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So here's a question sure to drive some opinions from all over. Two beers in a combat zone, should it be allowed or no? I know for me personally, and no I'm not an alcoholic, but after a long day at work or busy day doing stressful tasks, I enjoy coming home and cracking a cold one. When I was in Iraq in 08-09 we were allowed to have two beers at our little JSS while watching the Super Bowl. To me it was a nice chance to kick back and take a load off. My thinking is, with all the cases of PTSD coming up, what if we allowed that decompression each night (provided soldiers are not immediately going out on mission), would it potentially lower the stress levels of soldiers knowing no matter how bad the day is that at the end of it they can crack a cold one and chill out a bit? So, should it be allowed or not?
Posted in these groups: 
Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)
Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) - Afghanistan
Alcohol
PTSD
Deployment
Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) - Afghanistan Alcohol PTSD Deployment
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 115
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No. If your coping mechanism is alcohol you are already under a depression spectrum anyways. Now I enjoy kicking back and drinking as much as the next guy, but your statement made an attempt to connect PTSD diagnoses with the lack of drinking in country. Yes... Deployments are stressful, but drinking isn't the answer to that. Giving someone stressed out, away from family, most likely already dealing with at least mild depression... While carrying a loaded weapon a depressant is irresponsible and dangerous. Alcohol doesn't fight depression or stress. It only allows you to bury it for a bit which is the last thing you should be encouraging them to do as THAT is what often leads to major psychoses from unresolved stressors and issues.
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Way back in the 80-90s while on border duty in Germany we were allowed 2 beers per night. Soldiers found ways around this restriction just as they would in today's military. I don't think that in a combat environment that alcohol should be allowed. Again I know there are Soldiers that still found ways around this while they are deployed.
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2 Beers is fine, but what happens when the 2 Beers of a non drinker end up in the hands of someone who has already consumed the 2 beers of 3 other non drinkers? Open alcohol consumption in a combat environment could also be very dangerous. Most fights in the local clubs involve alcohol, imagine how bad these situations can go south with a loaded M4
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It isn't necessary, so I have to say no. There are also many other associated problems with alcohol. Tensions are already high, people are angry, upset, depressed, etc and alcohol makes all that worse. Even if you say you are limited to 2 beers, that is very hard to enforce and it will be abused. People will sell and buy beers to get what they want. It happens in Qatar, and they are supposed to have cameras all around to control that from happening. It isn't worth the money, go to the gym if you need a relief.
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I went with no; however, I will agree that it was nice for the superbowl, it would have been nice for new year's too. While it is nice to crack a cold one and relax it's not good for the mission. I happen to be one who likes a cold beer once in a while when I am relaxing, but if you need the beer to relax you most likely have other problems you need to address and the beer will not save you from PTSD.
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