Drinking in Uniform? Good idea?

I don't know if it's authorized, but it's an awful idea. In dress uniforms, where it's obvious you're celebrating some kind of special occasion, there's an obvious need for some leeway. In a working uniform, drinking generally isn't allowed at all, and it's because it looks trashy while giving an impression that isn't very flattering.

Amongst peers I think it is okay so long as the group has sense and maybe a volunteer to herd the unruly when needed.

I would like to know if it is ok to drink in the dress uniform. I will be attending a wedding and plan on wearing the dress uniform not planning on getting drunk just one or two glasses of wine. Would like to know if that is allowed?

Oh please...

ACU's in a public place drinking? Not something I would encourage or participate in. I frown on it myself. How many of them got in a car and drove home?

Personally, I don't do it. I don't particularly mind others that do. However, being drunk in uniform is a different story.

This was one area that I can admit that my views are far too extreme. Under no circumstances should a soldier ever drink while in uniform. I have been offered a lot of free drinks at air ports and not once did I accept. Even on base with my unit I would not accept. For some reason I just find it incredibly disgraceful, and I really don't know why.

I'm sure someone can fill me in on why I'm like that.

We were not allowed to wear our BDUs out socially while I was in the Army. They made us change our clothes to "go out". That being said My SM brought a bar to gunnery and had a two beer limit when we didn't have the range the next day.

Not authorized regardless of rank. Like 1sgt Nolan said, the dumbass factor has to be watched out for everywhere, social media isn't the place for your junior enlisted & nco's to see you doing shots in uniform. Whether it's a justified occasion and venue or not, the insinuation is what will destroy the discipline that was in place prior to the photo being circulated. If it was in an on post establishment & a "right arm ceremony", the photo shows senior NCO's "in a bar, at the bar doing shots with a civilian and there is no food in evidence." their juniors don't have the experience or wisdom to see anything but the obvious like I previously said.

Not something i'd condone or even practice. I went out drinking in civilians once with a fellow NCO and when their soldier came by and bought them a shot I advised them against it. Not cause drinking is bad per-say, but drinking a beverage purchased by your soldier I feel gives the wrong signals. Same for senior leaders.

While there is no direct regulation that says you cannot imbibe alcohol while in uniform, most post policies will have something along the lines of "you may drink an alcoholic beverage in on post establishments while in uniform, but only a few. Drinking in uniform in off-post establishments is not allowed."

I actually had this discussion with my unit a while ago. I know the I Corp policy on JBLM says the above. I actually talked to a Sergeant, 2 Staff Sergeants and a Sergeant First Class (two of the four were former Drill Sergeants) at the Buffalo Wild Wings in Tacoma who were drinking in uniform. I told them they were wrong, told them were to find it in the I Corp Policy book, and they pretty much told me to fornicate myself. I got their names and emailed their CSM, but I don't know what came of it.

Personally, I think the pride that is supposed to be coupled with the uniform should say absolutely not. What I do is keep a set of civilian clothes in my car at all times, just in case somebody says "Hey, let's go get a drink." This way, I can change and do what I need to do.

There will not be any posted photos of me drinking in uniform because I didn't ever do it. I just never thought it looked right. Even as a child watching "war movies" where soldiers were consuming alcohol I never thought it was a dignified look.

Sometimes leadership starts with you...

Used to be in AR 360-5 (public info) we were not to take nor allow publication of such photos (original theory was they were used in Soviet propaganda, and of course the idea of setting a proper example).

I would say absolutely NOT. We set the example for those around us and for what the perception is of the armed forces service members and this certainly is not an example I would want to ever set or my Soldiers.

Soldiers are their own worst enemies. This photo, along with many others showing NCO's doing inappropriate things, usually originate from the facebook page "U.S. Army WTF Moments". Its pretty much run by lower enlisted soldiers, who take these candid photo's and upload them online. For all to see. There are actually a couple more photos from this event, and one of these is actually an SGM.

Terrible Idea. Perception is the reality, especially in the Army. If I want a beer or scotch I will be in civs or in my own house.

Military social functions it is fine, I will drink socially likely 1 per hour but not can't do the binge drinking anymore.. Bad for ones image, bad for hangovers. College days have faded it would seem.

Not ok unless it's a military function. St Barbra's day ball. Army ball ect. Defenatly not in acus. Now you can't get all the senior leaders together at a bar and call it a military function. It looks unprofessional if I was a civ. if you want to drink in uniform. Do it at the house.

I think it's very unprofessional. I'm ex Navy and when I was active we were not allowed to be seen in any establishment in our uniform unless it was our dress uniform. I work on an Army instalation and with this new military I see the out shopping in malls, eating in restaurants, drinking at the bar in some restaurants and sometimes they are in partial uniform. In today's society and being at war with terrorism they are now exposing themselves and innocent bystanders. Not only that the Army does not teach respect, responsibility or have any kind of discipline anymore. Like someone else said the lower enlisted are going to do what the leadership does because now they think it's okay.

Should not happen. I retired in 2005 and to this day when I see this happening I go and inform them of the regulations. Most of the time they are Senior NCOs or Officers. Most of the time I am met with hostility, mind your own business, regulations have changed and other vulgar responses I shouldn't put in print. I let them know I'll be calling their COC in the morning. I think it is unprofessional.

I know what 670-1 says but there is also:

AR 215-1 Chapter 10. MWR events, Military Balls, Right arm night, certain area's in the CJOA "not CJOA-A" sometimes it is authorized and sometimes there are instillations that have a policy in regards to Alcohol consumption, adding to the reg, which Commanders can do. I do know what the regulation says in regards to it, but it seems like it is Commanders discretion. One reg says something and anoter says something to the contrary. For example, AR 215-1 Chapter 10 says that Alcohol can be purchased for MWR functions, those are MWR funds; however, JFTR says that purchasing Alcohol using government funds is a complete no no. If it was a complete prohibition the regulation will state it clearly "you cannot do this,"and "you cannot do that," but for Alcohol that is not the case, and thats why I assume that it is left at Commanders discretion.