Drinking on the Job--A Growing Trend That Businesses Should Catch Before It's Too Late

Novus speaks on the consumption of alcohol while working; company risks can be heavy.

Alcohol is the most commonly used addictive substance in the U.S. 17.6 million people, or one in every 12 adults, suffer from alcohol abuse or dependence, along with several million more who engage in risky drinking patterns that could lead to alcohol problems (1). Despite the adverse effects, some employers encourage mixing business with pleasure and allow drinking on the job.

Drinking on the job can be a costly mistake for both businesses and employees. Allowing employees to imbibe while working leaves businesses open to potential  legal issues, severely impacting the welfare of the employee and the company.

   In December, 2011, a restaurant sommelier left work and subsequently crashed into and killed another driver. It was revealed that the sommelier had a blood alcohol level of three times the legal limit. The victim's family alleged that the restaurant had allowed the man to drink to excess on its premises after hours and then drive drunk, costing the restaurant one million dollars.

   A Hernando County crossing guard was recently relieved of his duties after being found legally drunk while working his shift. The guard initially said he'd had only one drink. Upon a breathalyzer test, the guard blew a .18 and subsequently admitted to having had more than a few drinks, putting his and others' lives at risk (3).

As an employer, the risks of employees drinking on the job are numerous and damaging, and include:
   Workplace injuries
   Decreased company productivity
   Negative image for the company
  Low morale of co-workers
   Insurance claims
   Damage to the company's image


(1)  "Alcohol & Drug Information." Ncadd.org. National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2013. ncadd.org/index.php/for-the-media/alcohol-a-drug-information.

(2)  Copeland, Larry. "USA TODAY." Usatoday.com. USA Today, 5 Sept. 2012. Web. 24 Mar. 2013. usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-09-04/restaurants-drinking-lawsuit-crash-south-carolina/57586486/1.

(3)  Weber, Kristin. "Drunk on the Job: Hernando County School Crossing Guard." Wtsp.com. N.p., 15 Mar. 2013. Web. 21 Mar. 2013. wtsp.com/news/local/article/304560/8/Drunk-on-the-Job-School-crossing-guard?source=nletter-.

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