to drink or not to drink that is the question.....
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: earth
to drink or not to drink that is the question.....
Dear all in the sunny Uae. I was having a conversation with someone yesterday, and the topic was about going into work with a hangover. He is not a pilot, another staff member for an aviation company, who are bringing drug and alcohol testing to all the company employees. Where no know one should have trace alcohol in their system. Another rumour which was due to this was that the actual goverment is bringing in this law to all companies in the uae, not aviation related. So nurses, teachers and business people who ever they work for can now be tested for any trace alcohol......
There will be mass hysteria amoung the western masses, no alcohol after work during week days, that is the only thing that keeps most western teachers sane, after a very frustrating day.
This could be a rumour, but who knows...........
There will be mass hysteria amoung the western masses, no alcohol after work during week days, that is the only thing that keeps most western teachers sane, after a very frustrating day.
This could be a rumour, but who knows...........
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: Stairways to heaven
pretty much the same applies in europe. your employer (any industry) has the right to fire you with immediate effect if you are found intoxicated while at work. the limit usually goes with the legal limit to drive a car.
for sanity use prozac, it won't show up in the test.
for sanity use prozac, it won't show up in the test.
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 262
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From: Travelling East
The rule in place is that anyone in a critical position should not be under the influence at work. I think this is fairly commonplace throughout the world.
Here the critical positions are defined wider than in other places, but are not excessive, they include the obvious:- pilots, ATC and some less obvious :- loader, loadmaster, trim clerk, dispatcher. SO simply put, anyone who's error could cause a hazard is required to be sober at work.
It is a general rule with the UAE, so will apply to taxi-drivers, crane operators, nurses, doctors and positions in almost every industry.
It really is nothing to get excited about.
Here the critical positions are defined wider than in other places, but are not excessive, they include the obvious:- pilots, ATC and some less obvious :- loader, loadmaster, trim clerk, dispatcher. SO simply put, anyone who's error could cause a hazard is required to be sober at work.
It is a general rule with the UAE, so will apply to taxi-drivers, crane operators, nurses, doctors and positions in almost every industry.
It really is nothing to get excited about.
Joined: Jul 2000
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From: Dubai - sand land.
Originally Posted by fluffy5
no alcohol after work during week days, that is the only thing that keeps most western teachers sane, after a very frustrating day.
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 46
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From: Dubai airport
The limit !
I think the point thats being missed here ( except maybe Jack ) is that the actual limit is not clear.
It's confusing as the assumed driving limit is 80mg, (railways and transport act 2003) and we all know the limit applicable to aviation, in eu Ops and car ops manuals is 20 mg, ie a quarter of the drink drive limit.
Then most companies state zero tolerance to alchohol. Is that zero tolderance to being over the limit, or zero tolerance to the slightest trace ?
Anyone that is tested here in the UAE by the police is prosecuted for having ANY (for that read trace, or anythiong above Zero !) alchohol in their blood.
So a couple of beers in the evening that would not be in anyway dodgy some 12hrs later, Might just spell trouble in the UAE.
A quick read of the local papers shows that the ''dubai court of misdemeanours'' ( i kid you not !) regulary fines people for merely having alchohol in their system, regardless of the amount !
Somewhat odd when the place is pushed as a liberal tourist destination, with a govt that makes a fortune from the 30%tax on booze, go figure!
It's confusing as the assumed driving limit is 80mg, (railways and transport act 2003) and we all know the limit applicable to aviation, in eu Ops and car ops manuals is 20 mg, ie a quarter of the drink drive limit.
Then most companies state zero tolerance to alchohol. Is that zero tolderance to being over the limit, or zero tolerance to the slightest trace ?
Anyone that is tested here in the UAE by the police is prosecuted for having ANY (for that read trace, or anythiong above Zero !) alchohol in their blood.
So a couple of beers in the evening that would not be in anyway dodgy some 12hrs later, Might just spell trouble in the UAE.
A quick read of the local papers shows that the ''dubai court of misdemeanours'' ( i kid you not !) regulary fines people for merely having alchohol in their system, regardless of the amount !
Somewhat odd when the place is pushed as a liberal tourist destination, with a govt that makes a fortune from the 30%tax on booze, go figure!
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,848
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From: Dubai - sand land.
Originally Posted by guided accordingly
I think the point thats being missed here ( except maybe Jack ) is that the actual limit is not clear.
