Question about pre employment alcohol testing

[u/DrawerBackground9235]

I’m 22 and had a question regarding what kind of test will be done to check for alcohol consumption for my fire department. I don’t drink often but last night I got plastered for a buddy’s birthday. I was wondering if it will just be a simple BAC test or a urine test or what. Looking online the urine test can detect it for up to 80 hours or more after heavy drinking. I know that I’m going in for a physical and urinalysis and that’s it. I was never told to not use mouthwash with alcohol the day of or whatever.

[u/ReplacementTasty6552]

It’s not that in-depth. Just don’t be drunk when you go in to test

[u/DrawerBackground9235 → u/ReplacementTasty6552]

Figured as much just wanted to confirm. Thank you

[u/ShooterMcGrabbin88]

Maybe don’t go out and get shit faced the night before you have to breathe into a tube for a job.

[u/DrawerBackground9235 → u/ShooterMcGrabbin88]

It’s not the night before. Forgot to mention this that the test is Wednesday and I got drunk on Monday night. I’m not concerned about a BAC test just have seen online that the urine test can detect them for up to 80 hours or more after a night of heavy drinking

[u/OkMission8591]

Alcohol is so much easier than bud to get around. In terms of recreational use. Just don’t show up plastered and drink moderately in the 3 days prior to the test. Like someone else said, they have tests that show up to 80 hours worth. Alcohol gets a free pass for most things. Especially Fire departments. Every station has its alcoholic. If not all of em. Would go as far as saying alcoholism is on the checklist for an ideal candidate

[u/Redderrt → u/OkMission8591]

It’s too bad weed is so looked down upon because you’re totally right about how bad alcoholism is in not only fire culture but all first responders. It would save many of them.

[u/OkMission8591 → u/Redderrt]

Save them at least a liver and functional family.

[u/Seanpat68]

It’s different for every department but typically it’s a breathier or blood. A urinalysis will only tell them that you have drank within 12-24 or up to 80 hrs depending on the metabolite they use. Since you are pre employment they are probably looking for a not drunk now less than 0.04 on the breathalyzer but again it’s specific to each department

[u/DrawerBackground9235 → u/Seanpat68]

Sounds good thank you!

[u/DrawerBackground9235 → u/Seanpat68]

I would figure they would mention hey don’t drink within a week of your test or whatever if it was looking for a longer period. Especially given that people use mouthwash with alcohol and use alcohol for religious reasons

[u/Financial_Plankton11]

You need to be careful because you can still blow a BAC level even the day after. But 2 days nah. And you also have witnesses that the only time you drank was 2 days prior to the interview. Also, they usually only check for drug use, and will probably test you for alcohol if they suspect you may be under the influence.

[u/the_falconator]

Alcohol testing? What type of department is this, it's legal and almost every firefighter I know drinks, and almost every department event has alcohol.

[u/Afraid-Oil-1812]

Just don't show up drunk