View Full Version : Military Drinking a crisis?
Paragrouper
09-17-2012, 16:28
WASHINGTON (AP) — Abusing alcohol and drugs has been part of military culture historically: troops do it for fun, to ease the stresses of war or to be part of the brotherhood.
But a new report says substance use and misuse among troops and their families has become a "public health crisis" and that Pentagon methods for dealing with it are out-of-date.
In a study requested by the Defense Department, the Institute of Medicine report Monday said:
— About 20 percent of active-duty service members reported they engaged in heavy drinking in 2008, the latest year for which data was available. (Heavy drinking was defined as five or more drinks a day as a regular practice.)
— Binge-drinking increased from 35 percent in 1998 to 47 percent in 2008. (That's five or more drinks at a sitting for men, four or more for women, but done perhaps just once or twice a month as opposed to each week).
Source (http://www.charter.net/news/read.php?id=17636769&ps=1011&srce=news_class&action=1&lang=en&_LT=UNLC_USNWU00L1_UNEWS)
I don't mean to make light of a potential issue, but I really didn't know that 4-5 drinks in a sitting was considered "binge drinking." I thought that was just being sociable.
Pretty easy to spot the young GIs around Fayetteville.
If from what I see is typical all I can say is they are a bunch of light weights. In other words well behaved and only having a few drinks with the meal. Don't know what they do later but I don't see any abuse in the casual setting. Only grip I got is way too many ACUs running around town after 1800 hrs - just my opinion - just my opinin - don't throw bricks at me.
4 - 5 drinks at a setting? Hell, that was with lunch in the 70's.
Back when they had drinking at 18, NCO Clubs, Happy Hour, Right Arm night, etc, etc, etc.
The problem is nowdays calling 4-5 drinks a couple of times a week "abuse".
Get the 18 oz tall glasses. That way you can have three and are still good to go.
According to this report released by the CDC, Wisconsin has the highest percentage of binge drinkers in the general population at 25.6%. With military binge drinking assessed at 47%, its no wonder that heads are being turned...
http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/BingeDrinking/index.html
As for me, I'm squarely in the "sociable" camp with you...
way too many ACUs running around town after 1800 hrs - just my opinion - just my opinin - don't throw bricks at me.
No bricks Pete. I was just wondering what your issue is with ACUs (or any uniform) worn off post? Why 1800? What do regulations or directives say?
The Reaper
09-17-2012, 17:34
Hell, at one time, SWCS had a contract psych that reported any candidate who admitted drinking a case of beer per month or more as having a drinking problem.
I did the math, and asked him if the kid was drinking that all on a Sunday night and coming in mess up the next morning, once a month.
He said no, it was one or two at the time. I saw a lot of the cadre looking around and doing the counting for themselves.
Fortunately, he wasn't being paid to assess our alcohol consumption.:D
TR
mojaveman
09-17-2012, 19:18
A case of beer a month? Four or five drinks at a setting? Christ, in Germany during the early '80s it was common to have at least four cases of German beer (twenty half liter bottles) in the room at any given time. Happy hour that began at 17:00, Rod and Gun Club, NCO Club, Bowling alley, etc. Looking back on it after thirty years it's easy to see why we had so many problem drinkers.
Sure was fun though. :p
Damn - you mean I was a binge drinker and didn't even know it. Back when upon return to the FOB and the initial AAR, I'd buy a case of Black Label @ $.09 per can, pop 'em all at once, and then proceed to down them one at a time to unwind. We called it "rehydrating" then - guess it'd be called something else today. :rolleyes:
Richard :munchin
IMHO DOD is simply trying to deflect what the rest of us know. People are having problems, but instead of admitting it just MAY be because we have been at war for 11 years, that it is now a drinking problem.
