UK Teacher Suspended Indefinitely for Drinking Gin from Water Bottle in Class

A professional conduct panel in Nottingham, England, suspended former teacher Annika Kiran Kapur indefinitely after she drank gin from a water bottle in front of students in January 2025.

The panel reviewed the incident that led to her firing. Witnesses reported that Kapur slurred her words and acted in an exaggerated manner while intoxicated. One witness said she complained about students not listening and stated, "This class terrifies me."

Kapur admitted unacceptable professional conduct. She claimed she accidentally brought the water bottle containing gin and lemon to school. It had been left in her bag from her birthday weekend, and she said she did not realize it still had alcohol.

Once she tasted the alcohol, Kapur said she could not spit it out for fear students would grow curious about the bottle's contents. She drank about a third of it, later saying she "chugged it to stop myself vomiting."

Witnesses described her as unsteady on her feet. When asked to leave the classroom, she went to the staff bathroom and vomited.

Kapur cannot apply to lift the prohibition order until April 2028.