Armed Forces alcohol abuse...
Join Date: Oct 1998
Location: Kalgoorlie, W.A. , Australia
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Heck you could even get it when you were in a military hospital as a patient
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
TTN, unlike Exascot I think I can remember.
Remember at Akrotiri one night, took a short cut from No1 Mess to my block behind No2 Mess. Arrived at a curb and cautiously gunned my moped so as not to damage front wheel, then eased the throttle. Then fell over, happens when you aren't moving.
I could fill a thread.
Remember at Akrotiri one night, took a short cut from No1 Mess to my block behind No2 Mess. Arrived at a curb and cautiously gunned my moped so as not to damage front wheel, then eased the throttle. Then fell over, happens when you aren't moving.
I could fill a thread.
Join Date: Aug 2013
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Anyone remember the Staish at Gut shutting the bars at lunchtime? I can't remember if it was Mike Stear or Dick Johns. I seem to remember it was strictly enforced even when VIP's were being hosted. Civvy canteen still served booze though, our WO informed our civvy fitters that any one smelling of booze would be given a formal written warning and sent home. Never had a problem
PM
PS from my lowly view in MTMF they were both top blokes.
PM
PS from my lowly view in MTMF they were both top blokes.
Join Date: Oct 2007
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When I joined my first Squadron I flew with an old spec aircrew nav who had served on Shackletons at Ballykelly. He told me that there was once uproar when a new Stn Cdr decided to limit the duty SAR crew's alcohol intake to 3 pints each!
Got airborne in a Puma from Practica del Mare (Rome) enroute to the UK via Cognac. Opened the inflight rations kindly supplied by the Italian Air Force and there was a bottle of Chianti.
When in Rome...........
When in Rome...........
Three points (no that's not Irish for 'pints'!):
1. If you don't let the chaps/chapesses have a beer then they'll find something else illegal to imbibe.
2. Working with a bit of a hangaover in peacetime helps you cope when on ops and the 'sh!t hits the fan' - doing it without that hangover makes it a breeze!
3. If I can't buy a beer in my own Mess for <£2 a pint then let's stop the great unwashed from buying it cheaper in LidLs!
LJ
1. If you don't let the chaps/chapesses have a beer then they'll find something else illegal to imbibe.
2. Working with a bit of a hangaover in peacetime helps you cope when on ops and the 'sh!t hits the fan' - doing it without that hangover makes it a breeze!
3. If I can't buy a beer in my own Mess for <£2 a pint then let's stop the great unwashed from buying it cheaper in LidLs!
LJ
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Leon, please, where else can I buy it?
$eriously I enjoy a bottle of strong ale rather than several pints of the weaker p**s.
Right now it is a can of San Miguel.
sent from Lanzarote
$eriously I enjoy a bottle of strong ale rather than several pints of the weaker p**s.
Right now it is a can of San Miguel.
sent from Lanzarote
I think most of the problem is the strength of current day alcohol. When I were a lad 8 -10 pints no problem but with 4.5 - 5% beers these days, forget it. The same applies to wines, the average plonk used to be about 8%, nowadays 13 - 14% not uncommon.
Perhaps it's just an age thing ?
Perhaps it's just an age thing ?
If you look at the likes of Worthington 'E', Whitbread Tankard, Watneys Red Barrel, Youngers Tartan etc., they weren't actually that much weaker than pub beers of today.
Bland, brown and fizzy - they were all pretty dire.
Bland, brown and fizzy - they were all pretty dire.
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Waddington UK
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Sometimes it is the system
When going through IOT a few years ago as a slightly older and maybe sensible officer cadet we had a dining in night very close to the end to say goodbye to the training officer who had been posted. At about midnight after I had drank copiously at the meal and at the bar the games started - first game a team rowing one. There was chugging invloved and I decided that if I had to drink a pint in a oner then it would be revisiting the bar very quickly so I said I wouldn't play. A couple more in our flight agreed with me and suddenly there weren't enough to put a rowing team up. Next day and for the next week we were duty flight. Not an onerous duty, but it still rankles me that we were punished for sensible behaviour. I suppose if I had had a couple more I would have said 'to the hell with it' and taken part - so maybe it was my fault for being a lightweight.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
EA, I think you were right, the heavy drinking belonged to the youth and the alcoholic.
With maturity, a wife and kids at home, and a choice of a Friday night sleeping it off in the mess or an abstemious dining in night, the family came first.
The execs, longing for the traditions of the old days really didn't like responsible adults.
With maturity, a wife and kids at home, and a choice of a Friday night sleeping it off in the mess or an abstemious dining in night, the family came first.
The execs, longing for the traditions of the old days really didn't like responsible adults.
Join Date: Mar 2010
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In 65, may father was in conversation with an ex-RN officer and told him I was about to join the RAF. The response was, "Ah, the drinking Service."
Sadly, either because I was easily led or simply an incipient alcoholic, I found that to be the case. Fifty years later, I'm still drinking far more than I should.
Perhaps I was unlucky with the places I was posted, where drinking substantially was the norm?
Sadly, either because I was easily led or simply an incipient alcoholic, I found that to be the case. Fifty years later, I'm still drinking far more than I should.
Perhaps I was unlucky with the places I was posted, where drinking substantially was the norm?
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newt..
And all the boys' beers were on your mess bill! Happy days...
They had those in my day! Station Commanders bollocking and banned from the Mess bar for three weeks! Not a problem! Stand in the flower bed outside the bar window and the boys pass you a beer!]
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I was once written up on my ACR for not drinking in Happy Hour - the fact that I had a 17 mile commute on a motorcycle with keen police about did not come into it!
Join Date: Mar 2010
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I recall vividly being interviewed by my Flt Cdr at OCTU about the size of my Mess Bill, and being asked if I had 'independent means' 
The next month was slightly larger, but no comment was made.
During my GCA course at Shawbury in 66, I achieved a Mess Bill that was larger than my pay, but sadly I have lost/misplaced the evidence. But it was ...
Pay = £52/10/0
Mess Bill = £54/12/6
Ahh, happy days of youth
The next month was slightly larger, but no comment was made.During my GCA course at Shawbury in 66, I achieved a Mess Bill that was larger than my pay, but sadly I have lost/misplaced the evidence. But it was ...
Pay = £52/10/0
Mess Bill = £54/12/6
Ahh, happy days of youth
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You service chaps are so lucky with a pint at £2. We in civil aviation have to pay what the great unwashed pays.
Hang on, that makes me part of the great unwashed.......
I represent that !!!
Hang on, that makes me part of the great unwashed.......
I represent that !!!
Join Date: Mar 2010
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And are we now to compare Civil and Military pay scales? 
Moving swiftly on ... whose round is it? I've lost track ... arrgh ... <thud>
Moving swiftly on ... whose round is it? I've lost track ... arrgh ... <thud>