Having a beer with a co-worker at lunch is now a firing offense for 16,000 of Michigan’s white-collar state employees.

In response to a request from Gov. John Engler, Michigan’s Civil Service Commission recently imposed a .02% blood alcohol
concentration (BAC) limit for its non-union state employees during their workday. Keep in mind that someone can reach .02%
BAC with just one beer, glass of wine, mixed drink or even one dose of Nyquil.

Apparently, the simple pleasure of having a drink at lunch or even at a work-related cocktail party is unacceptable under
Michigan’s new “zero tolerance” policy.

“Our position is that on-duty activity, whether you’re representing our state at a convention or sitting in your office,
means that you don’t drink,” said Ted Benca of Michigan’s Department of Civil Service.