Combatting Military Drinking Culture

Has anyone else been getting advertisements for the Stanford study for military spouses who are worried about their active duty partner’s drinking?

Or is it just me?

Either way, these ads have me thinking about the drinking culture I’ve noticed since I joined the military spouse community, and the ways that we might all benefit from some changes.

I met my husband shortly before his first promotion, and quickly discovered the idea of a “wetting-down.”

For those in branches that don’t use this term, a wetting-down is an after-promotion tradition where the newly promoted officer is expected to spend half their pay increase getting the rest of the unit drunk.

Coming from a work setting where most people are sober, this was a huge culture shock to me and raised a lot of questions – including, first and foremost,

“Why on earth would you want to get drunk with all your coworkers??” 

This event was my first exposure to military drinking culture, but it definitely hasn’t been my last.

Holiday parties, dining outs, balls, promotions – all of these have been occasions to drink, and I’m sure just about every military spouse out there has some stories about the drunk behavior they’ve witnessed.

It just seems to be the way things are in the military. Many of these traditions have been around for decades, if not centuries, and as we all know, the military LOVES tradition!

Inevitably, creating a culture where celebrations are linked with alcohol has consequences that spread beyond the boundaries of those specific events.

Drinking is something that many of us find enjoyable, relaxing, and a way to connect with our friends.

With military service being stressful, often involving long hours and high-stakes situations, it’s no wonder service members might find this particularly appealing.

The focus on community in the military also plays a role here, and these deep bonds within units mean that habits can spread easily within groups – if all your friends go out drinking a few times a week, and you want to spend that time with them, it’s likely you’ll end up drinking too.

As a result of all of this, it has become clear that problem drinking is an issue in the military and, fortunately, the stigma of seeking treatment seems to be lessening.

But in a community where drinking is normalized and celebrated, how can we protect those who are vulnerable, and help keep others from falling into a pattern of unhealthy drinking?

And how can we, as military spouses, hope to make a difference in a world we’re only indirectly part of?

In my opinion, one thing we can work on is decentralizing alcohol. This might look different in different venues, but may include:

• providing ample non-alcoholic options so people feel like there are other good choices besides alcohol.
• providing non-clear cups to beverages into, so people feel less self-conscious if they’re drinking something that doesn’t look like a beer. 
• making alcoholic choices less convenient – for example, provide a cooler of sodas, but have beers in a fridge – this has the added bonus of keeping them out of the curious hands of children.
• choose event spaces where alcohol isn’t a primary focus of the venue.
• limit alcohol consumption by providing drink tickets rather than having an open bar.

These changes promote a more inclusive environment for those who don’t drink, as well as for those who may be trying to cut back. As an example of how these little changes can make a difference, compare these two events:

• Event A, a unit holiday party, is held at a bowling alley, and is open to spouses and children. There is a large bar central to the space, and drink tickets for all 21+ attendees. As the bar also takes cash, people continue to drink after using their drink tickets, including buying rounds of shots, and some get quite drunk.

• Event B, a yearly unit party, is held in an outdoor park space, and is also open to spouses and children. The event includes a friendly sports match, a baking competition, and a cookout. Beer is available, but is located off to the side and served in solo cups rather than in bottles/cans. Soda and water are both readily available for all. 

Although both of these events make alcoholic beverages available (and actually, Event A has a limit to the free drinks while Event B does not), they would likely feel very different.

At Event A, you have to go up to the bar to get any drink, including a non-alcoholic one, making the choice to not drink harder for many.

At Event B, although some people may choose beer, it is possible to avoid that part of the party and drink the more easily accessible soda or water instead. To someone trying not to drink, Event B would likely be a much more comfortable environment.

Although we aren’t the ones in the military, as military spouses, we are often involved in planning, or at least helping our spouses plan, events related to their work.

This gives us opportunities to help drive change. When possible, I want to encourage and empower you to consider making changes that decentralize the consumption of alcohol, and to speak up when you see situations which do focus on drinking.

Often, you may be surprised how positive the reactions are! 

*If you missed Zell’s first blog post, you can find it HERE!