Drinking responsibility: Is it individual? Battle Buddies? Command?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 17:52:19 -0400

Assume that the command gives regular safety briefings regarding alcohol consumption and that your battle buddies are not force feeding you alcohol, consider this scenario:

You go out to a bar with friends and everyone is over 21. Everyone else manages to drink responsibly and have a good time. You, however, go too far. You have so much to drink that you have to be carried from the bar at the end of the evening. You end up throwing up all over yourself and the designated driver's car. Your buddies get you home safe and sound.

The next day, you are sick as a dog with a pounding headache. Who are you angry at? Does your age/rank matter (should a PVT/LT/a person newly 21 be better supervised)? Is it the Army's fault for some reason? Your buddies got you home safely, but should your buddies have been more responsible about supervising your drinking? Should they have attempted to prevent you from getting as drunk as you did?

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jul 20 at 2014 6:15 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 18:15:00 -0400

For those over the drinking age (and assuming that GO#1 is not in effect and/or you have not been given a direct order not to drink), it is absolutely an individual responsibility.

Response by SFC A.M. Drake made Jul 20 at 2014 6:44 PM

SFC A.M. Drake — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 18:44:23 -0400

Am I my brothers keeper? If over 21? Can you make a grown adult do anything? If this soldier/airmen/sailor/marine/coast guard/merchant marine has problems then it did not manifest itself as of this drinking binge. There must be some form of accountability.....but in your story thank God there was no driving involved by the servicember. just my 2 cents

Response by COL Randall C. made Jul 20 at 2014 6:55 PM

COL Randall C. — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 18:55:27 -0400

I'm with LTC Paul Labrador regarding your question - first and foremost, it's an individual responsibility. Can't handle the consequences, don't commit the action.

In your scenario, the Battle Buddies did exactly what they should have. They saw another in trouble (regardless if the trouble was or wasn't of that person's manufacture) and got them to safety.

The only way I could see the Command having any responsibility is if they were aware of that soldier's actions being detrimental to that soldier or unit and didn't take any action. Soldier gets drunk - soldier's business. Soldier gets drunk frequently - Command should have an interest in their welfare and try to find out why. Soldier gets drunk and impacts upon unit (late or doesn't show up, sub-par performance, etc) - Command business.

Response by SSG Ed Mikus made Jul 20 at 2014 8:59 PM

SSG Ed Mikus — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 20:59:44 -0400

individual responsibility all the way! but that dose not mean others should not help each other learn responsible drinking habits.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2014 9:47 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 21:47:58 -0400

just like stated before "it is an individual discussion". as long as they of age you can only make sure they get back to their place of residence safely. However no matter what RANK or AGE you should do the right thing and ensure everyone is doing the right thing.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jul 20 at 2014 9:53 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 21:53:49 -0400

Great question CPT Wolfer. IMHO, you the individual has primary responsibility. You know the rules, SHOULD know your consumption limit and most of all, you know yourself. Peer pressure plays a big part in any over indulgence, at any age, so some responsibility does fall on the others present especially if any hazing is involved or they know you the individual are susceptible to influence. We all are raised differently mature differently and have different core values. If the others allowed this situation to happen, then you have to ask yourself if these folks are truly "friends" and whether or not this is the crowd you want to run with.

My wife and I have been instilling "making good choices" and choosing friends who make good choices into our children since they started elementary school. We hope they will carry these lessons through with them in life so if they find themselves approaching this type situation, they can avoid it.

Any organization has the propensity to allow peer groups to form and grow so the military is not unique in fostering the forming of bonds over casual, after work drinking, especially where mutual stress and sound boarding are the basis for the socialization. How do you blame organizations as a whole like the military services where the rules and regs regarding drinking are spelled out in writing and re-emphasized at every command level.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2014 10:48 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 22:48:48 -0400

I would say this is a one team one fight issue. I recall going out with some buddies after we got back from Iraq. We met up at my buddies place and one of my buddies decided that I need more shots. I lost count to be honest. I had no intention to getting that drunk. My other buddy, he was my team leader, got me home safe and sound. Sometimes battle buddies are not always your buddies.

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Jul 21 at 2014 12:39 AM

1SG Steven Stankovich — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 00:39:31 -0400

You have some great input here already ma'am. I have a story to share regarding this topic. A few years back, I was in a unit where an alcohol related incident happened along with all the fallout that normally accompanies those things. A group of NCOs, SSGs and SFCs were out drinking one Saturday evening. All received their standard Friday afternoon Safety Brief from the 1SG. One of these SSGs got drunk beyond explanation. The others, feeling like they need to take care of their buddy, secured him, took him to his house, and put him to bed. They kept his keys. About an hour or so later, said SSG shows back up at the bar. Apparently, he found his spare set of keys. The SSG in question then says he is going to the latrine and will be right back. Instead, he drove away and was eventually arrested for DUI. In the course of the 1SG and CDR finding piecing together the timeline for that evening, the NCOs who were with that SSG were berated for not doing enough to take care of their buddy. They should have stayed with him, they should have tackled him, etc, etc. The SSG who received the DUI did receive an ART15.

Anyway, I occasionally refer to that story when I was a 1SG. My point is that while the Command provides briefings and training on responsible drinking, and your Battle Buddies keep an eye out as much as they can, at the end of the day it is the individual who makes the decision to either do the right thing or not. Leaders and Battle Buddies cannot be there 24/7 to validate every decision a Soldier makes.

Response by SPC Daniel Edwards made Jul 21 at 2014 9:42 AM

SPC Daniel Edwards — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 09:42:13 -0400

Keep in mind this is just my opinion.
The only one responsible for one's drinking habits and the consequences there in are oneself. The person getting shitfaced (pardon my French) should know his/her limits and should know when to throw in the towel. If you can't handle it, don't even start. You will only make a fool of yourself.

The battle buddy's responsibility is to make sure the drunkard doesn't do something he/she will regret, like drunk driving, sexual assault, or fighting. In this case, they did their job.

The command's only responsibility, again in my opinion, is responsible for making sure laws and regulations are followed. They are also responsible for policing up and properly punishing when someone breaks those laws and regulations.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 21 at 2014 12:05 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 12:05:16 -0400

Drinking is a personal choice, it should be in no shape or form anyone fault that let's say I decided to get "too drunk" for my own good. No Commander or 1SG should be hold accountable for my personal choices. The only time that I would even consider it to be right if is there is an ongoing problem with the Soldier, the command knows and choose to ignore it. The Army is big on shifting responsibilities to everyone else BUT the individual responsible and we have to seriously get away from that. If I can't trust my battle buddy to take care of himself/herself how can I trust them to take care of me when the time is needed?

Response by PO1 Glenn Boucher made Mar 6 at 2015 9:23 PM

PO1 Glenn Boucher — Fri, 06 Mar 2015 21:23:04 -0500

Its an individual responsibility on how much to drink. Seen far too many people get stupid drunk just because they could.
Drinking is something that we have to control ourselves, no one can force you to drink more than you want to.