Don't Heli-pilots drink Tea?

[SayItIsntSo]

Hi Gomer Pylot,

No disagreement as to the full text but I am sure that most authorities will not accept that a pilot is a suitable person to make the required assessment, and that the lawyers would have a field day with the idea if the opportunity was to present itself.

Obviously prohibiting caffeine would not work and perhaps that is why ICAO has excluded coffee and tobacco from the prohibition. But surely we should also argue the same about tea. It seems from the postings that any attempt to impose a prohibition on tea would be as about as successful as a trying to impose a ban on sex.

As to the effects of caffeine some would argue that there is a rebound effect when it wears off, if you don’t top off the caffeine level again.

A quick Google found the Atlanta Dental Group website that states:
“Caffeine addiction can be so strong that patients experience caffeine withdrawal symptoms much like drug addicts when their drugs are taken away. Caffeine withdrawal symptoms can last between one and five days.

Caffeine Withdrawal Symptoms include: Headaches, Fatigue, Irritability, Cravings, Anxiety, Drowsiness, Stomachaches, Nausea, Nervousness, and Insomnia.

Some of the caffeine withdrawal symptoms can be reduced by drinking decaffeinated coffee. Although we prefer that patients not take analgesics, ibuprofen is probably best because it also helps with the muscle pain associated with caffeine withdrawal.”

And I had always blamed it on the booze for those feelings.

My point is that if the risk of pilots being adversely effected by a psychoactive drug is acceptable as long as it is caffeine (amongst others) and it is derived from coffee, then why does ICAO think that it is not acceptable to receive your ‘fix’ of the same / similar substance from tea and / or chocolate (et al) too?

Got to go...time for a cuppa!!

SayIt