Teachers and Drinking: 5 Important Questions Answered

Teachers spend most of their time creating content for children, helping them navigate learning and friendships, assessing their academic needs, and presenting a consistent smiling face for them each morning. They also have lives outside of the classroom in which they can engage in other recreational activities, which may or may not include alcohol.

Alcohol is legal for adults over the age of 21 in the United States (and over the age of 18 in most of the world), but teachers cannot drink alcohol when working on the job. All school authorities prohibit alcohol and substance use for teachers, so teachers can only drink outside school hours.

Simply put, the consumption of alcohol is a personal preference that does not affect the teacher’s ability to do their job. The remainder of this article will discuss five crucial questions surrounding teachers, their work, and the consumption of alcohol.

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Five Essential Questions About Teachers and Alcohol

As a parent sending your child to school every day, it can be worrisome to think that your kid’s teacher is consuming lots of alcohol since it can cause such detrimental impairments when taken in large amounts.

This issue is particularly concerning because alcohol is a popular drug classed as a depressant (although it has some stimulant qualities).

Fortunately, teachers have the lowest rate of alcohol consumption among most careers. For example, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration published a report in 2015 that educational workers are among the lowest five occupations that struggle with alcohol or substance abuse.

Although the figures look low—let’s explore some questions parents of school-going children often ask:

1. Are Teachers Allowed To Drink Alcohol?

Teachers are allowed to drink alcohol. Like any other adult— if a teacher is not working and wants to consume an alcoholic beverage in their free time, they can do so.

As long as the teacher is above the age limit in the country they reside in, buying and drinking alcohol is legal, and there are no repercussions. However, it’s important to note that teachers are NOT allowed to drink alcohol while working with students.

So, while teachers may enjoy a beverage outside of work or during their leisure time, teachers may not partake in alcohol consumption on the job. “On the job” refers to the hours the school pays the teacher to work. Typically, that looks like a full school day, including before your child arrives and after they leave for the day.

2. Can a Teacher Get Fired for Drinking?

A teacher cannot get fired for drinking alcohol unless the alcohol consumption has negatively impacted their ability to work, or the alcohol consumption is happening during work hours.

Even so, alcoholism is considered a disorder; it would be the basis for a discrimination lawsuit if ever challenged– employers cannot fire someone because of a disorder.

Again, drinking alcohol is a perfectly legal activity for any employed (or unemployed) adult; the problem for a teacher begins if the alcohol consumption impedes the teacher’s ability to do their job correctly. Alcohol negatively impacting a teacher’s job performance may look like this:

Arriving to work late
Frequent absences

They are not meeting deadlines for report cards, education plans, etc.
Missing work meetings

These possibilities could also explain other pressures in an individual’s life, so alcohol is certainly not the only culprit for poor work performance. However, an alcohol or substance abuse issue might also result in this behavior. When they add up over time, it becomes detrimental for the employer, the school children, and the students’ families.

If the situation worsens without successful attempts to help—you will need to take action. For example, if you find a teacher is drinking alcohol at school and can’t adequately perform their duties—they may face disciplinary action. This behavior may ultimately end in them losing their job.

3. Can You Drink Alcohol When Training To Be a Teacher?

A teacher cannot drink alcohol when training to be a teacher in any aspect of their educational employment. Drinking alcohol during training exercises on school grounds or college campuses is prohibited.

Often, training involves the trainee teacher working in a classroom under the supervision of the designated classroom teacher. Trainee teachers will usually instruct one or more subjects to the students as part of their educational training. If they’re not doing that, they are likely still in university or teacher’s college. As a result, drinking alcohol during teacher training– whether it’s on an elementary school or a college campus– is forbidden.

Other types of educational training may include professional development days (P.D. days), teacher conferences, or specialized courses. Generally, these training sessions do not permit the consumption of alcohol because they aim to help academic staff develop and improve particular skills that will help in the field– they aren’t social parties.

4. What Percentage of Teachers Are Alcoholics?

Studies show that 5.5% of educational staff have struggled with alcohol dependency in the past, having gone up from 4.7& in 2015. This figure is relatively low compared to those working in the legal system—for example, one in five lawyers struggle with alcohol dependency.

