among those in positions of responsibility, where one frequently encounters forms of high-functioning alcoholism – problematic consumption concealed behind a facade of efficiency.

Bore-out: boredom as a slow-acting poison

Less publicised than burnout, bore-out is just as devastating, yet it operates silently. It affects employees suffering from a chronic lack of stimulation, an insufficient workload, or devaluing tasks. The feeling of professional uselessness, coupled with a loss of self-esteem, creates an insidious sense of distress that is often downplayed by colleagues.

The consequences are manifold: severe fatigue, memory issues, gradual disengagement, and an increase in addictive behaviours. The 2010 "Bored to Death?" study reveals that employees who are bored at work face 2.5 times the risk of cardiovascular issues, largely due to excessive alcohol and tobacco consumption during working hours. This link highlights that, even without an excessive workload, the work environment can be fertile ground for addiction.

"Brown-out": when nothing seems to make sense anymore

"Brown-out" is still a relatively unknown concept, but it is gaining traction. It occurs when an employee no longer finds any meaning in their assigned tasks —to the point where they no longer understand why they get up in the morning. This form of exhaustion is closely linked to the perception of having a "bullshit job" —to use the term coined by the anthropologist David Graeber: an absurd or useless job where the person no longer sees any added value.

"A bullshit job is a form of paid employment that is so completely pointless, unnecessary, or pernicious that even the employee cannot justify its existence." – David Graeber

People experiencing brown-out are not necessarily overwhelmed or isolated; rather, they are drained of motivation and sometimes feel out of sync with the company's values. This loss of bearings leads to mental apathy, irritability, and a general lack of interest... and can pave the way for self-medication behaviours, particularly involving alcohol. The goal isn't just to unwind after a hard day, but to fill an existential void. In this scenario, the line between a “social drink” and functional dependency becomes blurred.

Why alcohol becomes a refuge

A maladaptive coping strategy

When work becomes a source of distress, alcohol is often viewed as an immediate —and seemingly “harmless”— solution: a drink to relax, forget, or reward oneself. Yet, this emotional regulation strategy is a trap. It masks the problem without ever resolving it, all while fostering an insidious dependency.

As Verena, a former executive featured in a WHO case study, sums it up:

“I realised that alcohol was merely a substitute for dealing with my deepest issues.”

This type of consumption isn't always visible. It is common in demanding professional environments that prize performance above all else. It is not unusual to encounter individuals suffering from “high-flying burnout”—people juggling excessive workloads and isolation alongside high-functioning alcoholism, a dependency hidden behind a facade of success.

The stress-alcohol vicious cycle

In the short term, alcohol can create the illusion of relief: you fall asleep faster and feel “disconnected” from stress. However, this sensation is deceptive. As consumption becomes established, the nervous system adapts, doses increase, and the sought-after sense of well-being gives way to emotional instability, irritability, and persistent fatigue.

This mechanism is part of what specialists call the reward-stress cycle, in which alcohol fuels depression and exhaustion, driving the individual to drink more. The most insidious aspect is that drinking patterns vary: some drink chronically during evenings (heavy drinking), while others drink intensely over short periods (binge drinking)—sometimes even in the workplace. These two patterns have distinct impacts on mental health but converge towards an increased risk of dependency.

👉 Read our article to understand the differences between binge drinking and heavy drinking.

A two-way relationship: alcohol drains you, too

While professional burnout can lead to drinking, the reverse is equally true. Excessive and repeated alcohol consumption directly affects cognitive performance, concentration, memory, and decision-making ability. Gradually, the employee becomes less efficient, more irritable, and more isolated, which in turn can trigger a downward spiral of exhaustion.

This phenomenon is particularly evident in demanding sectors like healthcare, where cases of burnout exacerbated by regular alcohol consumption are well documented. On an individual level, this dual impact—psychological and professional—long-term undermines self-esteem while making it even more difficult to break the cycle of alcohol use.

