More Czechs fired over alcohol in the workplace

The number of Czechs fired for drinking in the workplace or showing up drunk for work has risen, according to a poll by the Commservis.com agency released on Saturday. Alcohol is now the sixth most frequent cause of sacking employees; last year, it ranked 18th. Analysts believe the surge has been caused by bigger stress, related to the global economic downturn, as well as by the fact that employees are now more frequently tested for alcohol. Alcoholic beverages are also relatively cheap in the Czech Republic, and alcohol consumption in the country has risen by 37 percent since the fall of communism in 1989.