Smokers, taken on at workplaces that permitted smoking at the time, have rights under law. In all other cases, however, the Executive recommends that employers should have a specific policy on smoking at work, and that it should be written down and generally available. At a 1996 tribunal, a television executive's known previous drinking habits were considered important, and valid, in the refusal to offer him a job. This shows how it is possible, not just to lose a job, but to be refused employment as a result of one's drinking habits. In the UK, more is known about the effects of alcohol abuse at work than about drug abuse.
Drug users are generally more successful in hiding their habit from their employer.
Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Act covers general work hazards from both alcohol and drug abuse. More specifically, the Transport and Works Act 1992 makes it a criminal offence for certain workers to be unfit through drink or drugs while working on railways, tramways and other guided transport systems. As the Union organises some 150,000 commercial drivers, this law is clearly of major importance to its members. The HSE guidance on workplace drug abuse policies is broadly similar, although it differs in certain key respects. All are available from HSE Books.