Alcohol harm, mental health and opportunities for change in veterinary practice: A cross-sectional study.

At-risk drinking in veterinarians linked to poor mental health; interventions should target adaptive coping and stigma reduction.

This cross-sectional study examined alcohol use patterns and mental health among 652 UK veterinary professionals who consume alcohol. The research found that 40.4% reported at-risk drinking, significantly higher than the general population. Key risk factors included poor mental health, male gender, and older age. Drinking motives were critical: coping and enhancement drinking predicted higher alcohol risk and amplified the negative relationship between poor mental health and alcohol consumption. Conversely, protective factors included higher self-efficacy, knowledge of low-risk drinking guidelines, viewing alcohol as social or habitual rather than essential, and positive attitudes toward help-seeking. Perceived stigma remained a substantial barrier to seeking assistance. The authors recommend interventions focusing on adaptive coping strategies, education about low-risk drinking levels, and stigma reduction to address alcohol-related harm in veterinary practice.

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