Commanders say the army’s zero-tolerance policy to unacceptable behaviour is seeing some with previously spotless records booted out of the service for offences committed while under the influence.
In a list of 14 army dismissals published by the Military Courts Service since February, drink was a factor in ten of them.
Criminal records can affect future civvy street employment prospects and there can be heavy losses in terms of pension and other benefits too.
Maj Lance Morris of 1st Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment – a former army recruiter – said soldiers needed to consider that excessive drinking could lead to dismissal and loss of good character overnight.
While stressing he was not against troops socialising, he said boozing could also hit personal fitness – a real issue given the chief of the general staff’s directive to increase fighting power.
“We need people who are deployable and can go operations if needed,” he added.
“Our battalion is at short notice to join Nato’s forward land forces in Eastern Europe so we cannot afford to lose personnel – we need as many people in the fight as possible.”
Maj Morris said his own troops had shown awareness of alcohol issues at a recent briefing on addiction by a mental health professional. The discussion had included the financial cost of drinking – which can run into more than £200 for a night out.
However, the briefing suggested many members of the younger generation were less inclined towards alcohol.
This is supported by soon-to-be released figures by the army, which Soldier understands will show a significant fall in alcohol-related violent crime.
Meanwhile, there are concerns partying troops are risking their driving licences by unwittingly being over the legal drink-drive limit the day after.
WO1 Russ Underwood (REME) from the Unacceptable Behaviours Team, who helps organise the unit alcohol adviser courses introduced back in 2019, said booze stayed in the system for far longer than most people realised.
“Drink-driving has actually seen a year-on-year decline in the army but the last figures in 2024 show 242 licences lost, with a number of them down to people getting into the car the day after,” he said.
