Right to Refuse
--NCBTMB Standards of Practice V (i)
"have the right to refuse and/or terminate the service to a client who is abusive or under the influence of alcohol, drugs or any illegal substance"
There are many reasons why the client should not be served while inebriated. The client will not get the full enjoyment or benefit from the treatment. The client, albeit unintentionally, may be a danger to himself/herself or to others. The reduced sense of decorum inherent in intoxication may disrupt the quiet, calmness and serenity of the clinic, lessening other clients' experience. The client could start vomiting or in any case be discovered during the treatment to be so intoxicated and sloppy that the whole experience is disgusting.
Another reason is legal. If the therapist provides service knowing a person is intoxicated, the client may be able to void the transaction and get the return of the client's money. Another authority states the client must be so intoxicated as to not have understood "the nature and consequences of the transaction." The danger here of losing the fee is probably less therefore than when dealing with a minor. The client must disaffirm the session soon after regaining sobriety. It may also be illegal to treat an intoxicated person. The city of Tulsa, Oklahoma has an ordinance saying no one who is intoxicated may be on the massage premises.
The person who is intoxicated may be spoken to firmly and clearly but not be embarrassed or ridiculed. However, calling 911 may become necessary if the person becomes a danger to the therapist, staff or other clients. Nipping it in the bud is a way of avoiding all that.
Massage causes blood circulation to increase and this may multiply the effects of alcohol in the system. The effect continues after a massage, when a person can become intoxicated on only half the usual alcohol, one therapist notes.
Drugs are a separate beast. If someone is on drugs, it is likely they will have some in their possession. They may go so far as to hide their drugs in the therapy room, thinking it would be safer. The burden would fall upon the clinic and therapist to prove they had no knowledge of the drug and are not in the business of selling drugs if the police were to get involved. Even if no drugs are found, the authorities will want to know where the client got the drugs to get "high."
It can be obvious that someone is on drugs. When other clients see this, they will not want any part of the clinic and will not return.