The impact on physical and mental health

Alcohol disrupts your connections

When alcohol consumption takes hold in the context of professional burnout, cognitive effects quickly become apparent: memory impairment, difficulty concentrating, and mental slowing. These symptoms can exacerbate feelings of professional incompetence, fuel isolation, and lead to situations of unfitness for work.

The situation is further compounded by behavioural changes that often accompany these effects: irritability, impulsivity, withdrawal, and even aggression. In the long term, these issues threaten not only mental health but also social and professional stability.

The body pays a heavy price, too

On a physical level, the consequences are equally concerning. Alcoholism combined with chronic stress increases the risk of cardiovascular events, cancer, liver disease, sleep disorders, and digestive problems. It is a slow-acting poison that exhausts the body just as much as the mind.

Healthcare professionals, facing this dual burden—crushing workloads and chronic fatigue—are among those most at risk. They contend with a combination of heavy alcohol consumption, acute stress, and easy access to substances, making their care and treatment all the more urgent and complex.

Particularly vulnerable populations

Healthcare professionals: on the front lines... and at risk

Doctors, nurses, nursing assistants... Healthcare workers are among those most exposed to professional burnout, with 55% reporting having experienced one or more episodes of burnout. It is a cruel paradox: those who care for others often have little time or few resources to care for themselves.

Within this group, nearly one in two reports regular alcohol consumption, and 58% report issues such as depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts. The cocktail mental load + vital responsibilities + lack of recognition creates fertile ground for the development of lasting dependencies—often kept hidden out of shame or fear of judgement.

Young workers and those in precarious employment: overlooked by prevention efforts

Young workers—especially those aged 18–25 —are also at high risk. Workplace disengagement in this age group exceeds 10%, with their distress often dismissed under the label of "troubled youth."

The situation is equally alarming among precarious workers (temporary staff, fixed-term contract holders, and self-employed individuals under pressure): although they account for only 15% of the workforce, they represent 31% of positive test results for cocaine and 25% for cannabis in the workplace. Alcohol is rarely far behind in these patterns of fatigue, instability, and loss of bearings.

The invisible legacy of the COVID-19 crisis

The COVID-19 pandemic did not merely disrupt work arrangements; it left a lasting mark on workers' mental health. According to iThylo data, positive workplace alcohol tests rose by 43% between 2022 and 2024, while positive tests for narcotics increased by 52%. Furthermore, positive cocaine tests increased 13-fold between 2017 and 2025.

Lockdowns, isolation, uncertainty, excessive workloads, and partial unemployment all contributed to exacerbating psychological vulnerabilities. The Coset-COVID survey reveals that one in six self-employed workers and farmers increased their alcohol consumption. Sleep disorders, chronic fatigue, and relationship tensions acted as silent triggers for addiction.

The number of employees suffering from burnout more than doubled during the crisis, approaching 2.5 million at the height of the pandemic. For many, alcohol served as a temporary coping mechanism before becoming an additional burden.

Public policies finally shifting

Long marginalised, the issue of workplace addiction is gaining visibility within public health policies. In June 2025, the French National Authority for Health (HAS) published a series of recommendations regarding the prevention of psychoactive substance use in the workplace. Goal: move beyond simple screening towards a comprehensive, ethical, and integrated approach.

Key measures include:

• Incorporating risks associated with alcohol, cannabis, and medication into the Single Occupational Risk Assessment Document (DUERP)
• Better equipping occupational health services, employers, and employees themselves
• Encouraging individual identification without stigmatisation, while upholding medical confidentiality

In parallel, the ESPER initiative (Entreprises et Services Publics s’Engagent Résolument—Companies and Public Services Making a Firm Commitment), led by MILDECA, has been structuring a national prevention network since 2022. Workshops, charters, and best practices—the tools exist, yet their adoption remains limited.

Finally, the government has designated mental health as the "Great National Cause" for 2025, with a simple slogan: "Let’s talk about mental health!" A welcome initiative, provided it is accompanied by concrete actions within companies, rather than just posters in the hallways.