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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Colleague drinking at work

159 replies

Chasa · 27/01/2026 14:30

My colleague is known for liking a drink and I and others have smelled drink on him on previous occasions. However, over the past fortnight his behaviour has become more hyper at work as if he wasn't just nursing a hangover but was actually still perhaps drunk? Another colleague suggested that maybe he was drinking at work so we decided to go and look in his backpack and there was an empty kids drinks bottle with a tiny bit of wine left in it. So he is drinijng on the job. So do we do anything or mind our own business? He's a nice guy on the whole. I'm thinking say nothing, I need advice.

OP posts:
shrunkenhead · 28/01/2026 07:55

MissyMooPoo2 · 28/01/2026 06:55

Why not mention the bag rifling? Why not be honest? Because there would be consequences?

Because she doesn't want to lose her job like her poor colleague might! Bloody unbelievable. Happy to ruin his life but save her own bacon!
This was not done from a place of care and concern, you snooped out of nosiness and to find "proof" of your suspicions - trust me this will backfire on you.

disappearingfish · 28/01/2026 08:26

shrunkenhead · 28/01/2026 07:55

Because she doesn't want to lose her job like her poor colleague might! Bloody unbelievable. Happy to ruin his life but save her own bacon!
This was not done from a place of care and concern, you snooped out of nosiness and to find "proof" of your suspicions - trust me this will backfire on you.

This is just one centimetre away from “snitches deserve stitches”.

MissyMooPoo2 · 28/01/2026 09:23

MushMonster · 28/01/2026 07:06

They should have not looked into his bag, we all know that. It is wrong. But the possible consequences of working on a warehouse while acting like drank are much much much higher!

But the various extents of rights and wrongs are not for OP - or posters on this thread - to decide!

Edit - which is why OP has to come clean about everything to management - drinking suspicions, bag rifling, the lot.

MissyMooPoo2 · 28/01/2026 09:29

disappearingfish · 28/01/2026 08:26

This is just one centimetre away from “snitches deserve stitches”.

Not really - snitching and snooping are two different things, aren't they?

Tamtim · 28/01/2026 09:33

I find it outrageous that you went through his personal belongings. However, if you seriously suspect he is drinking on the job and it’s affecting his performance then you should speak to your/his manager.

Goditsmemargaret · 28/01/2026 10:30

Wisperley · 27/01/2026 16:31

You should obviously not have gone through his personal belongings. However, if you smell alcohol on him, and it's dangerous at work, then you should report that you are concerned about him.

Anyone who is decanting wine into a kids' drink bottle is in trouble, and needs help. I saw my dad decant wine into a lemonade bottle one morning which he took in his briefcase to work. A few months later his work sent him to a private de-tox clinic (he was quite high up in financial services).

This poor man isn't doing this for fun - he's doing it because right now he can't function without it. He needs help before he ruins his own life and his family's and possibly his colleagues'.

Oh that's so sad about your dad, I'm sorry. I hope things improved for you all after he got help.

disappearingfish · 28/01/2026 11:07

MissyMooPoo2 · 28/01/2026 09:29

Not really - snitching and snooping are two different things, aren't they?

Focus on the snooping if you like. I'm focused on the guy with a warehouse job who's operating machinery when drunk.

MissyMooPoo2 · 28/01/2026 11:20

disappearingfish · 28/01/2026 11:07

Focus on the snooping if you like. I'm focused on the guy with a warehouse job who's operating machinery when drunk.

Suspected to be drunk.

DBSFstupid · 28/01/2026 21:58

shrunkenhead · 28/01/2026 07:55

Because she doesn't want to lose her job like her poor colleague might! Bloody unbelievable. Happy to ruin his life but save her own bacon!
This was not done from a place of care and concern, you snooped out of nosiness and to find "proof" of your suspicions - trust me this will backfire on you.

👏Indeed.

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