Pre-employment drug and alcohol screening

Participant · 9 Jan 2016 at 22:26

I've got one of these on Wednesday, and I'm in no way worried about the drugs bit...but I am curious to know what's typically involved and how they'll test for alcohol misuse.

I will definitely test negative for drugs, but is it likely to show how much I've drunk in the last month?! As if so Christmas is likely to f me in the a!

Or is it probably just a simple breathalyser type test?

Am I best to drink nothing containing alcohol from now until Wednesday, or will a beer or two and some wine be OK tomorrow?

Thanks.

Glaucus · 9 Jan 2016 at 22:27

Pee test for drugs and some times alcohol.
And sometimes breathalyser for alcohol.

It isn't for abuse, just if any is in your system.

Jokester · 9 Jan 2016 at 22:28

You'll need to **** in a cup and they'll dip it with a stick that gets sent to a lab for an analysis for drugs.

Alcohol testing is a breath test when I've done it in the past, so just don't drink the day before and you'll be fine.

Raymond Lin · 9 Jan 2016 at 22:28

Are you planning on having some whiskey with your coffee?

Jokester · 9 Jan 2016 at 22:33

It's also worth noting that you must declare if you have taken any medicine, even vitamin pills as these may screw up the drug test and they won't likely believe you if you fail the test first and then disclose it.

bitslice · 9 Jan 2016 at 22:35

"It takes 11 hours for 3 pints of beer to leave your system"

I think this test is looking for people who can't get out of bed without a drink.

Freefaller · 9 Jan 2016 at 22:36

All the alcohol from Christmas will have broken down, besides unless you have a drinking problem I doubt turning up to work will flag any alcohol in your system unless you had a big session the night before.

WE have them regularly at work. Pee in a cup, breathalyser. That's it.

Caged · 9 Jan 2016 at 22:38

Since when was this the USA?

Rids · 9 Jan 2016 at 22:42

Is this becoming more commonplace in the UK now? I can understand it for certain jobs such as the Fire Service for example, but is it being expanded outside of that?

rogue66700 · 9 Jan 2016 at 22:47

I work in construction and we are tested at least every two years with random unannounced tests.

muon · 9 Jan 2016 at 23:01

Drug tests I can perhaps understand.

Is the alcohol test just to check you are sober enough to legally/safely do whatever your job entails?

Jokester said:
You'll need to **** in a cup and they'll dip it with a stick that gets sent to a lab for an analysis for drugs.

Alcohol testing is a breath test when I've done it in the past, so just don't drink the day before and you'll be fine.

Unless you get really drunk, why not?

Jokester · 9 Jan 2016 at 23:05

muon said:
Unless you get really drunk, why not?

Hardly worth the risk if it's first thing is it?

muon · 9 Jan 2016 at 23:09

Jokester said:
Hardly worth the risk if it's first thing is it?

I guess not.

But I wouldn't personally avoid moderated drinking if already planned just because of this.

May as well find out what they would think if this happens after employment, where you likely get far less notice.

Jokester · 9 Jan 2016 at 23:11

muon said:
I guess not.

But I wouldn't personally avoid moderated drinking if already planned just because of this.

May as well find out what they would think if this happens after employment, where you likely get far less notice.

Depends on the company, some have zero tolerance so assuming if you are legally fit to drive then you're ok, might not actually be the case.

Glaucus · 9 Jan 2016 at 23:11

muon said:
I guess not.

But I wouldn't personally avoid moderated drinking if already planned just because of this.

May as well find out what they would think if this happens after employment, where you likely get far less notice.

Then your a bit silly. Depending on company the limit can be far less than drink driving.

Well there's usually scheduled ones with medical, random ones and mandatory ones if there's ever a **** up.

And they would just sack you, if positive and there's nothing you could do.

So it's a pretty big risk. For no reason.

Tefal · 9 Jan 2016 at 23:12

usually pits pee for drugs then they aska fe questions for alcohol and maybe if theyre worried do a brethalyser

muon · 9 Jan 2016 at 23:13

Glaucus said:
Then your a bit silly. Depending on company the limit can be far less than drink driving.

Well there's usually scheduled ones with medical, random ones and mandatory ones if there's ever a **** up.

And they would just sack you, if positive and there's nothing you could do.

So it's a pretty big risk. For no reason.

It's legal to sack someone for having a blood alcohol level which isn't based on legality or at least an argument of what is reasonable? Without that level being even communicated to the employee?

A2Z · 9 Jan 2016 at 23:13

I get random drug and alcohol testing at my work.

I also had a pre employment medical, but while I peed in a cup to test for drugs, there was no alcohol test. Probably because I didn't actually start the job for another 2 months.

Glaucus · 9 Jan 2016 at 23:14

muon said:
It's legal to sack someone for having a blood alcohol level which isn't based on legality or at least an argument of what is reasonable? Without that level being even communicated to the employee?

It is communicated with the employee and it's very legal to sack people for it.

muon · 9 Jan 2016 at 23:16

Glaucus said:
It is communicated with the employee and it's very legal to sack people for it.

I'm afraid I don't believe that for a second.

What you do in your private life is irrelevant unless it can be demonstrated to be relevant your work. That has to be based on reasoning and not arbitrary rules.