Non-alcoholic beverage provision reduces alcohol consumption and improves health-related outcomes, with no effect on presenteeism: a randomized controlled trial

Excessive alcohol consumption contributes to mortality and productivity losses, yet evidence for workplace-based substitution interventions remains limited. This randomized controlled trial examined whether providing non-alcoholic beverages to employees engaging in excessive drinking could reduce alcohol consumption and improve presenteeism as well as health-related outcomes. A total of 278 employees were randomized to receive non-alcoholic beverages for 12 weeks or no provision. Alcohol consumption was recorded daily using a mobile application. Outcomes included alcohol consumption, absolute presenteeism, subjective physical fatigue, mental health, and well-being assessed at baseline and follow-up. The intervention significantly reduced total alcohol consumption through follow-up, primarily by decreasing drinking frequency without changes in drinking-day volume. Compared with controls, the intervention group showed less worsening of subjective physical fatigue, mental health, and well-being, while no significant effects were observed for presenteeism. Reduction in alcohol consumption was associated with improved mental health, which was related to better subjective fatigue and well-being. Although workplace provision of non-alcoholic beverages did not significantly improve presenteeism, it may still represent a feasible strategy to reduce alcohol consumption and support employee health.Trial registration: UMIN-CTR, UMIN000055188, Registered August 7, 2024. (URL https://center6.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000062815).