Christmas: A $157 Million Hangover December 7, 2001 11:17 am EST

LONDON (Reuters) - Over-indulgence at the office Christmas party will give British businesses a $157 million headache this year because two million hungover workers will call in sick, research released on Friday said.

A survey commissioned by Norwich Union Healthcare showed that businesses lose substantial sums because so many workers take time off to recover from the Christmas Party season.

"A fifth of all party-goers will take more than three days off work due to over-indulgence at a Christmas Party," the report said.

Despite the abundance of die-hard party-goers, the research also suggested that the current economic climate was having an effect on office socializing.

"Over half of employees are only attending one Christmas party this year. Last year, the average employee went to two or more work-related functions," it said.

Men knock back twice as much alcohol as women, consuming an average 11 units of alcohol -- the equivalent of five pints of beer or 11 glasses of wine.

Workers in the 16-24 age bracket are the worst offenders and are three times more likely to take time off because of over-indulgence.

"Christmas is one of Britain's most unhealthy times of the year. With statistics like this it is not surprising there are so many people taking time off work because they have a hangover," said Dr. Doug Wright, clinical development manager at Norwich Union Healthcare.

-- Anonymous, December 08, 2001