Drug usage in Restaurants!!!

[Alisha]

I have noticed that a lot of people where i work talk about drugs or a few will sneak out to their cars when the manager isn't looking. I'm kinda new the the whole restaurant industry but i was really expecting a professional experiance... Is drug usage really that common in the restaurant industry?... all the servers that i have talked to say it is everywhere... I don't mean to offend anyone, I am doing a report for school on this subject. if anyone has any comments or can provide any statistics i would greatly appreciate it... Thank you!

[FNG]

I've only actually seen it a few times but yes, it is very much alive in the restaurant industry. I've watched line cooks do lines of coke right of the prep tables (in an exhibition style kitchen, while we were open!!!) Had this one server ask me to hold something for here while she was digging through her purse. When I realized what it was, it was a huge bag of weed. Another simply left her change purse open on the table after the meeting and it was packed of the sticky stuff. Other than that, there is alot of sex, drinking and drugs going on in most restaraunts.

[ldzpapa]

Yes there is, my thought on it is what people do in their free time is up to them, however, the minute it affects their job performance it is time for them to move on. Also, bringing in and doing drugs at work can jeopardize everyone else's jobs and that ain't cool. For more on the topic check out Kitchen Confidential by A. Bourdain.

[iconoclast]

Originally Posted by Alisha

Is drug usage really that common in the restaurant industry?...

any industry that demands a great deal from its participants will have a high rate of drug use... more importantly, an industry which is fast paced, with long hours, also has participants who like to work hard but more importantly party just as hard...

[FNG]

yeah, Kitchen Confidential is a great book and really goes into depth and accurately most dining establishments. However, it isn't the case in every place but most.

Some of the content in the book may not be suitable for someone young which is why I didn't suggest it in my earlier post. But Anthony Bourdain is very blunt and truthful.

[KCZ]

Originally Posted by iconoclast

any industry that demands a great deal from its participants will have a high rate of drug use... more importantly, an industry which is fast paced, with long hours, also has participants who like to work hard but more importantly party just as hard...

It's a good thing that medicine and law enforcement don't rationalize things like that.

[chef joh]

I had a good friend loose his restraunt because of the drug use.Drugs cannot be tolerated in any work place. I dont think I have to elaborate.

[shel]

Originally Posted by iconoclast

any industry that demands a great deal from its participants will have a high rate of drug use... more importantly, an industry which is fast paced, with long hours, also has participants who like to work hard but more importantly party just as hard...

So, the answer to the original question is "Yes, dug use is common." Why rationalize or excuse it, which seems to be what you're doing.

shel

[foodpump]

For me, no. I've never worked in a kitchen were drugs were used openly. If they were, I'd be outta there fast. I've only canned one banquet waiter for showing up stoned, other than that I've been pretty lucky.

Now, what people do at home or on their time off, I dunno, it ain't my business....

[Risque Cakes]

Ha, before I had my DNA units I was heading into a medical field and a LOT of residents wouldn't be able to do their 30 hour tours unless they had a little help! Thank goodness I got side tracked by having my first child and went into something else. Who know WHAT or how I would've turned out.

I found that drug use was very prevalent in the student body at my school. A lot of the kids would attend the labs High, stoned or buzzed.

A lot of the teachers would look the other way as these where the "HAPPIEST" people in class and actually made class a big giggle..pissing those of us that took our work seriously..

but, since I"m not a mom to ANYbody else's kids but my own, I felt it was up to the Chef Instructor to notice/deal and manage the class.

Most of these participants projects would fail, but because they had great "FAKE" personalities got the best internship offers. Sigh...

[Rivitman]

If drug testing were mandatory in the restaurant business, with termination for a positive result, probably a fouth to a third would be gone. Including coked up managers and not a few owners.

It's an industry curse that is due to the relative poverty of dishwashers and cooks, and many waitstaff. And let's not forget Alcohol, the other side of the same coin.

[Jim]

I think, if you look around, you will find substance abuse prevelant in every walk of life, every industry, every neighborhood, every school, every family. I am not making blanket generalizations nor am I saying it is acceptable to succumb to the awful crisis that is addiction. I just think that, yes, restaurant workers can be subject to temptations, but so can every other industry. Everybody is under pressure. Everybody has deadlines. Everybody has issues. It is how we deal with those issues that defines your ability to manage life and all that is has to offer. Some do drugs. Some drink to excess. Some go for a jog. Some read a book.

[nickydafish]

Just this past week, one of the kitchen managers left for rehab. He has struggled with his addiction for eight years, and he recently relapsed. He took himself out of the work place and into rehab. He told me before he left that management told him to take care of himself and come back when he's healthy. Not to worry about his job. I've only known him for a few months, but I hope he can really beat it this time.

[Greg]

Originally Posted by FNG

I've only actually seen it a few times but yes, it is very much alive in the restaurant industry. I've watched line cooks do lines of coke right of the prep tables (in an exhibition style kitchen, while we were open!!!) Had this one server ask me to hold something for here while she was digging through her purse. When I realized what it was, it was a huge bag of weed. Another simply left her change purse open on the table after the meeting and it was packed of the sticky stuff. Other than that, there is alot of sex, drinking and drugs going on in most restaraunts.

If you've only seen it a few times, how are you arriving at the conclusion that this happens in "most" restaurants?

I'm not denying that it does happen, but what you're describing is the restaurant industry in the 80s. My guess is that you've been working in all the wrong places.

[RAS1187]

I do not have a source, but I have heard that we have the highest drug dependency and alcohol dependency in the labor force.

I cannot speak for all restaurants, but from my personal observations in the places I have worked at, drug use is very common. I have had the (mis)pleasure of disrupting deals that were going on in both the freezer and the bathroom.

No job is perfect, there is always going to be something "unprofessional" about it.