Consumption of alcoholic energy drinks is associated with work-related injury or disease among manual workers in Taiwan

Aims: Alcoholic energy drinks (AEDs) have been popular among Taiwanese manual workers. Study results concerning increased health risks of AED consumption relative to alcohol alone have been inconsistent, and the risk for potential work-related injury or disease has not been studied. Our study goal was to evaluate the association between AED consumption and work-related injury or disease in manual workers in Taiwan. Methods: National survey data of the working population in 2007 was utilized. A total of 1192 manual workers, who drank alcohol more than once per week, were divided into AED-drinkers and non-AED drinkers. We compared AED drinking behaviors and risk of work-related injury or disease between the two groups. Results: AED drinkers had a higher risk of work-related injury or disease, with an odds ratio of 1.48 (95% CI: 1.14-1.93), after controlling demographic, smoking and drinking characteristics. The presence of problem drinking (defined by CAGE score equal to or higher than two) was another risk factor of having work-related injury or disease. Compared to non-AED counterparts, AED drinkers had a significantly higher prevalence of work-related injury or disease in the strata of CAGE score of 1 and 2. Conclusion: AED consumers presented increased risks of work-related injury or disease compared with non-AED drinkers among manual workers in Taiwan. In order to conduct an effective intervention program to protect Taiwanese manual workers from potential risks, the reasons for this increased risk among AED drinkers need to be further studied.