Ex-employee, asserting alcoholism as a result of work at Ambev, fails in court case
June 5, 2025 - Brasília - In a surprising turn of events, the Superior Labor Court (TST) elected not to award damages to a skilled brewmaster who alleged his alcohol addiction was a consequence of years spent at Ambev. The veteran employee claimed he'd downed as much as four liters of beer daily during his shifts.
In the worker's eyes, he got the axe from the company in 1991 without cause. However, his addiction didn't surface until nine years post-employment. The TST deems this time-gap problematic, making it near impossible to trace an ironclad connection between the brewmaster's former occupation and his health predicament.
Ambev refuted the allegations, emphasizing that taste-testing, as part of a brewer's duties, is technically conducted in minute quantities. Ambev further stated that excessive imbibing would be at odds with maintaining an efficient production rate.
The expert report presented by the brewmaster was found inadequate in previous instances. The TRT of the 1st Region pointed out that, following his dismissal from Ambev, the brewmaster continued to perform identical functions in various other companies. This fact weakens the worker's argument regarding a causal correlation.
Minister Delairde Miranda Arantes, in the final judgment, reiterated the TST's role is not to review evidence or facts, ultimately leading to the dismissal of the case's appeal.
- TST
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- The TST findings suggest that there might be a need for further research in the area of science, specifically focusing on the long-term effects of occupational exposure to alcohol, within the context of health-and-wellness and mental-health.
- Given the TST's decision, there is an urgent call for emphasizing mental-health education and support within the beer-production industry, ensuring a healthier work environment for future employees.