Makes it easier to shift blame onto the service member instead of where it belongs, in the upper echelon of leadership.
longrange1947
09-17-2012, 21:35
Actually calling that binge drinking seems to be creating a problem where none exists. As has been stated, drinking a case may come closer, but dam that is not even a six pack and I do that on the golf course. :munchin
Dragbag036
09-17-2012, 21:59
Actually calling that binge drinking seems to be creating a problem where none exists. As has been stated, drinking a case may come closer, but dam that is not even a six pack and I do that on the golf course. :munchin
Range estimation day :D
Team Sergeant
09-17-2012, 22:29
4-5 drinks in a sitting considered "binge drinking"
They must be talking about "legs".......
;)
No bricks Pete. I was just wondering what your issue is with ACUs (or any uniform) worn off post? Why 1800? What do regulations or directives say?
I must be Old School. Back when after work you changed at the barracks or home before heading out for supper and a few drinks.
And I went through all the variations from no duty uniform off post period, lunch only, only at quick stops on the way home, etc, etc, etc.
Nowdays ACU wear off post seems very relaxed, hats are optional - tops also it seems in hot weather. Not unusual on a hot day to see a young GI park their ride at Food Lion and go in to get some beer wearing only T-Shirt, pants and boots.
no-hertz
09-18-2012, 04:47
I must be Old School. Back when after work you changed at the barracks or home before heading out for supper and a few drinks.
And I went through all the variations from no duty uniform off post period, lunch only, only at quick stops on the way home, etc, etc, etc.
Nowdays ACU wear off post seems very relaxed, hats are optional - tops also it seems in hot weather. Not unusual on a hot day to see a young GI park their ride at Food Lion and go in to get some beer wearing only T-Shirt, pants and boots.
I have noticed this quite a lot over the last ten years. I may not have the frame of reference some of you guys do, but ten years ago when I was a young infantry private, hell if you wore your PC to the PX instead of your black beret, some CSM was liable to ambush you. And then you, your fire team leader and your squad leader would all be in your nice Class A's on "Courtesy Patrol" outside the PX all weekend making on-the-spot corrections.
Now it seems like it is damn closed to a free for all, especially off post.
oh, and yes, black beret. I was a dirty leg for a while.
I must be Old School. Back when after work you changed at the barracks or home before heading out for supper and a few drinks.
And I went through all the variations from no duty uniform off post period, lunch only, only at quick stops on the way home, etc, etc, etc.
Nowdays ACU wear off post seems very relaxed, hats are optional - tops also it seems in hot weather. Not unusual on a hot day to see a young GI park their ride at Food Lion and go in to get some beer wearing only T-Shirt, pants and boots.
The word slovenly comes to mind.
Dozer523
09-18-2012, 05:18
I believe fast food drive-throughs originated around Army post because you were not allowed in any civilian establishments in "work" uniform.
As to drinking, well I been to Germany . . . does that count?
I'll never forget the look on the MP's face when he walked into the Toga party and we were about to sacrifice the blow-up virgin (she was straight out of the box) with a Russian bayonet. yeah . . .
Learned early on to never sit down while hoisting a few. You're ass is a liar and will tell you anything you want to hear, "Don't worry, I got this, you're doin' fine, have another . . .
Knees, on the other hand, will never lie to you. "Drink that and we're going to the floor, just sayin"
Source (http://www.charter.net/news/read.php?id=17636769&ps=1011&srce=news_class&action=1&lang=en&_LT=UNLC_USNWU00L1_UNEWS)
I don't mean to make light of a potential issue, but I really didn't know that 4-5 drinks in a sitting was considered "binge drinking." I thought that was just being sociable.
Yeah 4-5 is having a problem nowadays, sad fact.
For all that have to do your PDHA you all know you lie on the drinking part. I remember when they change the amount of drinks in one week. I answered 4-5 drinks in a week and I have to go see a psych and get seen by our Group Doctor. I had to explain myself, what kills me is when I explain that you go out to restaurant on Friday night you order 2 beers, remember we all get those 22 ounce beers. Well it adds up to about 4 beers so I answered 4-5 beers for the week. I said now this isn't football season, I ask the Docs how many do you have, yeah they didn't answer.
