Princess Cruises has outlined its alcohol rules for crew members in an onboard notice covering blood alcohol limits, restrictions before starting work, cabin storage allowances and routine random testing.

The notice sets different blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limits according to a crew member’s responsibilities, with stricter requirements for those in safety-critical positions. It also states that crew must not consume alcohol within four hours of a shift.

For crew members, the rules extend beyond working hours. Depending on their assigned role, an alcohol limit also applies while off duty.

Different limits for different roles

The company’s limits are:

• Safety-critical roles: A BAC of 0.00% while on duty, with an upper limit of 0.04% while off duty.

• Emergency-critical roles, including all incident teams: A BAC upper limit of 0.04% at all times.

• Roles classified as neither safety-critical nor emergency-critical: A BAC upper limit of 0.05%, both on and off scheduled duty.

The four-hour restriction before a shift is listed separately from these limits. The notice also reminds crew that random alcohol tests are conducted routinely.

One drink at a time and limits on personal storage

Under the purchase rules, teammates may buy only one alcoholic drink at a time in guest and crew areas. Double measures and shots are prohibited.

The notice also lists a personal storage allowance of one bottle of wine or six beers per teammate, covering alcohol purchased onboard or ashore and kept in the cabin.

These restrictions form part of what Princess describes as strict alcohol guidelines intended to protect the wellbeing of teammates and guests.

A reminder about drinking and reporting for duty

The notice warns crew that even a small number of drinks could put them above the company’s applicable limit. It also acknowledges that alcohol affects individuals differently, listing factors such as drinking speed, body type, metabolism and medication.

Its guidance on drink quantities includes a disclaimer explaining that the information may not apply equally to every individual. Crew should therefore avoid treating a particular number of drinks as a guarantee that they will remain within the required BAC limit.

The material encourages responsible drinking and suggests choosing a non-alcoholic alternative.