Bus driver sacked after pub lunch

[robertclark125]

When I worked with Focus DIY, you weren't allowed to go to a pub during the times of your shift. Alcohol was normally banned on the premises. I had to inform management, back in 2003, that I had a four pack of Guinness in my car for a colleague, to give to him after his shift had finished, for his birthday.

The issue at Focus DIY was the same as with stagecoach south east; presenting yourself in an intoxicated state does not present a good image for customers. The rules are designed to prevent you from taking the opportunity to become intoxicated.

I'm not saying the driver was intoxicated, the article doesn't say he was, but he breached a rule, and the consequences are clear. And although lunch breaks were not paid at Focus, technically your shift ran from time a to time b, with the lunch break. In effect, you were still employed by the company, even during your lunch break.

Other firms may have different rules, but those that allow staff who drive for a living to visit a pub for dinner during their lunch break are, in my opinion, naive.

 

[Flamingo]

Not allowed into licensed premises when on duty OR in uniform. It's part of the drugs and alcohol policy, which does not allow for any deviation, and is the most strictly applied of all policies (quite rightly, IMHO).

 

[Ferret]

Not allowed into licensed premises when on duty OR in uniform. It's part of the drugs and alcohol policy, which does not allow for any deviation, and is the most strictly applied of all policies (quite rightly, IMHO).

I find the ruling on licensed premises causes issues. After all - Tesco is licensed to sell alcohol, as are many other shops. Last time I looked, railway staff were all adults - how about trusting them not to drink on duty!

 

[robertclark125]

I find the ruling on licensed premises causes issues. After all - Tesco is licensed to sell alcohol, as are many other shops. Last time I looked, railway staff were all adults - how about trusting them not to drink on duty!

It's easy to see it's a grey area, but to me, the term Licensed Premises refers to public houses, hotels, inns. It doesn't refer to supermarkets, even though they sell alcohol, and have a license to do so.

And as for trust? Well, again, refering to my time at Focus, a colleague in 2003, and a manager in 2005, both consumed alcohol on the premises. They were dealt with.

 

[PaulLothian]

I think the relevant distinction is between on-licences (allowing consumption of alcohol on the premises) and off-licences (alcohol must be removed from the vendor's premises and drunk elsewhere)

 

[GB]

Unfortunately I don't believe there is a distiction within the rules. The rule only states licensed premises.

 

[Yew]

Tesco have something similar, quite peculiar that we aren't allow to be seen in liscenced premises, when our workplace is itself liscenced

 

[Seacook]

I think the relevant distinction is between on-licences (allowing consumption of alcohol on the premises) and off-licences (alcohol must be removed from the vendor's premises and drunk elsewhere)

What about trains? Alcoholic drinks sold and consumed on board on some of them.

 

[ReverendFozz]

If you cant go into the local off licence to buy fags and a paper in uniform, that is just stupid if you ask me, it could not be practically enforced, drivers would be getting disciplined all the time.

Thinking about it i can see why companies have the rule, but dont think they should have it, these drivers are adults, so why can they not be trusted to goto the pub and not drink the devils juice
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Oh yeah, that should have been a rule enforced on my teachers at school, there was always one or two who would nip to the pub at dinnertime and come back stinking after one too many whiskys

 

[GB]

I think it's more company image then any thing else, like a police officer in uniform not being allowed to buy alcohol from a supermarket.

 

[richw]

I dont think we have everything as to this drivers previous record, as for the driver claiming he cant find work surely there are other bus operators?

I think he may have a reputation and nobody else will employ him, could well be the case here!

 

[Statto]

I find the ruling on licensed premises causes issues. After all - Tesco is licensed to sell alcohol, as are many other shops. Last time I looked, railway staff were all adults - how about trusting them not to drink on duty!

My local spar sells Alcohol, but i regally see staff in there & Tesco either Merseyrail, Arriva & First uniform in the shop, not necessarily buying Alcohol.

 

[185]

Anyone other than me smell a rat here?

As a regular passenger on the buses in Eastbourne over the last few years, I recognise Mr. Jones and can fully believe the allegations of said driver below. I've witnessed him countless times on his mobile phone, consequently delaying buses for several minutes. He would ignore requests to stop, pulled away sharply and once I remember trying to purchase a weekly ticket from him and he had no idea what the type of ticket was. He clearly didn't interact with many of the drivers as I remember seeing him a few times on changeovers hardly acknowledge the other driver. So, i'm guessing many of them would have jumped at the chance to get rid of him and this was their opportunity.

Ah, Mr. Jones. Convenient how this article misses out the plethora of other offences over the years, isn't it? Like being fired from Eastbourne Buses originally when you were told to return a bus to the garage but instead parked it outside the Toby Carvery and were caught having lunch (resplendent with pint!) with your other half? The incident where you answered your mobile phone whilst driving when you had an inspector on the bus? Deliberately going through a red traffic light because the red lens was missing and, when meeting the obvious oncoming traffic after going through said traffic light on the Ersham Road, put the bus up to it's step in the grass embankment? I'm the first to condemn Stagecoach as being the worst thing ever to happen to Eastbourne and, in fact, the whole of the bus industry, but I think that for the sacking of this guy they should be commended

This article also negates to mention Mr. Jones being sacked a few weeks before this incident for allegedly parking a late bus up for an hour rather than continuing in service as per his schedule. Thanks to the union at Eastbourne, he got back on a technicality and was on a final written warning when he went into Weatherspoons to "use the toilet", despite it being three doors away from the Stagecoach rest room.

 

[pdq]

I guess there is a distinction (even if not explicitly stated) between going into premises holding an off license and an on license.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Policies which have wording that is simple to understand and in practice are simple to comply with are surely going to be easier to adopt. But sadly, the 'Licensed Premises' phrase is not going to help us here, and only partly for the reasons above such as supermarkets and convenience stores holding Premises Licences.

I guess there is a distinction (even if not explicitly stated) between going into premises holding an off license and an on license.

That distinction no longer applies to the names of Licences, since the England & Wales 2003 Licensing Act, they're both just called Premises Licences (albeit with a condition attached to those which might have been called 'Off Licences' previously. But it gets worse! Premises Licences are issued to all sorts of places for reasons which are nothing to do with alcohol, such to permit the showing of a film or DVD or for an amateur choir to wander through hospital wards singing for the benefit of patients. Even some public outdoor spaces and roads have a Premises Licence, including the only roads in and out of my own office!

Then the ironic exception is that the authority for a TOC to sell alcohol on board trains does NOT require a Premises Licence, so whilst I would be 'in' Licenced Premises while walking out of the office, I would NOT be 'in' Licensed Premises standing at the Cafe Bar in a train!

It doesn't make it easy for policywriters!