Bar work as tough as being an athlete

Working in a bar is as "as mentally draining as being a barrister and as physically demanding as being an athlete" according to research by Red Bull Energy.

The Red Bull study reveals that almost a third (61 per cent) of licensees and bartenders are exhausted at the end of a shift.

The results also highlighted that as many as one in ten (10 per cent) of workers feel their energy levels start to flag just two hours into their shift.

Almost a third (28 per cent) of employees surveyed are on duty for 10 hours or more per day, and a further one in seven (14 per cent) work shifts lasting over 13 hours.

Duncan Smith, a scientist with Mindlab International who carried out the study, said: "Some might argue that people are attracted to these trades out of a mistaken belief that work is less physically and mentally demanding than other, more obviously strenuous, types of employment, but this research is proof that they would be mistaken".

Caroline Jacomb, Red Bull trade marketing manager, added: "This study proves how demanding and physically draining running a bar or restaurant can be. Hopefully, the tips that we've commissioned from the psychological experts will help publicans to get the most from their working day - I'll be trying them out myself."