Military Drinking a crisis?

Paragrouper · 09-17-2012, 16:28

Quote:

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among troops and their families has become a "public health crisis" and that Pentagon methods for dealing with it are out-of-date.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

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.

**Pete** · 09-17-2012, 16:46

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.

BKKMAN · 09-17-2012, 16:50

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...

MR2 · 09-17-2012, 17:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete

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.

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.

Richard · 09-17-2012, 19:22

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.

Richard

afchic · 09-17-2012, 20:10

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.

Dragbag036 · 09-17-2012, 21:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by longrange1947

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.

Range estimation day

**Team Sergeant** · 09-17-2012, 22:29

4-5 drinks in a sitting considered "binge drinking"

They must be talking about "legs".......

**Pete** · 09-18-2012, 03:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by MR2

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete

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.

MR2 · 09-18-2012, 04:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete

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"