Vivian Marlowe
Alcohol is readily available and affordable for young enlisted naval personnel, both on and off base. While the Navy officially discourages alcohol use among minors, it is not uncommon for underage enlisted personnel to obtain alcohol through various means, such as using fake IDs or having someone over the legal drinking age purchase it for them. If a Navy person were to provide alcohol to minors, it could have serious consequences for both the minors and the individual supplying the alcohol. This could result in disciplinary action, impacting their military career and potentially leading to discharge. Furthermore, it contributes to a culture of irresponsible drinking, which can negatively affect the health, performance, and readiness of service members.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Age restriction | Drinking age in the US: 21 years or older |
| Navy policy | Official discouragement of alcohol use |
| Availability of alcohol | Widely available and inexpensive on and off base |
| Consequences | Varying degrees, including discharge from the Navy |
| Advice | Do not give alcohol to minors |
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What You'll Learn
- Disciplinary action: The Navy member could face formal punishment under the UCMJ
- Availability: Alcohol is readily available and affordable for minors in and around Navy bases
- Health: Alcohol misuse can negatively impact the health of minors
- Encouragement: Minors may be encouraged to drink by those who believe they should be allowed to
- Prevention: The Navy discourages alcohol use and offers alcohol-free events and beverages
Disciplinary action: The Navy member could face formal punishment under the UCMJ
Alcoholism is a significant problem in the military. Active-duty personnel often consume alcohol to celebrate combat victories or to cope with post-combat stress, loneliness, boredom, and the lack of other recreational activities. Many service members consume more than a healthy limit and develop a dependency.
The Navy officially discourages alcohol use, providing non-alcoholic beverages at command functions. However, alcohol is inexpensive and easy to obtain, both in base exchanges and commissaries, and in drink promotions at nearby off-base clubs. There is also a culture of heavy drinking among young enlisted personnel, with many mentions of underage drinking in the Navy.
If a Navy member provides alcohol to minors, they could face formal punishment under the UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice). Disciplinary actions for alcohol-related offenses can vary depending on the exact nature of the crime. The UCMJ can impose formal punishments, and there may also be other serious consequences, such as dependence symptoms, mood swings, irritability, depression, strained relationships, shame, and guilt.
The Department of Defense (DoD) has screening measures to help commanders identify service members struggling with alcohol abuse. Service members facing disciplinary action for alcohol-related incidents may be permitted to return to duty if they assume accountability for their actions and complete treatment successfully. It is important for military service members to understand how the military handles alcohol use so that they can make lawful, responsible choices.
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Availability: Alcohol is readily available and affordable for minors in and around Navy bases
Alcohol is readily available and affordable for minors in and around Navy bases. While there are official efforts to discourage alcohol use in the Navy, it is still physically and socially available to young adults in the military. Alcohol is inexpensive and easy to obtain in base exchanges and commissaries, and in drink promotions at nearby off-base clubs. Bars surrounding naval bases also offer drink specials to encourage junior enlisted personnel to frequent their establishments. While most bars located near U.S. bases adhere to underage purchase laws, underage enlisted personnel have reported that it is not difficult to obtain alcohol in these establishments, as well as in the Navy Exchange, barracks, or hotel rooms near the base.
In interviews with young enlisted personnel, it was noted that there were official Navy discouragement of alcohol use, including providing non-alcoholic beverages at command functions. However, there were also mentions of celebrations after playing on-base intramural sports where food or money was provided, but with the understanding that it could not be used to purchase alcoholic beverages. Despite these efforts, underage drinking remains prevalent in the Navy.
One way that minors obtain alcohol is by asking someone over the legal drinking age to buy it for them. Sympathetic servers or those accepting false identification may be willing to sell alcohol to minors serving in the military. Additionally, underage enlisted personnel may obtain alcohol from friends, both in and out of the Navy, as there is no significant difference in the ease of obtaining alcohol from these sources.
To address the issue of alcohol availability to minors in and around Navy bases, policy implications include raising alcohol prices in base stores to match off-base prices, including taxes. Existing policies regarding the provision of alcohol to minors should also be enforced, especially those concerning furnishing alcohol to underage comrades. Additionally, officers and senior enlisted personnel can promote alcohol-free events and provide non-alcoholic beverages at command functions to offer engaging alternatives to drinking.
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Health: Alcohol misuse can negatively impact the health of minors
In the United States, it is illegal to buy alcohol until the age of 21. However, this does not stop minors from obtaining and consuming alcohol. In the Navy, underage enlisted personnel can obtain alcohol from friends, both inside and outside of the Navy, or from sympathetic servers who believe minors in the military should be allowed to drink.
Alcohol misuse can negatively impact the health of minors in several ways. Firstly, alcohol is a depressant that slows down the central nervous system, altering a person's perceptions, emotions, movement, vision, and hearing. Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to intoxication, resulting in staggering, loss of coordination, slurred speech, confusion, and disorientation, as well as dramatic slowing of reaction times. Minors who drink are more likely to engage in risky behaviours, such as drinking and driving, which can lead to injuries and accidents, including motor vehicle crashes. Alcohol misuse can also increase the risk of violent behaviours, such as homicide, suicide, and sexual violence, as well as unprotected sex, which can lead to sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies.
