Background

The relationship between construction workers and alcohol in the building and construction industry is on the move.

With the support from a range of industry partners Count Me In is a health and safety initiative that seeks to create positive workplace cultures that go beyond Zero Harm. Count Me In has the potential to impact and transform not only the workers that it engages with, but also the families and communities within which they live.

“If you want to be one of the boys and not get a hard time you join in [and drink].”

Count Me In is part of VicHealth’s Alcohol Culture Change Initiative and will support positive change in the drinking habits of middle-aged men within the Victorian construction industry.

Count Me In will focus on the using the influence of senior managers within the construction industry to reduce the instances of risky drinking.

Social pressures associated with drinking with workmates i.e. you need to drink with co-workers to fit in will be challenged.

Drinking in shouts, drinking as a reward for hard work and using alcohol to cope with stress are also social norms we will tackle.

In addition to using positive role models Count Me In will also utilise a variety of face to face activities including presentations, the use of drinking targets and supportive social environments so that:

• people do not feel a pressure to drink to be accepted by workmates
• when alcohol is consumed it is done at levels of low risk
• Positive social pressure supports low-risk drinking and discourages high-risk drinking
• occurrences of risky drinking are reduced; and intoxication is socially rejected.