Safe Speed Forums

What started out as a conversation between myself and a work college who had a pint at dinner time the other day, we got into a big debate about whether it is wrong to do so.

We had just left seeing a patient. It was a long day and so ended up having a late pub lunch, at about 2 p.m. All that remained was to go back to the office for the last couple of hours to write the report and go home later, at 5 pm hopefully.

It went something like this..

Mr X – “If I am not going to see a patient I don’t believe it is so bad to have one drink with a meal; a relatively low alcohol ale of 3.8 percent which I could have and legally drive home in fact. A breathalyser, if it showed anything at all, would show me to be very much under the limit”.

Me – “I can't argue with that but in the name of professionalism I wouldn’t have a drink at lunchtime because, whether I am due to see a patient or returning back to base, I wouldn’t want any chance of the smell of alcohol on me”.

I have since spent many hours surfing to see what the legal standpoint is, if any, and it seems that it is more about a moral obligation or company policy than any written law.

Let’s be honest, we all know many people do have a quick pint or half-pint at lunch sometimes, from all work backgrounds and professions. But I just wondered what others think about it or what your own experiences or company policies are - if any?


This is a much as I can find on the subject so far. http://www.rospa.com/roadsafety/info/workdrinkdrugs.pdf

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.

I think - as you alluded to - it's possibly unwise to drink anything if you have a public-facing role.

Otherwise I see no harm in it, apart from the lethargy that tends to kick in about an hour later

Yes, it's funny how that happens, especially in a sedentary job.

I think it's more common than people would care to admit. But I guess so long as it's done responsibly I have no objection. I wouldn't mind someone having a half with their meal and maybe a mint afterwards, but then I think the same of smokers to be frank. (Ugh)

I remember having a carpet fitted by two guys many years ago and as they walked in I could smell that they'd had a drink. They did a nice job and were polite and I made them both a cuppa, but it did come across to me as not-good.

I wasn't to know if they'd just had a quick one at the local or were three sheets to the wind.

If I was a young single mum, for instance, I should have felt quite intimidated despite their pleasant demeanour.

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.

I would tend not to have a drink with a meal lunch time but may have one if with a client and they are.

Generally not. I certainly wouldn't if meeting the general public.

Just before I went to America to work there was a delay in my Visa. I’d already resigned from my job to go over, so suddenly I needed to get some work to tide me over.

I went on a quick course to work as a Channel 5 re-tuner, to prevent interference with the VCR before they went live. You may remember some nerd coming into your house to do this back in 1997. I was that nerd.

So for a few weeks I went into peoples’ homes and on many occasions I was offered to join them with something a little stronger than just tea. Actually, the once I was offered something more (No I didn't BTW. I'm a gentleman; a very frustrated one at the time as it happened)

I guess it depends on the type of job too. I wouldn't want a surgeon to have one before he started my vasectomy for instance.

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.

When I worked at Heathrow, one of the women in the Air France lounge made me a vodka/orange cocktail without prompting (usually got an OJ).

At 10:00 in the morning!