'We do not condone or tolerate the use of illegal substances at any of our sites or events,' says football club
The staff Christmas party of England's Liverpool Football Club was cut short after the discovery of suspected drug paraphernalia in the toilets, according to various reports.
A number of empty miniature resealable bags, which are often containers for illegal substances, were discovered in the toilets of the Anglican Cathedral, the site of the event, The Telegraph reported.
As a result, the cathedral's staff ended the party early as a precaution.
"The team on duty followed the correct procedures to bring the event to an early close," a representative from the venue told the BBC in a statement.
"We want to thank our staff and Liverpool FC for the swift actions taken and partnership working, and will continue to review our procedures and mitigation measures for future events."
The involved partygoers were non-footballing staff of Liverpool FC. None of the club's players or the men's first-team manager, Arne Slot, were present at the event, The Guardian reported.
Medical emergency during party
The suspected drug paraphernalia was discovered after a medical emergency that prompted a search, according to multiple reports. The staff member was taken to hospital, but reports said the incident was not related to the suspected drugs found in the venue.
"We thank the events team at the venue for their swift action and professional response to the medical emergency, which was unrelated," a Liverpool spokesperson said in a statement. "The member of staff is recovering well."
The spokesperson also distanced the club from the suspected drugs found at the site during the party: "We do not condone or tolerate the use of illegal substances at any of our sites or events."
HRD previously spoke to Elena Cooper, employment consultant at Discreet Law, who advised employers to have a policy in place to ensure good behaviour during holiday parties.
"What can an employer do if it knows or suspects an employee is using drugs? First, have a policy; it sets your standards, and will cost you peanuts to put in place," Cooper previously advised. "Second, ensure that, if this is a potential issue for your company, you contractually oblige employees to be drug tested."
