A new study estimates that hangovers cost Australia $453 million every year in overtime costs associated with covering for “sick” colleagues.

The study by researcher Michael Livingston of the Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre and Caroline Dale from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine surveyed 1677 adult workers in 2008 and found one-third had a colleague who drank a lot often.

It says 8% of workers were negatively impacted by this behaviour.

Some 3.5% of workers said they had to work extra hours to compensate for their hungover colleague’s reduced productivity, with the average overtime adding up to 48 hours per year.

While $453 million a year seems a hefty price for consuming a few too many, the report says this is “the tip of the iceberg”.

“The cost of alcohol use in the workplace is multi-faceted and considerable,” the report says. “[It] can be caused by a reduction in the productive workforce from premature mortality or morbidity, absenteeism due to alcohol-related sickness and reduced productivity while at work.”