I simply can't believe this thread.
How many pilots under the influence of alcohol have been the cause of airline disasters?
I'm not condoning turning up to work under the influence, but most of the responses in this thread are trying to paint a picture that simply doesn't exist.
The 3 major contributors to airline disasters are:
1. Financial pressure on the Company causing corner-cutting in standards, maintenance etc
2. Pilot fatigue (18 hours awake equals 0.05% BAC... never read about that in the Newspapers)
3. Regulator oversight, or lack of, generally contributing to (1) and (2)