French riot police threaten to strike over alcohol ban

Matty1973 · 22nd April 2011, 11:58 AM

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...cohol-ban.html

Originally Posted by above link

They were wearing body armour and carrying weapons as they sipped from beer and wine bottles. Some were also smoking.
Didier Mangione, national secretary of the police union, said bosses were "trying to turn us into priests, but without the altar wine".
"Nobody should object to a small drink on jobs," he said.

The above sounds totally alien to me in the UK and I guess it would raise eyebrows in the US too. Are there any posters from other countries where policeman drinking on duty would be acceptable as Government policy?

geni · 22nd April 2011, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by Matty1973

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...cohol-ban.html

The above sounds totally alien to me in the UK and I guess it would raise eyebrows in the US too. Are there any posters from other countries where policeman drinking on duty would be acceptable as Government policy?

Royal Navy Police?

It's only fairly recently that the tradition of a beer at lunch time has dissapeared from most jobs.

Ziggurat · 22nd April 2011, 02:15 PM

Originally Posted by Matty1973

The above sounds totally alien to me in the UK and I guess it would raise eyebrows in the US too.

In the US, it's definitely unacceptable for police officers to drink alcohol while on the job.

dtugg · 22nd April 2011, 05:14 PM

Wow. The French will strike over anything. And yeah, police drinking on the job is completely unacceptable. It is actually pretty shocking that cops in France think they should be able to.

rjh01 · 23rd April 2011, 12:22 AM

Drinking alcohol on any job is not acceptable.

Darat · 23rd April 2011, 12:52 AM

Anyone know what the legal situation is in the UK? I can't think of any job I've had were such drinking would be a breach of contract (unless it impacted on aspects of the job), indeed in two companies I've instituted a company paid for Friday afternoon beer company wide.

Aepervius · 23rd April 2011, 01:18 AM

OK firstly this is not the police. This is the riot police. So if I recall correctely the law your average policeman is not allowed to drink during service (although the average worker is allowed to drink during its midday meal by law). But the riot police during their deplacement were proposed with their cold meal a a red wine or a bier.

The french article I saw said nothing about strike, only that the syndicat would check for action (there are other action than strike you know).

By the way the 1/4 red wine or the bier is the maximum which by law any worker is allowed during their meal.

That said, I don't think it is a good idea to allow alcohol in any quantity to somebody which has a weapon, is about to use it (they were getting that alcohol at a mission place so where there is a riot).

TX50 · 23rd April 2011, 04:59 AM

Originally Posted by Darat

Anyone know what the legal situation is in the UK? I can't think of any job I've had were such drinking would be a breach of contract (unless it impacted on aspects of the job), indeed in two companies I've instituted a company paid for Friday afternoon beer company wide.

The tradition of a Friday afternoon "borrel" ("drinkies") has been kept up in most of the companies I've worked for here in the Netherlands. Usually the stuff is sponsored by the company. Only one, an American company (which I left quickly), banned all booze in the office.
The last software company I worked for here even had a little bar with a free "beer" pump ("beer" in scare quotes, because it was actually Heineken). I kept a bottle of home-made Austrian Peach schnapps and a bottle of Bowmore 30 on my desk, which I sampled and shared regularly.

Visiting a client in the UK once I joined him in sinking four pints of Guinness at lunchtime (my Dutch colleague wimped out).

OT. I've seen Dutch cops smoking stogies in public. My old man (an ex British cop) was not amused.

hgc · 23rd April 2011, 05:11 AM

Originally Posted by rjh01

Drinking alcohol on any job is not acceptable.

Any job? Bartender? Stripper? Fortune teller? Phone sex operator? There are some jobs for which drinking does make sense.

timhau · 23rd April 2011, 05:22 AM

Originally Posted by hgc

Any job? Bartender? Stripper? Fortune teller? Phone sex operator? There are some jobs for which drinking does make sense.

Are you sure every one you mentioned qualifies?

"Ooh, honey,*GULP* now I'm *GULP* softly caressing my *BURRRRP*"

arthwollipot · 23rd April 2011, 05:32 AM

We always have beer and wine in the fridge at work, for those times when someone declares Impromptu Drinks.

Ziggurat · 23rd April 2011, 09:24 AM

Originally Posted by timhau

Are you sure every one you mentioned qualifies?

