Getting drunk or smoking during official working hours is one of the gravest violations of professionalism. The hours of work are not merely blocks of time to be filled; they are a sacred trust placed upon employees by their employers, colleagues, and the communities they serve. To waste them in drunkenness or smoking is to betray that trust. Alcohol impairs judgment, clouds reasoning, and reduces efficiency, while smoking distracts, wastes time, and endangers both the smoker and those around them. Together, these habits undermine discipline, damage reputations, and set poor examples for society. When they occur during working hours, the consequences ripple outward, affecting not just individuals but also institutions and entire communities.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has consistently warned of the dangers of these habits. It states that “the harmful use of alcohol is a causal factor in more than 200 disease and injury conditions” and is responsible for three million deaths every year, representing about five percent of all global deaths. Alcohol contributes to liver cirrhosis, pancreatitis, cancers, heart disease, and a weakened immune system. Tobacco, according to WHO, is even more devastating. “Tobacco kills up to half of its users” and causes more than eight million deaths annually, of which 1.3 million are non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke. The organization adds that over 80 percent of the world’s 1.3 billion tobacco users live in low- and middle-income countries, where health systems are already overburdened. These warnings show that alcohol and tobacco use are not merely personal indulgences but global health emergencies.
The dangers are most clearly seen in the workplace, where impaired judgment can have immediate and sometimes fatal consequences. A drunk bus driver in Nairobi once caused an accident after miscalculating speed and distance. In South Africa, nurses under the influence of alcohol neglected patients, sparking public outrage. In Scotland, two United Airlines pilots were arrested before a flight after failing alcohol tests, putting hundreds of lives at risk. Smoking also disrupts workplaces, as employees who frequently step out for cigarettes reduce productivity while exposing colleagues to harmful second-hand smoke. WHO underscores this by noting that “there is no safe level of exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke,” with workplace exposure alone causing over 65,000 premature deaths worldwide every year.
In schools, the issue takes on an even deeper dimension because teachers are both instructors and role models. A teacher who comes to class drunk cannot command respect, plan lessons, or guide learners effectively. If that same teacher smokes openly within the school compound, the damage is compounded, as children not only lose learning time but also witness destructive habits from those meant to inspire them. As WHO notes, “children and adolescents who use tobacco are more likely to suffer health problems and are more susceptible to addiction later in life.” When teachers indulge in drinking or smoking during official hours, they fail their professional duty and plant harmful seeds in the minds of impressionable pupils.
READ ALSO:
West Pokot bursary funds have changed lives of vulnerable students
Across the world, similar cases highlight the seriousness of the problem. In Indonesia, a pilot had to be removed after passengers noticed him staggering and slurring his words before boarding. In the United Kingdom, a surgeon was struck off for repeatedly operating while intoxicated, endangering patients’ lives. In Japan, companies have been forced to issue public apologies after employees were caught drinking during working hours, showing how quickly individual misconduct can tarnish the image of entire institutions. These incidents confirm that alcohol and smoking during work are not minor lapses but professional disasters.
The financial burden of these habits is also staggering. WHO reports that “the economic costs of tobacco use are substantial, including significant healthcare costs for treating the diseases caused by tobacco use as well as the lost human capital that results from tobacco-attributable morbidity and mortality.” Globally, tobacco use costs over US$1.4 trillion annually, while the harmful use of alcohol drains more than US$1 trillion each year. For organizations, these costs appear in the form of absenteeism, accidents, loss of clients, and inflated insurance bills. For governments, the burden undermines economic development and strains already limited healthcare systems.
At the core of the issue lies discipline and responsibility. A drunk driver betrays passengers, a nurse who smokes on duty abandons patients, a police officer under the influence betrays citizens, and a teacher who indulges in such habits during school hours betrays both pupils and parents. The WHO’s warning is clear: “Tobacco and alcohol use are among the leading risk factors for preventable deaths worldwide.” This reality makes indulgence during working hours not only a professional violation but also a health hazard with national and global consequences.
The solution lies in a collective response. Organizations must implement strict workplace policies that forbid alcohol and smoking during official hours, with clear penalties for violation. Governments should enforce public health laws more rigorously, ensuring that teachers, drivers, police officers, and health workers remain sober and accountable while on duty. Workplaces can also introduce wellness programs, including counseling services, addiction treatment support, and awareness campaigns, to help employees struggling with dependency. In the education sector, teacher training colleges should incorporate modules on professional ethics and health awareness, reinforcing the expectation that teachers must serve as role models in both conduct and lifestyle. Schools can adopt anti-smoking and anti-alcohol awareness days, making teachers champions of sobriety and healthy living.
Ultimately, individuals must take responsibility for their own choices, recognizing that their health, their careers, and the trust of society depend on them. A sober teacher inspires learners, a disciplined driver protects passengers, and a smoke-free nurse safeguards patients. Collectively, these actions build stronger institutions and healthier communities. For teachers in particular, the call is urgent and personal: they must understand that every word they speak and every habit they display shapes the moral compass of children. To drink or smoke during working hours is to hand young people a dangerous lesson; to remain sober and disciplined is to give them a gift of lifelong value. Society looks to teachers not just for knowledge but for example, and the greatest lesson they can offer is one lived out in integrity, responsibility, and self-control.
By Hillary Muhalya
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
