malvernmugadzikwa
A MACHINE MINDER was caught sleeping, with production at full throttle at a bottling company in Harare’s Workington industrial area.
Something eventually went wrong with the machine, triggering the alarm system, but the ensuing sound would just not awaken the bloke, who had a half-empty beer bottle on his legs.
By the time his peers managed to wake him up, a significant amount of raw materials had gone to waste, plunging his already struggling company into deeper trouble, threatening the jobs of everyone in its employ. Sadly, such are the challenges associated with trusting beer to the point of presenting for work under its influence.
Called “kuhudusha”, “kuhutsemura”, “kuhudhedhedza” “kuhusvebeda” or “kuherendera”, drinking beer while at work is a common miscellaneous act committed by guzzlers.
Many times, kombi crews are often seen drinking while going about their business, and teachers doing the same before attending classes.
“Beer makes my things flow. It helps brighten up an otherwise dull day. You just take a little bit,” I heard some people saying. I seem to summon all the genius in me the moment I quaff a quart of alcohol. It makes me remember all the ways of fixing a challenge on the machine that I use. Beer is a very good tool for the kind of work that I do,” quipped one fellow.
A popular dancer remarked: “Mamwe majaivhi atinotsemura pastage paya paya anoda wakarohwa nemahwahwazi. You need to be drunk to take away stage fright, and you need beer for resilience.”
It can be worse for companies that operate close to bottle stores. Such companies lose many production hours, as workers quench their thirst. At other times, they lose property worth thousands of dollars to employees who will be seeking little money to drown their sorrows at watering holes.
Alcohol abuse is not confined to men. There are some women who are known to trust beer and drugs to the extent of leaving stew pots and children unattended. A good number of household provisions like soap have gone to waste as women, who mostly use them, leave water running while they engage in beer-induced gossip and arguments with their neighbours.
Women have often had the misfortune of either being sexually assaulted or falling prey to thieves while they were in a drunken stupor.
Gentle reader, despite people’s unscientific claims, there is nothing positive that can be produced when one mixes alcohol with work.
According to experts, beer has short-term and long-term effects on the people who consume it.
Excessive alcohol use has immediate effects that increase the risk of harmful health conditions. These are, most often, the result of binge drinking, and they include the following:
Injuries from motor vehicle crashes, drownings and burns.
Homicide, suicide, sexual assault and intimate partner violence.
Alcohol poisoning, a medical emergency that results from high blood alcohol levels.
Risky sexual behaviours, including unprotected sex or sex with multiple partners. These behaviours can result in unintended pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV.
Miscarriage and stillbirth or fetal alcohol spectrum disorders among pregnant women.
The long-term risks include development of chronic illnesses and other serious problems like high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease and digestive problems. Drinking too much can lead to cancer of the breast, mouth, throat, oesophagus, voice box, liver, colon and rectum.
It also weakens the immune system, increasing chances of getting sick. Experts warn that alcohol results in learning and memory problems, including dementia and poor school performance. There are also mental health problems, including depression and anxiety. It also causes family problems, job-related problems and unemployment, alcohol use disorders and alcohol dependence.
By not drinking too much, you can reduce chances of these short- and long-term health risks.
Inotambika mughetto.
rosenthal.mutakati @zimpapers.co.zw
Online Reporter