"Ooh, honey,*GULP* now I'm *GULP* softly caressing my *BURRRRP*"

That's why you drink hard liquor when you're working the phone sex lines. You can sip it, and there's no carbonation.

Tatyana · 23rd April 2011, 09:57 AM

People in my lab still go to the pub at lunch time.

I have had a drink at lunch, I was far too sleepy in the afternoon to make it a regular habit.

Babbylonian · 23rd April 2011, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by Tatyana

People in my lab still go to the pub at lunch time.

I have had a drink at lunch, I was far too sleepy in the afternoon to make it a regular habit.

When I was working in an office, a friend and I went down to a bar for lunch every other day. If I indulged in second or third pints, I'd conk out for about a half-hour when we got back to work. Neither my boss nor the owner of the company had a problem with it though, since my friend and I tended to be 3-5x more productive than any other employee. The owner did nudge me once, but that was because she didn't like hearing me snore.

Matty1973 · 23rd April 2011, 11:21 AM

I can understand the private sector allowing it at their discretion. It surprises me that any Government department would allow it - especially the police - double especially armed police! No one so far has suggested another country which would allow this so may be it is just the French.

sadhatter · 23rd April 2011, 11:48 AM

The way i see it either...

A) Your drinking to get the small buzz you get from drinking. In which case i do not want any professional ( police, doctor, lawyer, Pharmacist, etc.) doing it. Regardless of how little your judgment is effected, it is effected.

B) Your not getting any buzz whatsoever, due to either tolerance or physical make up. And it is pointless to get this angry about it. Have a soda, it is cheaper, tastes better and won't get you in trouble. Heck, if you just are morally opposed to soda, have an energy drink. Like a beer, but it makes you more, not less able to do your job ( though, not as able as the companies would have you believe.)

Either way i find this a silly thing for the officers to strike over. If i can practically change my entire free time routine to be a pharmacist, these whiners ( sorry but i really feel this is simply whining.) can avoid the beer at lunch.

sadhatter · 23rd April 2011, 11:49 AM

The way i see it either...

A) Your drinking to get the small buzz you get from drinking. In which case i do not want any professional ( police, doctor, lawyer, Pharmacist, etc.) doing it. Regardless of how little your judgment is effected, it is effected.

B) Your not getting any buzz whatsoever, due to either tolerance or physical make up. And it is pointless to get this angry about it. Have a soda, it is cheaper, tastes better and won't get you in trouble. Heck, if you just are morally opposed to soda, have an energy drink. Like a beer, but it makes you more, not less able to do your job ( though, not as able as the companies would have you believe.)

Either way i find this a silly thing for the officers to strike over. If i can practically change my entire free time routine to be a pharmacist, these whiners ( sorry but i really feel this is simply whining.) can avoid the beer at lunch.

MG1962 · 23rd April 2011, 11:57 AM

Originally Posted by Babbylonian

When I was working in an office, a friend and I went down to a bar for lunch every other day. If I indulged in second or third pints, I'd conk out for about a half-hour when we got back to work. Neither my boss nor the owner of the company had a problem with it though, since my friend and I tended to be 3-5x more productive than any other employee. The owner did nudge me once, but that was because she didn't like hearing me snore.

Sleeping with the boss huh?

lionking · 23rd April 2011, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by Tatyana

People in my lab still go to the pub at lunch time.

I have had a drink at lunch, I was far too sleepy in the afternoon to make it a regular habit.

In Australia your lunch time is not paid, so theoretically you can do what you want. When I worked for Victoria Police I had many a boozy lunch with (out of uniform) coppers, including the Chief Commissioner. Nowadays, however, most companies Occupational Health and Safety policies prohibit drinking at lunch as it can effect performance and therefore safety (this is not my argument). These policies are often ignored, particularly on Friday.

BenBurch · 23rd April 2011, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by rjh01

Drinking alcohol on any job is not acceptable.

I know some strippers who would disagree with that...

commandlinegamer · 23rd April 2011, 12:22 PM

Aside from driving* which may be required during your employment, anything which impedes the safe use of machinery would not be a good idea, and I imagine could leave an employer open to litigation should an accident occur where alcohol consumption is a factor.

* - Brewery delivery drivers and helpers I'm told would often have a pint in the premises after dropping off the order, though by the time I started in the licensed trade, I think the practice had pretty much died out. Obviously it's thirsty work, and if you were only in charge of a couple of dray horses, then the potential for disaster might not be too high. But a twenty-ton truck? Yikes!

