There are plenty of people who go to work every day and have to paste on a fake smile. Often, when we are working, we have to deal with situations and people we would much rather not deal with. In addition, you generally have to do it with a smile, particularly if you are serving members of the general public. However, keeping that smile on your face all day can be a real challenge, and according to research, it could lead to other issues.

A recent report suggests that people who put on a fake smile for most of their working day are more likely to turn to alcohol. Of course, people continue to do it because it could make the difference between keeping and losing their job, which would impact their quality of life and ability to manage living costs. But pasting on that fake smile each day could come at a price. In this article, we will look at some of why fake smiling at work could lead to increased alcohol consumption.

Some of the Reasons Fake Smilers Turn to Alcohol

The study showed that people who work in offices and jobs that involve dealing with the public and having to put a smile on their faces are more likely to indulge in alcohol once they finish work. Some of the reasons given include:

Bosses Putting the Pressure On

One of the things that can lead to increased alcohol consumption for workers who deal with the public is that bosses may pressure them to provide service with a smile. Some days, we don't want to smile – in fact, we could be feeling very low. However, if you deal with customers without that fake smile, you could soon have your boss breathing down your neck and demanding answers. So, many people just flash that fake smile rather than risk this, but then hit the bottle once their shift is over.

Having to Curb Emotions

It is very difficult to curb emotions, particularly negative ones. Perhaps you are not feeling 100 percent on a particular day. Maybe you are experiencing problems at home. You may even suffer from depression and be feeling low. When you have to put on a fake smile to deal with people each day, it means that at times you will have to curb the way you are feeling, and this can prove to be a real challenge.

Historical Figures

It is not just today's service industry workers who are increasingly turning to the bottle after a day full of fake smiles and exchanging pleasantries. According to the research, there is a long history of people in service industries consuming more alcohol than the average person, so there are strong links between this type of work and drinking alcohol.

Difficult to Do and Maintain

Trying to keep that fake smile on your face all day long can be exhausting, and it can really zap your energy. By the end of the day, the smile disappears, and, for some people, it is a case of heading for the nearest bar or cracking open a bottle as soon as they get home.

Service with a Smile

While bosses within the service industry naturally want their employees to provide a smile, this recent research suggests that it may not be beneficial for the staff concerned. This is why employers need to consider the well-being of the workforce rather than focusing solely on ensuring they provide service with a smile.