Beer and the labor process: how risk-taking, crowded housing, and family separation shape drinking behaviors among migrant roofers

Abstract When natural disasters (such as hurricanes or tornadoes) damage homes, migrant roofers known as rapid responders help tarp and rebuild affected communities. However, these workers labor under precarious conditions, live in crowded housing, and are separated from the social support of family. This mixed-methods study draws on surveys (n = 358) and in-depth interviews (n = 58) with a hidden population of migrant roofers to elucidate the role of alcohol—particularly beer—in the labor process by examining how a multitude of factors intersect to shape drinking behaviors. Our quantitative analysis shows (1) taking “risks at work” is significantly associated with more frequent drinking, (2) living in crowded housing is positively related to binge drinking, and (3) alcohol use frequency increases with prolonged family separation. Our qualitative results reveal that some workers believe drinking mitigates the fears associated with the job and the unbearable monotony of work, especially under extreme heat conditions. Drinking patterns are further reinforced through peers and group dynamics that spill over from work to home and vice versa. Finally, we find that separation from loved ones destabilizes family life, leading not only to a loss of comfort and support but also to the watchful eye of family members who may help regulate unhealthy behaviors. Our paper shows how labor and migration intersect to produce health and social behaviors associated with the transient, precarious lifestyle of migrant roofers.