Babbylonian · 23rd April 2011, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by MG1962

Sleeping with the boss huh?

I drew the short straw that day...hence the drinking.

geni · 23rd April 2011, 05:49 PM

Originally Posted by Darat

Anyone know what the legal situation is in the UK?

The health and safety people will have a fit if the job involves machinery or interesting chemicals.

vwgub · 23rd April 2011, 06:08 PM

In the U.S. it is not illegal to drink on the job unless you are a goverment employee. But FSM help you if you get in an accident that hurts others while your on the job and you have any detectable drug level.

commandlinegamer · 23rd April 2011, 06:14 PM

Originally Posted by geni

The health and safety people will have a fit if the job involves machinery or interesting chemicals.

Talking of which, and sorry for the derail, but this is a fascinating blog:

http://pipeline.corante.com/archives...ont_work_with/

22nd April 2011, 11:58 AM	#1
Matty1973 Critical Thinker Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 253	French riot police threaten to strike over alcohol ban http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...cohol-ban.html Originally Posted by above link They were wearing body armour and carrying weapons as they sipped from beer and wine bottles. Some were also smoking. Didier Mangione, national secretary of the police union, said bosses were "trying to turn us into priests, but without the altar wine". "Nobody should object to a small drink on jobs," he said. The above sounds totally alien to me in the UK and I guess it would raise eyebrows in the US too. Are there any posters from other countries where policeman drinking on duty would be acceptable as Government policy?

22nd April 2011, 02:15 PM	#3
Ziggurat Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 48,352	Originally Posted by Matty1973 The above sounds totally alien to me in the UK and I guess it would raise eyebrows in the US too. In the US, it's definitely unacceptable for police officers to drink alcohol while on the job.
	__________________ "As long as it is admitted that the law may be diverted from its true purpose -- that it may violate property instead of protecting it -- then everyone will want to participate in making the law, either to protect himself against plunder or to use it for plunder. Political questions will always be prejudicial, dominant, and all-absorbing. There will be fighting at the door of the Legislative Palace, and the struggle within will be no less furious." - Bastiat, The Law

22nd April 2011, 05:14 PM	#4
dtugg Banned Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 7,885	Wow. The French will strike over anything. And yeah, police drinking on the job is completely unacceptable. It is actually pretty shocking that cops in France think they should be able to.
dtugg Banned Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 7,885

23rd April 2011, 12:52 AM	#6
Darat Lackey Administrator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: South East, UK Posts: 97,067	Anyone know what the legal situation is in the UK? I can't think of any job I've had were such drinking would be a breach of contract (unless it impacted on aspects of the job), indeed in two companies I've instituted a company paid for Friday afternoon beer company wide.
	__________________ I wish I knew how to quit you

23rd April 2011, 04:59 AM	#8
TX50 Graduate Poster Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,951	Originally Posted by Darat Anyone know what the legal situation is in the UK? I can't think of any job I've had were such drinking would be a breach of contract (unless it impacted on aspects of the job), indeed in two companies I've instituted a company paid for Friday afternoon beer company wide. The tradition of a Friday afternoon "borrel" ("drinkies") has been kept up in most of the companies I've worked for here in the Netherlands. Usually the stuff is sponsored by the company. Only one, an American company (which I left quickly), banned all booze in the office. The last software company I worked for here even had a little bar with a free "beer" pump ("beer" in scare quotes, because it was actually Heineken). I kept a bottle of home-made Austrian Peach schnapps and a bottle of Bowmore 30 on my desk, which I sampled and shared regularly. Visiting a client in the UK once I joined him in sinking four pints of Guinness at lunchtime (my Dutch colleague wimped out). OT. I've seen Dutch cops smoking stogies in public. My old man (an ex British cop) was not amused.
TX50 Graduate Poster Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,951

22nd April 2011, 12:17 PM	#2
geni Anti-homeopathy illuminati member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 28,185	Originally Posted by Matty1973 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...cohol-ban.html The above sounds totally alien to me in the UK and I guess it would raise eyebrows in the US too. Are there any posters from other countries where policeman drinking on duty would be acceptable as Government policy? Royal Navy Police? It's only fairly recently that the tradition of a beer at lunch time has dissapeared from most jobs.

23rd April 2011, 12:22 AM	#5
rjh01 Gentleman of leisure Tagger Join Date: May 2005 Location: Flying around in the sky Posts: 26,516	Drinking alcohol on any job is not acceptable.

