Everything in moderation is the old saying, but here are some tough facts.  Alcohol is a poison that can cause irreversible damage to the liver, which labours to remove it from the body (it can cope with about one unit per hour) and only 20% of the alcohol swallowed on a night out is absorbed by the stomach.  The majority seeps into the bloodstream from the small intestine, the piece of bowel directly below the stomach.  Heavy drinking is blamed for up to 33,000 deaths a year in the UK, alcohol is estimated to be a factor in 20-30% of accidents worldwide and over 9m people in the UK drink at levels that place their long-term health at risk. 

An employee’s right to a private life is enshrined in law, but there is a caveat to that: where their actions outside the workplace could go on to affect their own safety, that of their colleagues and the general public in the workplace.  The employer has a duty of care to protect all those concerned.  Fixed rail employers must also take into account the Transport and Works Act, which mandates them to take reasonable steps to ensure their employees are not under the influence of drugs or alcohol when carrying out their duties.  If you have not established a robust policy on drug and alcohol use then you need to – fast; as it is an essential health and safety tool.  The title of the Act controlling drugs – The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 holds the key to drug and alcohol policies.