IN RE: the Claim of Wilfred HOLDER (2008)

Appeal from a decision of the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board, filed July 27, 2007, which ruled that claimant was disqualified from receiving unemployment insurance benefits because his employment was terminated due to misconduct.

 The credible evidence establishes that claimant, an unarmed security guard, was discharged from his employment after he reported to work under the influence of alcohol.  “It is well settled that absent a showing that an employee is suffering from alcoholism, reporting to work under the influence of alcohol may constitute disqualifying misconduct” (Matter of Kiteta [Commissioner of Labor], 4 A.D.3d 712, 713, 771 N.Y.S.2d 917 [2004] [citations omitted];  see Matter of Stuber [Commissioner of Labor], 32 A.D.3d 1063, 1063-1064, 820 N.Y.S.2d 663 [2006];  Matter of Kryszak [Commissioner of Labor], 308 A.D.2d 645, 646, 764 N.Y.S.2d 370 [2003] ).   No such showing was made here.   Although claimant contended that his slurred speech on the night in question was the product of medication he was taking, he conceded at the hearing that he provided no such explanation to the employer prior to his discharge and, further, failed to deny the employer's repeated allegations of intoxication.   Moreover, his belated explanations or denials presented a credibility issue for the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board to resolve (see Matter of Kiteta [Commissioner of Labor], 4 A.D.3d at 713, 771 N.Y.S.2d 917).

ORDERED that the decision is affirmed, without costs.