However, there isn’t a wealth of information on the percentage of teachers that are active alcoholics.

The truth is alcoholism can affect anyone regardless of their career, but those careers with high levels of stress are more likely to use alcohol as a coping mechanism. Based on the available data, teachers experience much less stress than other professions like police officers, lawyers, and healthcare professionals.

Some other occupations that reported heavy alcohol consumption in the National Institute of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse were those working in the following fields:

Mining or construction

Hospitality
Arts
Entertainment

Management
Finance
Real estate

5. Can a Teacher Drink in Public?

Teachers are not exempt from state laws; most dictate that public intoxication (drinking in public) is illegal. The laws prohibiting public intoxication are called open container laws and include drinking alcohol in any public space– think parks, libraries, or beaches.

Unless teachers are living in a state that does not have open containers or public intoxication laws, drinking in public is prohibited and can result in getting arrested. An arrest can pose additional problems for later employment.

It can be scary, challenging, and conflicting to know that a teacher that you work with—or one that teaches your child—may be struggling with alcohol addiction. There are sure signs one can look out for if alcoholism is suspected. (I listed a few of them in question two).

Keep reading to learn what constitutes alcohol abuse—the signs and symptoms, and what you can do if you think a coworker or one of your children’s teachers is experiencing alcoholism.

Definition and Diagnosis of Alcoholism in Teachers

Professionals define alcoholism as an alcohol use disorder (AUD) where an individual binge drinks and cannot control how much alcohol they consume. Someone struggling with an alcohol use disorder may not be able to stop drinking once they start or frequently experience “blackouts” in which they don’t remember what happened during intoxication.

Health professionals usually diagnose AUD through several blood tests or screening questionnaires completed by a physician like the AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test). You can find comprehensive information on alcoholism in the video link below.

Signs and Symptoms of Alcoholism in Teaching Staff

Signs and symptoms of alcoholism refer to visible signs (typically witnessed by others) and physiological symptoms (experienced by the individual suffering from the disorder). Let’s look at a few more signs and symptoms to watch out for if you’re worried about alcohol use disorder.

Signs of Alcoholism

Along with frequent absences from work and missed meetings and deadlines, there are other telltale signs of alcoholism. They range from:

Heavy alcohol use and substance and cigarette use

Poor nutrition
Engaging in behaviors that put the individual at risk, like driving or swimming
Needing alcohol/experiencing anxiety about not having alcohol

Not having control over alcohol consumption (even if the person wants to stop, they cannot)

These signs are often visible to loved ones close to the individual or those who work with them.

Symptoms of Alcoholism

Physiological symptoms of alcoholism include:

Amnesia (blackouts)
Memory impairments
Frequent falls, unbalanced gait

Impaired thinking, slurred speech
Fatigue
Mood disorders, anxiety, and depression

Physiological symptoms are usually experienced by an individual suffering from alcohol use disorder, but people close to them may also notice them. If you know your coworker is consuming alcohol and frequently witness the above symptoms, it may be worth discussing with them or human resources.

Why Do Teachers Turn to Alcohol To Cope?

Most educators will tell you that teaching is a stressful occupation. Teachers cope with so many individual demands—between their superiors, pupils, and their student’s parents. These pressures often lead to burnout and leave teachers vulnerable to alcohol abuse.

According to the American Addiction Center, teachers often turn to alcohol for the following reasons:

Heavy workloads: Educators often face a hefty workload, which promotes a feeling of stress and anxiety.
Lack of mental health resources: Teachers often only have limited access to healthcare professionals who can assist them with emotional struggles.
Leadership issues: Teachers often suffer from a lack of support from their superiors—which may increase their stress and anxiety.

What To Do If You Suspect a Teacher To Have AUD

If you are a parent or work in a school and you’re worried that a teacher has AUD, there are a few things you can do to help. What’s important to remember is that you cannot force someone to get clean, so if you take the below actions without success, don’t take them personally.

The first thing to do, should your coworker agree to accept treatment for substance abuse, is have them answer a few questions about their drinking habit. It’s best to let them answer specific questions in an environment where they are comfortable.