Additionally, underage drinking can negatively impact brain development, causing memory problems and slower cognitive function. It can also lead to health issues such as high blood pressure and weight gain. One study found that individuals who regularly consumed five or more drinks in a row from the age of 13 were more likely to be overweight or have high blood pressure by age 24 compared to their non-drinking peers. Furthermore, minors who misuse alcohol are at risk of developing an alcohol use disorder (AUD) and are more likely to misuse prescription or illicit drugs, which can have serious health consequences when combined with alcohol.
The negative health impacts of alcohol misuse among minors can be mitigated through community-based interventions, parental involvement, and policy-level changes. Interventions that increase the price of alcohol and enforce zero-tolerance laws for drinking and driving can help prevent underage access to alcohol. Parents can also play a crucial role by modelling responsible alcohol use, communicating clear messages about the importance of abstaining from alcohol during adolescence, and encouraging healthy, alcohol-free activities.
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Encouragement: Minors may be encouraged to drink by those who believe they should be allowed to
There are various reasons why a Navy person might give a minor alcohol. Firstly, there is a culture of drinking in the Navy, with many bars and social events centred around alcohol. While the Navy officially discourages alcohol use, it is readily available and inexpensive, both on and off base. It is also part of the wider culture, with many young enlisted personnel away from their parents for the first time, and there is a sense of freedom and peer pressure.
Some Navy personnel may feel that those under 21 should be allowed to drink, especially if they are old enough to serve their country. This attitude can encourage minors to drink and may lead to the belief that it is acceptable to provide alcohol to those under the legal drinking age. This was highlighted in interviews with young enlisted personnel, where some mentioned that older colleagues or servers would be sympathetic to underage drinking and even provide false identification.
The social availability of alcohol for minors in the Navy is high, and it is easy to obtain from friends or older colleagues, regardless of whether they are of legal drinking age. This is supported by the fact that many respondents shared the view that it would not be difficult to obtain alcohol from friends, both inside and outside the Navy. This encouragement and ease of access may influence minors to drink, especially if they feel it is a normalised part of Navy culture.
In addition, the physical availability of alcohol on bases makes it easily accessible to minors. Alcohol is inexpensive and readily available in base exchanges, commissaries, and nearby off-base clubs. This easy access may encourage minors to drink, especially if they feel they can obtain alcohol without difficulty. While there are policies in place to prevent the provision of alcohol to minors, these do not always seem to be enforced strictly, as indicated by the interviews.
The encouragement for minors to drink by those in the Navy who believe they should be allowed to has potential consequences. Misuse of alcohol can impact military health, performance, and readiness, and may lead to alcohol-related offences, which can result in discharge from the military. Therefore, while there may be a culture of drinking and a sympathetic attitude towards underage drinking in the Navy, it is important for Navy personnel to be aware of the potential risks and consequences of providing alcohol to minors.
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Prevention: The Navy discourages alcohol use and offers alcohol-free events and beverages
The Navy officially discourages alcohol use and has policies in place to prevent underage drinking. Providing alcohol to minors is illegal and can have serious consequences, including discharge from the Navy. The Navy offers alcohol-free events and encourages the consumption of non-alcoholic beverages at command functions. For example, the Navy may provide money for food and non-alcoholic drinks for celebrations after on-base intramural sports. This discourages alcohol use and provides an alternative for those who choose not to drink.
The Navy also recognises that alcohol is inexpensive and readily available both on and off base. It is important to note that the physical and social availability of alcohol for young enlisted naval personnel is high. Alcohol is easy to obtain, both in base exchanges and commissaries, and in drink promotions at nearby off-base clubs. This extensive availability can lead to a culture of drinking, especially among those who are new to living away from home.
To prevent underage drinking, the Navy can enforce existing policies regarding the provision of alcohol to minors, both on and off base. Officers and senior enlisted personnel have the power to offer engaging alcohol-free events and to continue providing non-alcoholic beverages at official functions. Additionally, raising alcohol prices in base stores to match off-base prices, including taxes, may help reduce the physical availability of alcohol to minors.
The Navy also encourages service members to make informed decisions about their drinking behaviour. Understanding the limits of moderate drinking and the health and legal consequences of excessive alcohol consumption can help prevent alcohol-related issues. Service members should be aware that drinking, especially in an irresponsible manner, can impact their performance and lead to alcohol-related offences.
Overall, the Navy takes a proactive approach to discouraging alcohol use and providing alternatives for its personnel. By offering alcohol-free events and beverages, enforcing policies, and educating service members about the risks of alcohol consumption, the Navy aims to prevent underage drinking and promote responsible behaviour among its members.
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Frequently asked questions
Providing alcohol to minors is illegal and can result in serious trouble, including discharge from the military.
The Navy discourages alcohol use and provides non-alcoholic beverages at command functions. They also offer engaging alcohol-free events to enlisted personnel.
While the Navy has policies against providing alcohol to minors, it is still relatively easy for them to obtain alcohol. Minors may ask those over the legal drinking age to buy it for them, use false identification, or obtain it from friends.
