Alcohol in the Workplace

Alcohol can affect an individual's ability to process information logically, and whether you are dealing with a member of staff or or with a member of the public, there are key ways to handle a situation to protect yourself and others from any violent outbursts. . Don’t be authoritative. Intoxicated people respond better to friendly, coaxing approaches. Think about your body language, make sure you present a non threatening image. Never back a drunk into either a physical or metaphorical corner. You may want to keep a greater distance between you and the person than perhaps you normally would and take your movements nice and slowly. Make sure that you offer them a way out of the situation; if they feel they have no choice this may increase the level of aggression. Never tell a drunk what to do. Offer them a choice “Do you want to come with me?” “Shall we have a chat about it?” If you act like a disapproving parent, they may become the belligerent teenager! Alcohol makes people more susceptible to distraction. You can use that to your advantage by switching their focus. Some people have reported that even saying random things can distract the person enough to divert their thought process or actions. Always be prepared to go…timing is everything. Once the intoxicated person has begun to lose control you may not be able to calm the situation and your personal safety should be a priority. Take positive action to remove yourself from the threat and call for support and back up. Of course, organisations need to look at why they are putting their staff into situations where they have to ask how to deal with alcohol fuelled aggression! Our Training Package on Drug and Alcohol Awareness in the Workplace is an interactive tool to ensure all employees are aware of their responsibilities. For further information and to purchase the course CLICK HERE