This historical review of the influence of alcohol-related movements on drinking policies in the American workplace demonstrates that, in general, employers do not — or cannot — easily follow the trends of alcohol values in the larger culture. This paper identifies specific environmental pressures from within the workplace that have motivated various kinds of industries during four historical eras to incorporate, resist, influence or bypass altogether, larger cultural pressures to control alcohol consumption of the American worker. A 200-year propensity for alcohol policies that focus on the individual, rather than the workplace environment, is analyzed and discussed.
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