Drugs and alcohol toolbox talk

A free drugs and alcohol toolbox talk, written with construction sites in mind. It covers how alcohol and drugs affect your safety and other people’s, how long alcohol stays in your system, and what to do if you think a colleague is under the influence.

What the drugs and alcohol toolbox talk covers

Construction is high-risk work, and alcohol and drugs make accidents more likely. The PDF is three pages (TBT008, version 3/2025) and includes:

  • How alcohol affects your ability to work safely
  • How long alcohol takes to leave your body
  • Prescription medicines, illegal drugs and legal highs
  • What to do if a colleague is under the influence
  • Questions for your team and a sign-off sheet

Alcohol and high-risk work

On site you need to be alert and focused on the job. Alcohol depresses parts of the brain, which makes that harder. If you are found to be under the influence you won’t be allowed on site, or you will be removed from it, and you could lose your job.

Your liver takes roughly an hour to clear one unit of alcohol. A pint of 4% beer is about 2.3 units, so a single pint takes two hours or more to leave your body. After a heavy night you can still be over the limit when you drive to work the next morning, and you won’t be safe on site either.

Drugs, including prescription medicines

  • Medicines prescribed by your doctor can make you unfit for work. Check the label and tell your supervisor if a medicine could affect you.
  • Illegal drugs, including so-called legal highs (illegal under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016), make an accident on site much more likely.
  • Drugs can slow your reactions, make you clumsy, affect your judgement and distort your vision.

If you think someone is under the influence

Don’t assume it isn’t your problem. If you get hurt, it’s too late to wonder what the other person had taken. Tell your supervisor and help prevent an accident.

Drug and alcohol testing and your company policy

Some clients test workers. Network Rail, for example, tests everyone involved after an accident on the railway, and many employers carry out random testing. Brief your own company’s drug and alcohol policy alongside the talk, including any testing, so nobody can say they didn’t know.

If you don’t have a written policy yet, our consultants can help you write or review your health and safety policy, including how you deal with drugs and alcohol.

Questions to ask your team

  • What negative effects can alcohol have on you?
  • What can happen if you are found under the influence of alcohol on site?
  • If you took drugs, how could it affect you and your workmates?
  • Roughly how long does a pint of beer take to leave your system?
  • What should you do if you see someone on site taking drugs?

Download the drugs and alcohol toolbox talk PDF

Free to print and use with your team. It includes the questions above and a confirmation sheet for signatures.

Training and support for this topic

Health and safety policy writing

We write your policy statement, responsibilities and arrangements for you.

Find out more

SSSTS for site supervisors

The CITB Site Supervisor Safety Training Scheme for people who plan and check work.

View the course

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Hassle Free construction customers get a new toolbox talk every month.

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Need help with drugs and alcohol safety?

Our consultants can review your risk assessments and safe systems of work, and our trainers run courses at our Warmley centre between Bristol and Bath or at your premises. Call 0117 958 2070 or email [email protected].

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