Researchers at the University of Otago used data from the Christchurch Health and Development Study, which has followed more than 1000 people born in Christchurch in 1977 through to age 30, and analysed them before coming to the conclusion.
Lead author Dr Sheree Gibb said that the study aimed to examine whether working hours were related to alcohol problems in early adulthood.
Data from more than 1000 participants at ages 25 and 30 showed a significant association between longer working hours and alcohol-related problems. Longer working hours were associated with higher levels of alcohol problems including frequent alcohol use and alcohol abuse or dependence.
People who worked 50 hours or longer on average a week were 1.8 to 33 times more likely to have alcohol-related problems than those who were not working, and about 1.2 to 15 times more likely to have alcohol-related problems than those who worked between 30 and 49 hours per week.
The higher risk of alcohol abuse for those who worked longer hours was evident in both men and women.
Dr Gibb said that this finding may suggest a need for consideration of policies and programmes targeted at individuals who work long hours, with the aim of reducing rates of alcohol-related problems amongst this group.
The findings are to be published in an upcoming edition of the `Addiction` journal.