With the traditional party season creeping up fast we have to seriously think about the consequences of drinking too much alcohol and the effects it will have on our life if there is an accident.
We all love to go out and enjoy ourselves and with Christmas just around the corner even more people will be hitting their local pubs and clubs. In today’s binge drinking culture we try and down as much alcohol in as short a time as possible, sometimes this can lead to being pressured by workmates or friends in to trying illegal substances. Drink and drugs in the workplace will often lead to loss in productivity, loss of wages and loss of friendship.
When we drink alcohol the effects can stay in our bodies for as long as 10hrs after our last drink so imagine you are at the night club and stagger out at 4am, you start work at 8am so what do you do, go to work or call in sick?
- If you call in sick you will be joining the 8-14 million employees that call in sick every year that’s between 3-5% of the working population.
- If you decide to drive to work at 8am, you are now driving your car illegally and if you have an accident you will get charged with being in charge of a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
If you are manage to reach your workplace still under the influence of drink and drugs – the work has the right to suspend you under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. If a director knowingly lets a worker that is under the influence of drink or drugs continue to work then that director can be prosecuted. The Transport and Works Act 1992 now also makes it a criminal offence for certain employees to operate vehicles including trains, trams and other guided transport systems if drink and drugs are suspected.
During the next few months more and more people will be going out and enjoying themselves, is it really worth losing your job, friends and respect just so you can get that last pint in before closing time? It’s also worth remembering no matter how many black coffees or cold showers you have it won’t sober you up, only time can do that.
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