Colleague drinking at work

This is a welfare issue, so contact your manager and tell them of your concerns. Don't ever go through anyone's belongings again. You could be accused of stealing something, or of planting the wine. Stop gossiping about him with your colleagues and get the man the appropriate support and help he needs.

Does your company have a Drugs and Alcohol policy ? I would report to a manager, based on your suspicion, and not mention the bag search

There's wishing you hadn't done it and then there's wishing you hadn't done but publish it to the population of the globe 😃

I'd dip out of this while you can, if they are not your direct report.

How close to him are you? Can you talk to him and offer any support? If he is secretly drinking at work he is obviously an alcoholic.

How do you know it was wine? Besides which going snooping is a breach of trust, I assume you’d not be happy if someone went through your things without your knowledge or consent. Not illegal but I’d expect to be disciplined if I did that.

Share your concerns with your manager and let them address it through proper channels.

I think you go to your supervisor or whoever is in charge and tell them of your suspicions, minus the looking in his bag part. And don't do that again, use the proper procedures for such situations in future.

You need to report this asap. And never search someone’s bag again!

If you think he is drinking or drunk on the job and he is driving trucks and putting other people at risk you have a duty to report him. Share your concerns through the appropriate channels instead of going into people’s personal belongings.

Bloody hell. We all have a responsibility under the health and safety at work act. You absolutely cannot sit on this information. There is a clear risk to himself and others. Does he drive to and from work?

You can't admit you went through his backpack. All you could do is speak to a senior manager and say that you've smelt alcohol on him and you're concerned. He could be drinking heavily at night, to the point he still smells of it the following day or he's drinking on work premises.

There was no need to go through his backpack, if he smells of alcohol. That's all you need to go to senior management, is the fact he smells of it. If he's drinking on the job, well that would be found out.

DH used to work in a workplace where there were pallet trucks, forklifts, conveyor belts and lorries. Anyone found with alcohol was immediately sacked and escorted off site. DH has had to sack people doing exactly that.
Don't make any reference to going through his bag. Just tell your manager that you believe he is drinking on site. He has nobody to blame except himself.
(I've also been that colleague that makes the first step in telling the boss).

This ^^

You shouldn't have gone into his bag. But you know now he almost certainly is.

If he wasn't my direct report I wouldn't say anything. Unless the work was medical or legal or to do with children. Or using machinery where you could cause an accident.

If it was just an office job and he could perform it adequately through practice while under the influence, then I'd probably not care.

Plenty of people do go for drinks at lunchtime from work and I bet a load of people drink while WFH. If they have a high tolerance and can function. They almost need it to function if they're addicted.

You could mention to your boss that you can smell booze on him & his behaviour has been erratic. Leave out the part about snooping in bag, given he is using heavy equipment i think you have to say something. At least then you’ve done your part.

Of course there isn't! The PP saying OP would be arrested made me laugh 😂

morally it's wrong, legally there's no law saying you can't go into someone's bag. Especially for concerns of welfare.

Theres no offence called 'invasion of privacy' is there?!

I would speak to a manager about your concerns but leave out what you saw in his bag..you shouldn't have done that as you rightly say.

The guy needs help but it doesn't sound as if you know him well enough to offer it yourself? That would be better than approaching a manager.

If workin g with equipment/ machinery and driving i would tell someone. You could make something up, say you saw him swiggi g from a bottle and smelled it on his breath or something. For safety reasons it needs to be tackled. He could cause harm or harm himself. Hes an alcoholic.

You need to bring your suspicions to your manager.

It is a health & safety as well as welbromg concern.

WTF were you thinking looking in his bag. Completely wrong even if well intended.

If you tell manager you did that, they will have to address it. You didn't need proof. You need suspicion. It's manager's job to investigate - not yours.

He smells of alcohol so you take your concerns to management, you don’t search his bag without permission.

If it’s in retail then it’s usually in your contract that managers can search bags randomly for loss prevention so they could have done it.

You make no mention of looking in his bag, and give your concerns about the smell of alcohol regularly, stating that you're a bit worried about him, so want to make sure that support is there if needed.

After that, you keep schtum about everything, including no discussions about it with your colleagues.

Invasion of privacy

You had no right to go rooting through his bag. If you were genuinely concerned, you should have approached your manager.
You’ve behaved appallingly. What if something is missing from his bag - you’re right in the frame for it!
I can’t understand why anyone would think it was ok to do this.
The only thing you can do now is report your concerns to you Manager then back off and leave him be.

I would flag your concerns about the smelling of alcohol and behaviour to your manager. He's driving fork lift trucks / machinery. However I wouldn't mention the kids bottle, let your manager deal with it if they want.

Arrested for what?

You've smelt drink on him. You know he's driving pallet trucks. Report it.