23rd April 2011, 01:18 AM	#7
Aepervius Non credunt, semper verificare Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Sigil, the city of doors Posts: 14,581	OK firstly this is not the police. This is the riot police. So if I recall correctely the law your average policeman is not allowed to drink during service (although the average worker is allowed to drink during its midday meal by law). But the riot police during their deplacement were proposed with their cold meal a a red wine or a bier. The french article I saw said nothing about strike, only that the syndicat would check for action (there are other action than strike you know). By the way the 1/4 red wine or the bier is the maximum which by law any worker is allowed during their meal. That said, I don't think it is a good idea to allow alcohol in any quantity to somebody which has a weapon, is about to use it (they were getting that alcohol at a mission place so where there is a riot).

23rd April 2011, 05:11 AM	#9
hgc Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 15,892	Originally Posted by rjh01 Drinking alcohol on any job is not acceptable. Any job? Bartender? Stripper? Fortune teller? Phone sex operator? There are some jobs for which drinking does make sense.

23rd April 2011, 05:22 AM	#10
timhau NWO Litter Technician Join Date: May 2004 Location: Looks like Finland. Smells like Finland. Quacks like Finland. Where the hell am I? Posts: 14,474	Originally Posted by hgc Any job? Bartender? Stripper? Fortune teller? Phone sex operator? There are some jobs for which drinking does make sense. Are you sure every one you mentioned qualifies? "Ooh, honey,GULP now I'm GULP softly caressing my BURRRRP"
	__________________ When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realised that the Lord, in his wisdom, doesn't work that way. I just stole one and asked Him to forgive me. - Emo Philips

23rd April 2011, 05:32 AM	#11
arthwollipot Observer of Phenomena Pronouns: he/him Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ngunnawal Country Posts: 70,273	We always have beer and wine in the fridge at work, for those times when someone declares Impromptu Drinks.
	__________________ Please scream inside your heart.

23rd April 2011, 09:24 AM	#12
Ziggurat Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 48,352	Originally Posted by timhau Are you sure every one you mentioned qualifies? "Ooh, honey,GULP now I'm GULP softly caressing my BURRRRP" That's why you drink hard liquor when you're working the phone sex lines. You can sip it, and there's no carbonation.
	__________________ "As long as it is admitted that the law may be diverted from its true purpose -- that it may violate property instead of protecting it -- then everyone will want to participate in making the law, either to protect himself against plunder or to use it for plunder. Political questions will always be prejudicial, dominant, and all-absorbing. There will be fighting at the door of the Legislative Palace, and the struggle within will be no less furious." - Bastiat, The Law

23rd April 2011, 09:57 AM	#13
Tatyana Illuminator Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 3,701	People in my lab still go to the pub at lunch time. I have had a drink at lunch, I was far too sleepy in the afternoon to make it a regular habit.
Tatyana Illuminator Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 3,701

23rd April 2011, 11:20 AM	#14
Babbylonian Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 13,500	Originally Posted by Tatyana People in my lab still go to the pub at lunch time. I have had a drink at lunch, I was far too sleepy in the afternoon to make it a regular habit. When I was working in an office, a friend and I went down to a bar for lunch every other day. If I indulged in second or third pints, I'd conk out for about a half-hour when we got back to work. Neither my boss nor the owner of the company had a problem with it though, since my friend and I tended to be 3-5x more productive than any other employee. The owner did nudge me once, but that was because she didn't like hearing me snore.

23rd April 2011, 11:21 AM	#15
Matty1973 Critical Thinker Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 253	I can understand the private sector allowing it at their discretion. It surprises me that any Government department would allow it - especially the police - double especially armed police! No one so far has suggested another country which would allow this so may be it is just the French.

23rd April 2011, 11:48 AM	#16
sadhatter Philosopher Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 8,694	The way i see it either... A) Your drinking to get the small buzz you get from drinking. In which case i do not want any professional ( police, doctor, lawyer, Pharmacist, etc.) doing it. Regardless of how little your judgment is effected, it is effected. B) Your not getting any buzz whatsoever, due to either tolerance or physical make up. And it is pointless to get this angry about it. Have a soda, it is cheaper, tastes better and won't get you in trouble. Heck, if you just are morally opposed to soda, have an energy drink. Like a beer, but it makes you more, not less able to do your job ( though, not as able as the companies would have you believe.) Either way i find this a silly thing for the officers to strike over. If i can practically change my entire free time routine to be a pharmacist, these whiners ( sorry but i really feel this is simply whining.) can avoid the beer at lunch.
sadhatter Philosopher Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 8,694

