Alcohol and Illicit Substance Use in the Food Service Industry: Assessing Self-Selection and Job-Related Risk Factors

Abstract

The present study examines alcohol and illicit substance use in the food service industry with a generalizable national sample. Specifically, using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, this research examines whether previous substance use predicts employment in food service and assesses the impact of job-related factors including cumulative experience, occupational differences, compensation, shifts worked, and holding multiple jobs on substance use. The results demonstrate that a modest self-selection effect does exist and that bartenders, employees who receive tipped compensation, and those who hold multiple jobs engage in greater substance use. These findings are discussed along with implications for practitioners and opportunities for future research attention.