Two essential questions to ask are the following:

Are they drinking often enough that their consumption interferes with family, home, or work obligations?
Do they often experience withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, tremors, or agitation?

This NIAAA, or National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, has a list of questions you can resort to if needed. Answering these questions will be incredibly beneficial for the physician, whom the individual needs to see next to get a proper diagnosis.

A family physician will discuss the different treatment plans in which the individual may participate.

Treatment Options for Teachers With AUD

Although 5.5% of educational staff suffering from AUD doesn’t sound like a lot, educational institutions employ nearly seven million people in this sector. It’s enough to hurt many people, their families, friends, coworkers, and students.

There are several options available to treat this disorder, including the following:

Rehabilitation centers: A physician may refer the individual to a professional addiction specialist to help the person find an appropriate treatment center. These centers can range from inpatient or outpatient services to detox programs.
Rehabilitation programs: Professionals design these systems to help individuals overcome substance use disorders and provide continued support for that person in the community
Post-rehab Programs: Teams of medical professionals (such as psychiatrists and doctors) support these programs and carefully help individuals wean off various substances and heal.

Inpatient Rehabilitation Programs

An inpatient program houses the individual in a facility where medical professionals supervise them as they detox from any addictive substances in their bodies. These programs typically last one to six months and are characterized by the following:

Therapy. Inpatient rehabilitation offers several types of therapy programs. Group therapy, family therapy, and individual therapy happen at some point in the healing journey—specialized treatments like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy attempt to target and alter the root of a specific addictive behavior.
Exercise regimes. In inpatient rehabilitation, professionals offer various exercise activities to allow individuals to practice keeping their bodies healthy.

Leisure time. Everyone can relax, kick back and watch some television or read; this allows individuals to begin developing hobbies and honing interests.
There are multiple avenues for the creative arts. Painting and drawing are excellent ways to explore feelings; patients can do these activities outside of art therapy. Other creative skills include writing, movement therapy, and music therapy.

A patient’s individualized treatment program will incorporate all of these components to help them detox and aim to build a better life for themselves.

Outpatient Rehabilitation Programs

An outpatient program allows the individual to continue working and living as usual while following a specialized routine to help them wean off substances.

Professionals usually recommend outpatient programs if the individual’s addiction isn’t regarded as ‘severe’ or as continued support for an individual leaving the inpatient programs.

Detox Programs

Finally, detox programs help individuals detox their bodies from harmful substances. Depending on the length of the addiction, detoxification can take days, weeks, or months to clear the body thoroughly. Facilitated by rehabilitation centers, detox involves evaluation, stabilization, and entry into treatment.

Professionals have created these programs to help those with substance disorders safely wean themselves from their addictions.

The process of entering a person—in this case, a teacher—into a detox program goes as follows:

Evaluation Stage

In the evaluation stage, an individual meets with their team of professionals and family members to discuss general medical history, goals, and expectations for treatment. It offers a chance for the individual to get to know the people helping them along their journey, and it allows the team to do the same with their patient. Insurance is usually dealt with at this stage, as well.

Stabilization Stage

The stabilization stage begins before health workers admit an individual physically into treatment. Professionals conduct a series of assessments to explore the following aspects of the detox patient:

Mental state
Physical state

Cognitive ability
Speech
Occupational abilities

The above tests help the team make a specialized plan for the individual to follow that will best support their recovery needs.

Each plan targets emotional, behavioral, cognitive, and physical areas explicitly tailored to the individual’s life.

Entry Into Treatment

Once the healthcare professionals decide on the treatment program, they admit the individual into the center, and their specific journey kicks into motion. Treatment can last upwards of a month, and everyone works very hard to ensure it is as beneficial as possible.

During this month, the individual may undergo various therapies, exercise programs, and many periods of self-reflection.

These are all proven effective in keeping the body, mind, and soul healthy.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, there is much to understand about alcohol consumption in education. Still, the most important thing to note is that teachers generally are not allowed to drink or be intoxicated while working, especially not while caring for a classroom of children.

Several excellent rehabilitation programs are available for anyone– teacher or not– who wants to wean off substances and live a sober lifestyle. Speaking to a physician or psychologist is recommended to learn about the first step to recovery in your area.