23rd April 2011, 11:49 AM	#17
sadhatter Philosopher Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 8,694	The way i see it either... A) Your drinking to get the small buzz you get from drinking. In which case i do not want any professional ( police, doctor, lawyer, Pharmacist, etc.) doing it. Regardless of how little your judgment is effected, it is effected. B) Your not getting any buzz whatsoever, due to either tolerance or physical make up. And it is pointless to get this angry about it. Have a soda, it is cheaper, tastes better and won't get you in trouble. Heck, if you just are morally opposed to soda, have an energy drink. Like a beer, but it makes you more, not less able to do your job ( though, not as able as the companies would have you believe.) Either way i find this a silly thing for the officers to strike over. If i can practically change my entire free time routine to be a pharmacist, these whiners ( sorry but i really feel this is simply whining.) can avoid the beer at lunch.
sadhatter Philosopher Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 8,694

23rd April 2011, 11:57 AM	#18
MG1962 Guest Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 17,252	Originally Posted by Babbylonian When I was working in an office, a friend and I went down to a bar for lunch every other day. If I indulged in second or third pints, I'd conk out for about a half-hour when we got back to work. Neither my boss nor the owner of the company had a problem with it though, since my friend and I tended to be 3-5x more productive than any other employee. The owner did nudge me once, but that was because she didn't like hearing me snore. Sleeping with the boss huh?
MG1962 Guest Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 17,252

23rd April 2011, 12:08 PM	#19
lionking In the Peanut Gallery Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Melbourne Posts: 46,999	Originally Posted by Tatyana People in my lab still go to the pub at lunch time. I have had a drink at lunch, I was far too sleepy in the afternoon to make it a regular habit. In Australia your lunch time is not paid, so theoretically you can do what you want. When I worked for Victoria Police I had many a boozy lunch with (out of uniform) coppers, including the Chief Commissioner. Nowadays, however, most companies Occupational Health and Safety policies prohibit drinking at lunch as it can effect performance and therefore safety (this is not my argument). These policies are often ignored, particularly on Friday.

23rd April 2011, 12:14 PM	#20
BenBurch Gatekeeper of The Left Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: The Universe 35.2 ms ahead of this one. Posts: 37,538	Originally Posted by rjh01 Drinking alcohol on any job is not acceptable. I know some strippers who would disagree with that...
	__________________ For what doth it profit a man, to fix one bug, but crash the system?

23rd April 2011, 12:22 PM	#21
commandlinegamer Philosopher Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Mazes of Menace Posts: 9,093	Aside from driving* which may be required during your employment, anything which impedes the safe use of machinery would not be a good idea, and I imagine could leave an employer open to litigation should an accident occur where alcohol consumption is a factor. * - Brewery delivery drivers and helpers I'm told would often have a pint in the premises after dropping off the order, though by the time I started in the licensed trade, I think the practice had pretty much died out. Obviously it's thirsty work, and if you were only in charge of a couple of dray horses, then the potential for disaster might not be too high. But a twenty-ton truck? Yikes!
	__________________ He bade me take any rug in the house.

23rd April 2011, 12:45 PM	#22
Babbylonian Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 13,500	Originally Posted by MG1962 Sleeping with the boss huh? I drew the short straw that day...hence the drinking.

23rd April 2011, 05:49 PM	#23
geni Anti-homeopathy illuminati member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 28,185	Originally Posted by Darat Anyone know what the legal situation is in the UK? The health and safety people will have a fit if the job involves machinery or interesting chemicals.

23rd April 2011, 06:08 PM	#24
vwgub Muse Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 604	In the U.S. it is not illegal to drink on the job unless you are a goverment employee. But FSM help you if you get in an accident that hurts others while your on the job and you have any detectable drug level.
vwgub Muse Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 604	__________________ God, I love this place! A total geekout on a baseball question. - Piggy

23rd April 2011, 06:14 PM	#25
commandlinegamer Philosopher Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Mazes of Menace Posts: 9,093	Originally Posted by geni The health and safety people will have a fit if the job involves machinery or interesting chemicals. Talking of which, and sorry for the derail, but this is a fascinating blog: http://pipeline.corante.com/archives...ont_work_with/
	__________________ He bade me take any rug in the house.