Report findings

31% of firms considering starting tests in the next year 74% want lunchtime drinking banned 75% have suffered absenteeism due to alcohol misuse 31% have suffered absenteeism due to drug misuse

Three out of four companies said alcohol abuse by workers had led them to miss time at work.

Perhaps not surprisingly nearly three-quarters of firms questioned said they would like to ban drinking at lunchtime.

Three out of ten companies say workers have missed work because of drug problems.

But the research also found that nearly a quarter of firms have no policy for dealing with drink or drug problems.

Testing time

The survey found that three in ten companies were considering introducing tests during the next year.

Drug testing should only be brought in after full consultation with staff

Roger Howard, Chief Executive DrugScope

About one in ten firms already test their staff for drink or drugs abuse at work, and about the same number use tests when they recruit workers.

Testing is seen as crucial for jobs where safety is critical - such as in transport and manufacturing.

"Drink and drugs are a big problem for employers and many are ready to get tough with staff whose attendance or performance suffer because of their lifestyle" said the editor of Personnel Today, Noel O'Reilly.

Charities urge caution

But the two charities involved in the survey have urged caution to any company thinking of introducing random testing.

"Drug testing should only be brought in after full consultation with staff and within the context of a clear and humane policy on what to do with positive results", said Roger Howard, chief executive of DrugScope.

Alcohol Concern were worried that the survey found a quarter of firms had no formal policy on drink and drug problems.

"We need to get to a situation where organisations feel equipped to deal with people's problems in a sympathetic manner rather than through knee-jerk reactions such as blanket testing or automatic testing" said Mary-Ann McKibben, assistant director of Alcohol Concern.