This just cause people that have issues to lie and go on with likely a serious problems.
I believe fast food drive-throughs originated around Army post because you were not allowed in any civilian establishments in "work" uniform.
Dozer... Are you still in? I don't know how long ago you been on a Army base. I can tell you Bragg that rule had been gone for a Good ten years. When we were on Bliss the sane thing there. Only thing there was you had the SMA students that would go up to Walmart and make sure soldiers didn't have sunglasses hanging out of their cargo pockets, sunglasses on the head or hanging off their ACU tops. You see solders in restaurants at 10pm around Bragg. I hate to say the role break trend started when all the NG & Reservist came for MOB. That's when I saw solders in town in uniform.
Dozer523
09-18-2012, 07:38
Dozer... Are you still in? I don't know how long ago you been on a Army base. I can tell you Bragg that rule had been gone for a Good ten years.
I hate to say the role break trend started when all the NG & Reservist came for MOB. That's when I saw solders in town in uniform. F Me!
I started this "fun, travel and adventure" in 1979. Got in 11 years of Active Duty til 1990. I was a happy civilain for longer then I was in and but when my oldest son went to Iraq (the first time) I heard the fire bell ring and stumbled out of the stall at 48. Hung out in the Guard and got the all expense paid trip to Afghanistan with my conventional Guard brothers. With a little luck, I'll get my 20 complete 35 years after I came in the first time and have about 4 years left over before mandatory retirement age.
As for the crack about the Guard I'll let that one pass because you're so young and inexperienced. :D
"A home, a home I fiinally found a home. A home, a home I'm never goin' home . . . "
1stindoor
09-18-2012, 08:10
F Me!
I started this "fun, travel and adventure" in 1979....
Careful brother...that's when you start hearing, "I was in 3rd grade..." or something along those lines.
...and no I wasn't in 3rd grade...I was in tenth...so there!
longrange1947
09-18-2012, 09:04
How many remember courtesy patrol? Just saying, yes things change and as far as 1990, that is when retired after 23 years of fun travel and adventure. Some of that fun was on courtesy patrol as a young NCO in 1st Group. :munchin :D
1stindoor
09-18-2012, 09:18
How many remember courtesy patrol?
I only remember it as a kid. My dad was career AF and I can remember stuff like that when he was a 1SG...mid to late '70s.
How many remember courtesy patrol? Just saying, yes things change and as far as 1990, that is when retired after 23 years of fun travel and adventure. Some of that fun was on courtesy patrol as a young NCO in 1st Group. :munchin :D
I remember well, they even had it off post down on Hay St....talk about some things ya'd see....:D
"All right ya bunch of drunks...get on the Vomit Comet and we're headed back to post"...
Dozer523
09-18-2012, 10:22
How many remember courtesy patrol? Just saying, yes things change and as far as 1990, that is when retired after 23 years of fun travel and adventure. Some of that fun was on courtesy patrol as a young NCO in 1st Group. :munchin :D In Aschaffenburg Germany.
Came around the corner down by the train station and there was our new Batalion Commander "settin' a good example". I was lucky, I'd just gotten off a train and still had my ticket to prove it.
(For you who haven't been to Germany -- and sorry to say if you haven't you probably won't get too . . . the Houses of Ill Repute tended to be in the train station area.
(For you who haven't been to Germany -- and sorry to say if you haven't you probably won't get too . . . the Houses of Ill Repute tended to be in the train station area.
So that's why the first thing they taught me was vo ist der bahnhoff...
no-hertz
09-18-2012, 11:06
Courtesy Patrol still happens from time to time, with different meanings.
In Ft Lewis, around 02-05 it was punishment, standing outside some building on the weekend with your NCO's for an infraction of uniform standards.
