A defence select committee report has called for the Ministry of Defence to conduct an urgent study into the issue of alcohol misuse within the armed forces. The report suggests 13% of military personnel have alcohol dependency compared to 6% in the general population.
However a General submitting evidence appeared to refute there was a higher prevalence of alcohol dependence, but accepted there was a significant issue of alcohol misuse.
General Berragan, Director General Personnel, said misuse of alcohol in personnel under 35 years old was about twice as high as in the broader society with an even higher difference for women. He explained that the Armed Forces recruited risks-takers, put them in a stressful situation and then returned them home with money and free time when they drank excessively.
The committee said the MoD was "yet to recognise the seriousness of the alcohol problem and must review its policy in this area". It also said "It is unclear to us whether the MoD regards the misuse of alcohol and other dangerous risk-taking behaviour as part of a pattern of reprehensible behaviour which requires punishment or discouragement, or a manifestation of stress which requires treatment, or indeed a combination of both."
See a report in the Guardian or the full chapter on alcohol in the Defence Committee Seventh Report.
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