George Washington University’s Alcohol Cost Calculator estimates the incidence of problem drinkers per thousand employees by industry:

The yearly estimated cost of alcohol problems to U.S. businesses is in the range of $134 billion—that billion with a B.

• Who do you know—including the man in the mirror—who might be a problem drinker? Find out more at AlcoholScreening.org.

Consider this curious dichotomy from the apostle Paul to the Christians in the city of Ephesus:

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
— Ephesians 5:18

• If getting drunk leads to debauchery, what do you think being filled with the Spirit leads to? What could it mean to your company if problem drinkers showed up at work under the influence of the Spirit instead of the spirits? What could that mean for those employees and their families?
• Where would you look for treatment resources if a colleague needed medical help to begin sobriety? To find the nearest substance abuse treatment facility, visit the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration.
• What can you do besides steering problem drinkers to substance abuse treatment? For other ideas visit the What You Can Do section of the Alcohol Cost Calculator for Business.