ABSTRACT

Alcohol and its effect in the work environment is regarded as a problem if it interferes with the individual’s work duties and ability to perform. There is the additional problem of proving whether or not alcohol is a factor in the reported cases of injuries. One in ten of drinking males experience alcohol-related problems at work. Some commentators in the field of alcohol research state that inappropriate drinking at work can lead to accidents. To dismiss an employee as soon as a drink problem is brought to an employer’s attention will most certainly be unfair. Alcohol abuse may be regarded as an illness once the employee is assessed by a doctor and his/her capability to perform duties taken into consideration. Alcohol tends to make water move out of the body’s cells which leads to dehydration and other factors producing a hangover.