But (without being political), however good it is, it's also an unwelcome step in the direction of Central Planning, a la failed Warsaw Pact economies and is an enormous reduction in choice for Messes.
When I was last at EGOS, the links with local, exceptionally good wine merchant "Tanners of Shrewsbury" was forcibly removed by MegaContractor Inc, with MoD agreement, that they would supply all alcohol on base (might have only been Glider Command).
Staish at the time tried all he could to reverse the decision (allegedly), but the argument went thus:
MoD: Messes can only source other than from contractor, when contractor cannot supply.
Staish: Contractor cannot supply "Tanner's Claret" or "Tanner's Champagne", without which no D-I-N/Ball at Shawbs has been complete for 60 years.
MoD: That doesn't count - claret is claret and fizz is fizz. Back in yer box Staish, and don't bother us again.
And we used to get free wine tastings, which were educational (and fun) from Tanner's too. Ah well....
