Graphic staff educated on effects of alcohol
The Resident Medical Officer of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), Dr Jacqui Barnes, has advised the company’s workers against the consumption of alcoholic beverages during working hours.
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“The reason is that, the core function of the company revolves around operating machines and moving vehicles, and for such duties, certainly once you consume alcohol, your performance is affected”, she said.
Dr Barnes gave the advice during a training programme on the dangers of alcohol abuse organised by the Accra Brewery Limited in collaboration with the GCGL for Graphic staff.
The two-day training, which was a follow-up to a similar exercise organised in 2011, was to enable the participants know the impact of alcohol on the human body and why certain groups of people should not consume alcohol.
The participants were drawn from the technical, marketing and sales, human resource and the finance departments. Others were the audit, legal, newspapers and the Managing Director’s office.
GCGL’s policy on alcohol
Dr Barnes also drew the attention of the staff to the fact that the company’s policy prohibited the use of alcohol, explaining that it was prohibited to possess alcohol, use it, make it, purchase it, distribute or consume it on the company’s premises during working hours, including break time.
Dr Barnes said GCGL, under the policy also reserved the right to conduct random searches, based on suspicion, on anyone reported to be abusing alcohol.
She, however, explained further that the essence of such a search would not be to victimise or infringe the rights of any staff, but to ensure that workers lived healthily during their stay with the company and to also provide help for anyone found to be abusing alcohol.
She urged the workers to adhere to the company’s policies, live healthily, and seek help, when needed, on the excessive consumption of alcohol.
Drink responsibly
Making a presentation on alcohol behaviour and communication, the Legal and Regulatory Manager of ABL, Madam Antiwaa Asante, said the company took responsibility with regards to the consumption of alcohol such that it was embedded in its corporate social responsibility activities.
Therefore, as neighbours of the GCCL, she said the ABL saw the need to share information with Graphic with respect to its position on the use of alcohol, especially, on pregnancy, underage drinking and the manner in which alcohol is advertised, among others.
Madam Asante said, the company was of the view that the use of alcohol was not an issue but rather, its abuse and the irresponsible use of alcohol “so we advocate responsible drinking”.
