Alcohol and managerial performance
The double-edged sword: Alcohol
Use of alcohol on the job may be more widespread than thought (Martin, 1990). Alcohol consumption exceeds that of other psychoactive substances (Roman, 1990) and is especially prevalent among segments of the population that include the majority of managers: urban, high-income, college graduates (Hilton, 1991). Social norms about alcohol consumption are often less clear than those for illicit drugs. This holds true, particularly at professional and managerial levels (Shore, 1985, 1986). Moreover, access to alcohol at the workplace is easier at higher job levels, may even be considered "justified," or maybe actively supported by co-workers (Roman, 1974).
Alcohol may aid some "social' managerial activities. What, however, are the effects on subsequent tasks while blood (or breath) alcohol concentrations (BACs) are still rising or have reached their maximum levels'?