Fort Carson still has 4ID people out on Tejon on weekend nights, in ACU's, rolling up Military guys who they feel have had too much, etc. Normally about a squad's worth.
They tried to roll one of the guys from my company, who yes, had a few too many, but was with about 5 guys from the company who were in the process of taking him home.....A young LT trying to tell 3 team sergeants they are taking one of our men away from them and to the post drunk tank, well....
Needless to say, the LT was unsuccessful in taking him.
Courtesy Patrol still happens from time to time, with different meanings.
In Ft Lewis, around 02-05 it was punishment, standing outside some building on the weekend with your NCO's for an infraction of uniform standards.
Fort Carson still has 4ID people out on Tejon on weekend nights, in ACU's, rolling up Military guys who they feel have had too much, etc. Normally about a squad's worth.
They tried to roll one of the guys from my company, who yes, had a few too many, but was with about 5 guys from the company who were in the process of taking him home.....A young LT trying to tell 3 team sergeants they are taking one of our men away from them and to the post drunk tank, well....
Needless to say, the LT was unsuccessful in taking him.
I am surprised it was Tejon and not Nevada :p
Dragbag036
09-18-2012, 13:53
How many remember courtesy patrol? Just saying, yes things change and as far as 1990, that is when retired after 23 years of fun travel and adventure. Some of that fun was on courtesy patrol as a young NCO in 1st Group. :munchin :D
Still had it in Bamberg, Germany in 89' and again in Kirchgoen, Germany in 93'
Streck-Fu
09-18-2012, 13:59
This has been a very progressive movement over the last 20+ years. As drinking has been marginalized in the civilian sector with efforts by MADD and other law enforcement and political campaigns against drinking and driving, the DoD has followed suit by pushing the same efforts.
When I first joined, we would perform or fitness tests by runnng to the command picnic where there were kegs of beer only enough Coke to mix with the rum.
Then came the campaigns against not only drinking and driving but just drinking socially. It's temperence all over again... :(
I am surprised it was Tejon and not Nevada :p
More CC co-eds to "re-educate" on Tejon nowadays. ;)
More CC co-eds to "re-educate" on Tejon nowadays. ;)
That, and you don't have to compete for facetime with the USAFA cadets that cruise Nevada. They aren't smart enough to figure out why the only chicks they see are the hookers! :D
That, and you don't have to compete for facetime with the USAFA cadets that cruise Nevada. They aren't smart enough to figure out why the only chicks they see are the hookers! :D
Maybe that's what they're looking for. Just like Charlie Sheen.. " I pay them to leave." :D
CBS just did a report on the Military prescription drug program being outdated. They hand that stuff out like candy in the Military. But I also had several civilian Doc's since I retired. Push pain pills and other drugs on me. Ya gotta wonder if the pharmaceutical companies are possibly a little behind this.
phew, I'm safe. Every time they ask me if I have a drinking problem, I tell them....No I have no problem at all drinking.
I kinda get a quizzicle look form them...like...WTF?!?!?
mark46th
09-18-2012, 16:27
I blame it on the Islamic countries where our guys get deployed. No booze, no bacon, no booty, I'd celebrate, too, when I got home.
mojaveman
09-18-2012, 17:47
In Aschaffenburg Germany. . . . the Houses of Ill Repute tended to be in the train station area.
Ok Dozer, German bier stubes and bordells? You're getting me all emotional. Gonna be there for a week or so on my way to Saudi.
The best? The Bahnhof Viertel in Frankfurt and The Ring in Nuremberg. While arriving on the train to the latter one summer afternoon I was greeted by waving lingerie clad women that were sitting in the second story windows.
What memories...
Badger52
09-19-2012, 14:18
Ok Dozer, German bier stubes and bordells? You're getting me all emotional. Gonna be there for a week or so on my way to Saudi.You just need to understand your TO&E:
Beer math: 2 beers per man X 1 ODA = 17 cases.