Drinking & Mental Health

Published on 17 May 2025 at 20:38

Drinking Every Swing: Is It Habit or Are You Drowning Quietly?

Let’s not sugar-coat it—blokes in mining drink. A lot.
And if you're in the FIFO game, odds are you're either doing it, watching someone else do it, or pretending it’s not a problem.

But here’s the question no one asks:
Is it just a habit… or are you quietly going under?

Jake’s Story (It Might Be Yours Too)

Jake's a boilermaker. Been in the mines over ten years. Good at what he does. No bullshit, no complaints. But after a long swing, you’d find him outside his donga every night—same stool, same silence, same cold beer in hand.

He wasn't celebrating. He wasn't relaxing.
He was numbing.

Four beers became the routine. Five if he couldn’t sleep. Seven if the day was rough. He told himself it helped him switch off. But what it really did? Kept the noise in his head quiet enough to get through the night.

That’s not a habit anymore. That’s self-medicating. And he didn’t even realise it until his R&R rolled around and he couldn’t enjoy time with his kids without a drink in hand.

Wake-Up Call: This Isn’t Just About Jake

This is every second bloke on swing, whether you admit it or not.

FIFO life is a pressure cooker—

  • You’re working long hours in remote places.

  • You're away from your support systems.

  • You're expected to be "the provider" back home while you’re battling your own demons in silence.

And what’s the most socially acceptable way to deal with it?
Alcohol. Cheap, easy, everywhere, and no one questions it.

But here’s what the research says:

FIFO workers are up to 70% more likely to experience mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and substance abuse compared to the general population.

And men aged 25–54 in heavy industries have some of the highest rates of alcohol dependency and suicide in the country.

That’s not just stats—that’s the bloke in the donga next to you.
Or maybe it’s you.

The Signs You’re Not Just “Having a Beer”

You might laugh it off. Say it’s just part of the culture. But if this sounds familiar, it’s time to take a serious look:

  • You need a drink to relax after shift.

  • You drink alone in your room most nights.

  • You feel twitchy, edgy, or moody without it.

  • You start drinking as soon as you get back on R&R.

  • You’ve started hiding how much you're drinking from your partner or crew.

Mate, these are not just red flags. They’re flares screaming for attention.

What You Can Do (Instead of Just Pushing Through)

Let’s be real: change isn’t easy. But doing nothing is a slow death—mentally, physically, and emotionally.

Here's where to start:

  1. Call it what it is. If you’re using booze to deal with stress, anxiety, or loneliness—name it. That’s step one.

  2. Track your intake. Actually log how much you're drinking this swing. Most blokes are shocked when they see the real number.

  3. Build a better debrief routine. Replace the beer with something else—gym, a chat with your kids, even just writing shit down. Start small.

  4. Speak to someone who gets it. There are FIFO mental health services and peer support lines built for this exact issue. Use them.

  5. Plan your off-swing smarter. Don’t go home and hit the pub to “celebrate surviving work.” You’re not surviving—you’re bleeding slowly.

Final Word: No More Excuses

If you’re drinking every swing, night after night, you’re not just “relaxing.”
You’re managing pain. Stress. Loneliness. Maybe regret.

Jake figured it out the hard way—when the drinking started costing him sleep, his connection with his kids, and his own sense of self.
But he turned it around. Not with some life coach or Instagram guru.
He called a FIFO support line, owned his shit, and started changing his habits, one swing at a time.

And you can too.

No shame. No fluff. Just truth.
You’re not weak for struggling.
You’re only in trouble if you keep pretending you’re fine when you’re clearly not.

Got a mate who drinks every swing? Share this. It might hit home.

Or maybe this post is your wake-up call.
If that’s the case—what are you going to do about it?

 

In Australia, there are several alcohol support services available:

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