Unless of course you work in a drug/alcohol sensitive job, but then only if you exceed the limit set down by the regulatory body - for aviation it's the GCAA. I have no clue what the Ministry of Education lays down...The thread starter is making hysterical and pointless comments. Full stop!!! And FYI 'guided acc' the discussion is regarding the UAE and not 'assumed limits in the EU'
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Dubai
So a couple of beers in the evening that would not be in anyway dodgy some 12hrs later, Might just spell trouble in the UAE.
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 102
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From: Hotel
"pretty much the same applies in europe. your employer (any industry) has the right to fire you with immediate effect if you are found intoxicated while at work. the limit usually goes with the legal limit to drive a car."
You haven't been to Europe in 50 years have you?
You haven't been to Europe in 50 years have you?
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,291
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From: BHX LXR ASW
Gone are the days when crews used to party until midnight for a 3am pick up and the lounge steward would prop the Capt up with a black coffee before a night sector to the Far East. Gone are the days when you put certain pursers to bed and 8 hours later on approach they would ask if there is anything they could do 
In the old days a certain carrier I used to work for would send suspects to 'dry out' I guess we've got the media to thank for putting the aviation world to rights.
In the old days a certain carrier I used to work for would send suspects to 'dry out' I guess we've got the media to thank for putting the aviation world to rights.
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 46
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From: Dubai airport
Point Taken, but...
I'm not talking big nights out , or hangovers.
Youre saying a couple of bevvies after work should be gone by the morning. In all practicality I Totally agree !
But , Are you saying that there will be nothing at all in the bloodstream, as this is what I believe the police and company doctors are testing for. If thats so, thats good news, I stand corrected, maybe its not as bad as I thought !
But from what I hear, and from the stance my company takes, its absolute zero tolerance to anything above zero. (ie not 20mg as in europe - which does not consitute being drunk. ).
Im just not convinced that a couple of beers or a wine or two the night before would pass the ''zero to any level at all test'' Its not a test I want to risk taking either. Just curious, because to me it appears the only way to be completely sure here in Dubai, is not to drink anything at all !
Youre saying a couple of bevvies after work should be gone by the morning. In all practicality I Totally agree !
But , Are you saying that there will be nothing at all in the bloodstream, as this is what I believe the police and company doctors are testing for. If thats so, thats good news, I stand corrected, maybe its not as bad as I thought !
But from what I hear, and from the stance my company takes, its absolute zero tolerance to anything above zero. (ie not 20mg as in europe - which does not consitute being drunk. ).
Im just not convinced that a couple of beers or a wine or two the night before would pass the ''zero to any level at all test'' Its not a test I want to risk taking either. Just curious, because to me it appears the only way to be completely sure here in Dubai, is not to drink anything at all !
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 46
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From: Dubai airport
Alc licence
Someone raised the point re licences, maybe off thread but and I ask seriously, where do tourists stand ? Do they need an Alc licence ? Whats the score there ? You see in the papers tourists being prosecuted for having alc in their system ! (obtained from a licenced bar ?)
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 282
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From: Where the family is
You see in the papers tourists being prosecuted for having alc in their system ! (obtained from a licenced bar ?)
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 763
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From: Monrovia / Liberia
For under $200 USD's you can buy yourself a very good personal breathalyser and thus take any / all anxiety out of the equation!
Professional Breathalyzers - AlcoScan Premium AL7000 Breathalyzer - Breathalyzer
Which Breathalyser Works Best? AL7000 Gets Top Rating!
For those occasional days when you might be feeling a bit 'overindulged' and / or 'anxious' before you go to work, blow in to your personal breath tester and if doesn't immediately read zero then call-in sick... aside from going teetotal, what could be simpler?!
Professional Breathalyzers - AlcoScan Premium AL7000 Breathalyzer - Breathalyzer
Which Breathalyser Works Best? AL7000 Gets Top Rating!
For those occasional days when you might be feeling a bit 'overindulged' and / or 'anxious' before you go to work, blow in to your personal breath tester and if doesn't immediately read zero then call-in sick... aside from going teetotal, what could be simpler?!
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 81
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From: on the edge
If Muslims can demand to wear head-scarves/face veils in Europe, then we should also be able to consume alcohol in the Middle East. If we are not permitted, or limited and controlled, then this represents ultimate hypocrisy by the Arabs. Furthermore, if Muslims demand Western Civil liberties when in western countries, then Westerners should, in fairness, be permitted to eat and drink in public in Middle East countries during Ramadan. If not, double standards are being demanded / applied.
Standing by for banning by politically-controlled moderator.
Standing by for banning by politically-controlled moderator.
