Drink problems in workplace 'ignored' The charity has called for a specific policy in the corporate governance code to address alcoholism among the workplace and has written to Vince Cable, the Business Secretary, to call for greater focus on the impact of drinking, which it says has a "major negative impact" on productivity. Around 10m men and women in England drink above the recommended guidelines and every day, about 200,000 people go to work in the UK with a hangover, the charity warned. Under the corporate governance code, listed companies must outline how risk is assessed and managed, and make sure the human resources is in place to meet business objectives and obligations to shareholders. But Alcohol Concern is calling for boards to have a formal responsibility to address financial losses incurred through workers' reduced performance caused by alcohol. By failing to do this, and in many cases failing to even recognise the impact of alcohol misuse, "boards are neither complying with the spirit or the letter of the Code," the charity warned. Alcohol Concern chief executive Eric Appleby said: "Companies simply have to address attitudes to alcohol and drinking behaviours - it is costing the economy billions every year. The evidence is that boards are not taking the issue seriously and that's why we are calling on the Government to include alcohol policy as a specific requirement under the corporate governance code. This will help improve the wellbeing of employees, and at the same time, improve efficiency and productivity.