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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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I love beer. That being said, when it's time to deploy it's time to deploy. Alcohol has NO place in a combat zone.
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No, during my first tour in Afghanistan we had to bring a few folks in to the medial area for treatment due to alcohol use and fighting. Yes they probably had more than two beers, but alcohol at any level isn't smart in a combat zone. The decompression from two beers isn't going to change an individuals experiences in theatre. They may or may not still come home with PTSD, and since they were already using alcohol to decompress from the events that caused the PTSD, they will more than likely continue to do so with larger amounts. On top of that you're mixing alcohol with a lot of differing personalities and emotions, it would be a disaster waiting to happen.
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The Britts allow it and there seems to be no issue with it. I spent 4 months with them in Um Qasr, Iraq and we had no issues with people getting stupid.
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To be honest, I've always found the idea itself a good one, but implementation would be a nightmare. As soldiers still fall under US Law while deployed you would have to face instances of minors in possession, over consumption, possible DUI related offenses, it ends of being more of a problem on a larger scale than anyone initially thinks of. I know its easy to play devils advocate, but it really does feel like it would cause more problems than it would help in the long run.
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I don't see a problem with it, it's not like anyone who is out in indian country gets anything in large quantities anyway. Realistically it would end up being one beer per person once a month, at best every two weeks, just like Ripits or Gatorade.
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I have to admit that my partner was sending me hooch and I was making hard cider. Bet my bars (Oak Leaf). I was called up out of an IMA slot (non drilling Reserves) and had a compression fracture in my neck a few years prior. The choice was Vicodin/Vitamin I or some hooch.
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In controlled quantities and circumstances I see no issue with this at all.
We saw "huffing", "Spiking IV bags", and "Freezing NA Beers" all the time as young soldiers tried to find a way to unwind. People who had been in Vietnam and saw the alcohol over there but could not translate the basic idea into a modern equivalent.
I think we "missed the boat" (Odierno quote on tattoos) on more than a few morale concerns over there.
We saw "huffing", "Spiking IV bags", and "Freezing NA Beers" all the time as young soldiers tried to find a way to unwind. People who had been in Vietnam and saw the alcohol over there but could not translate the basic idea into a modern equivalent.
I think we "missed the boat" (Odierno quote on tattoos) on more than a few morale concerns over there.
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Personally, I don't think there shouldn't be a ban on alcohol in a combat zone (If anyone has been at a Camp or FOB with any contractors, you know they have it anyway), HOWEVER it should be left to the discretion of the Commanders as they know their troops and the level of maturity they possess.
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I don't think it would be a good idea, there are multiple reasons, one being that there is always going to be that 'one" guy or multiple guys that don't adhere to the policy and drink way too much. Secondly, Alcohol thins the blood, would you want to get hit by IDF while your blood is thinner?
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