Should our MPs and their staff be allowed to drink (alcohol) during their working day?

But there are always those who because of a carefully hidden addiction will be drinking enough before they go to work to be inebriated on duty. heavy drinkers do not always smell of alcohol, especially if you plan it and time it.

We had a member of the family who effectively drank herself to death. We knew she enjoyed a drink when visitors came and probably had a drink in the evening, but she never smelled of alcohol and never showed any signs of inebriation and there was nothing to see around the house to suggest she was a heavy drinker. But the dustmen knew, they emptied the recycling bins and we worked out that she was drinking very nearly a bottle of whisky every day.

There are at this moment emergency workers, working while drunk, whether that is a dismissible offence or not.

DerbyshireLass The continentals would think we are bonkers to be so puritanical.
Who cares what the 'continentals' think? They are very different from us and it is a historical fact that Brits have no stop button when it comes to alcohol, so it's best they don't have any around whilst working.

I don’t understand what you mean M0nica because there already is a rule in all public sector organisations including the Ambulance Service, staff are disciplined if they are found drinking on duty.

Alcohol is not allowed in school. Even the Christmas dinner was served with non alcoholic drinks.
If I never had a drink during working hours, that would mean no wine when I’ve a load of prep or marking to do, so maybe a glass on Sunday lunchtime or Saturday evening.
‘I love the one rule for all or none at all’ idea. Perhaps someone could suggest how to enforce that during Covid. I’ve yet to see any consistent agreement about the rules for that.

We’ve all read more than enough recently about the behaviour of some MPs. Alcohol shouldn’t be allowed in any place of work under any circumstances. If employees wish to meet for a drink after work that’s fine.

Oh this is difficult. One drink for most people is enough with their work lunch - which I don’t object to but we all know that for some people they don’t stop at one and it must impinge on their work for the rest of the day.

MPs are not members of the Emergency services or looking after vulnerable people, but there are already people in all theses professions going into work well tanked up.

As I have said, it is either one rule for all or none at all, unless operationally necessary

*MaizieD*
I'm intrigued as to why this topic has appeared here on this particular day. Can it have anything to do with all these recent revelations of top civil servants having a considerable number of work meetings during lockdown which involved alcohol?

I'm not sure. It's something that I have thought about in the past, but I'm not sure what made me start the thread today.
The recent revelations have certainly brought it back to the forefront of my mind though, so on reflection,that's probably the main reason for the timing.

A glass of wine is ok at lunch time but subsidised? Definitely not! Why should it be??

They are public servants so they should not having alcohol on premises. Would you wish to be treated by a medic, police officer, teacher, civil servant, local government person if they had been drinking? No need.

Are they performing brain surgery, driving heavy machinery, piloting a plane, driving a bus or train. No they are not

No, they're just legislating for and administering the bl**dy country. Of course they can do it half pissed...

I'm intrigued as to why this topic has appeared here on this particular day. Can it have anything to do with all these recent revelations of top civil servants having a considerable number of work meetings during lockdown which involved alcohol?

Iam64 I like your idea of non-alcohol drinks. I bet No 10 wish they'd thought of that before they issued their statement.

I agree Derbyshirelass. Huge difference between the effect even one drink would have in some occupations compared with others.

Are they performing brain surgery, driving heavy machinery, piloting a plane, driving a bus or train. No they are not.

And yes there is a world of difference between a glass of wine with lunch and "boozing".

The continentals would think we are bonkers to be so puritanical.

Take a leaf from the Italians....

"A meal without wine is like a day without sunshine".

As in all things.....moderation is key.

And there is a significant difference between having a glass of wine with a lunchtime meal and someone who is boozing.
Is there really. And how would you know whether they had ONE glass of wine or several?

paddyann54

I cant believe the attitudes of folk on here who think a boozing MP is fine.

I've not read any comment that says that.

And there is a significant difference between having a glass of wine with a lunchtime meal and someone who is boozing.

I don't agree with it at all !
There's time enough when work is finished. What's wrong with them all that they must have a drink ?

No alcohol should be allowed in Westminster during the day, which means the bar should not be open (except for non-alcoholic drinks). And not be open in the evening either if they are having a late sitting. In other words the bar hours should not be the same as their working hours. Smokers have been vilified and banned for some time now, so why shouldn't alcohol get the same treatment.

There’s no difference lemongrove. They are all public servants, and should not be drinking at work.

Casdon ....We are not talking about NHS staff having a drink with lunch here, the OP is about MP’s and civil servants.

I don't know any workplace where drinking at lunchtime would be acceptable, what happened in the seventies is not what is happening now.

Moderation is always the key. Notwithstanding, a local bank manager was known for granting loans and overdrafts after a liquid lunch. You always asked for a 2pm appontment.

NHS staff can’t drink on the premises. In my time I’ve had to dismiss staff who have been caught doing so. It’s not puritanical, it’s about competence to do the role for which you are being paid, and drinking affects competence.

Paddy..... if you think that Scottish MP’s ( including the SNP!) don’t ever have a glass of wine with lunch ( or more) then you are sadly deluded.

The Puritanical streak is alive and well in the UK, must be a lasting legacy from Oliver Cromwell.The French would laugh their socks off reading some comments on this thread.

I don't think drinking alcohol encourages clear thinking so my feeling is alcohol shouldn't be available in Westminster. Having it on tap as it were, cannot be helpful for anyone with a drinking problem. I remember MPs in the past who were 'tired and emotional' and the lovely Charles Kennedy who died because of alcohol. As someone said, local government workers can't drink during working hours so why should MPs?