Alcohol & Drug Policy
A safety-focused Alcohol & Drug policy for Australian workplaces, including testing, return-to-work and support pathways.
Alcohol and other drugs are a recognised workplace hazard. Under the model WHS Act, PCBUs must manage the risks they pose like any other hazard - particularly in safety-critical industries like construction, transport, mining and manufacturing.
This free template is written for Australian employers and covers the full spectrum of fitness-for-work controls including testing, support and return-to-work obligations, while remaining mindful of privacy and discrimination law.
What this template covers
- Scope, prohibited substances and fitness-for-work expectations.
- Random, reasonable-cause and post-incident testing principles.
- Testing standards (AS/NZS 4308, AS 4760 and AS 3547) and where to set your cut-off levels.
- Self-disclosure pathways and Employee Assistance Program (EAP) access.
- Disciplinary consequences and return-to-work conditions.
Why every Australian business needs one
A documented Alcohol & Drug policy is a baseline expectation in tender pre-qualification (especially for construction and resources work) and is essential for defending disciplinary outcomes if testing is challenged at the Fair Work Commission.
Download the editable Word template, tailor the testing regime to your industry, and align it with your WHS and Disciplinary policies.
Disclaimer. This template is general information for Australian employers and is not legal advice. It is provided free of charge and “as is”. Review and adapt it for your industry, modern award or enterprise agreement, state or territory and workplace, and check that it is current, before issuing it. For complex, high-risk or contested matters seek advice from an employment lawyer or IR adviser. To the maximum extent permitted by law, we make no warranty that the template is accurate, complete, current or suitable for your purposes, and we accept no liability (including for negligence) for any loss arising from its use or any reliance on it. Nothing in this disclaimer excludes any right under the Australian Consumer Law that cannot lawfully be excluded.