UN Diplomats Get Called Out For Being Drunk At Work

Yes, we admit that every Friday or so at 5 p.m., (or, OK, maybe Thursday, too) we do sometimes crack open a cold one or pour a shot of whiskey, if only to celebrate the end of the work week.

Still, however, we can hardly believe this report from AFP, which says Joseph Torsella, deputy U.S. ambassador for management and reform, has had to ask tipsy ambassadors to stay out of negotiations.

"We make the modest proposal that the negotiating rooms should in future be an inebriation-free zone," Torsella told the UN General Assembly's budget committee.

Apparently, the assembly's budget body's negotiations every December turn into marathon sessions, lasting all night for several days. Because of the intense schedule, some UN envoys have reportedly turned up "falling down drunk." "On one occasion the note-taker who was meant to be recording the talks was so intoxicated he had to be replaced," one diplomat said.

Naturally, we're sure people actually neogitating the UN budget aren't completely black-out drunk. At least we hope so; we all know what alcohol does to decision-making.