Staring down the barrel

Alcohol misuse causes problems in the working environment, including within the legal profession. Private medical insurance (PMI) has a major role to play in addressing those problems, provided that policy conditions are in appropriate terms.

PMI within a “group policy” is often part of the remuneration package in larger law fi rms. It is also an investment by the fi rm in the health of its workforce. The most expensive of these policies cover alcohol misuse. Th e additional expense may have a signifi cant payoff . Waiting times for treatment on the NHS for common conditions such as cancer, hypertension and heart disease have reduced over the last few years. Insurance for these conditions is mostly a convenience or luxury rather than a necessity. By contrast, although alcohol is also a major health issue, arranging appropriate treatment on the NHS is often much more diffi cult (often more so than for illegal drugs). Yet within the working environment such treatment is often needed, in the interests