Off license public drinking rules would be the guide - I.e. as long as it’s not opened container.
The argument to come back would be that this is still “drinking”, it’s still alcohol, and it’s still a negative influence on those we are charged with positively developing, encouraging the consumption of a potentially harmful substance.
There is one point I strongly disagree with:
External guests*
There will be venues put off by this, there will be parents, civcom, invitees, VIPs put off by this.
Let us be the exemplars of healthy socialising and by all means set those restrictions at their highest if you must (not that I see how previous policy didn’t allow this sufficiently). Ensure a sober ratio to provide adequate supervision and offer safeguarding protection. But with all that in place, how is the mayor a risk after a glass of wine? An elected official, nominated as best placed and most trusted to make decisions and represent the local area in public? How are they a risk to cadets if they’ve managed to not be deemed a risk to council credibility and reputation? Are they suddenly going to like the idea of a headline saying “Local Mayor gets Drunk and Moons Teenagers at Cadet Dinner”?
(* I like how, by the exacting wording of PI123, it’s apparently illegal to allow guests to drink. They tried so hard to be precise with this one…)
100% this kills our quiz nights; we already ran dry for all CFAV.
By the way, does anyone know of the “Defence Policy” that was referenced in the announcement? That source hasn’t been cited.
Re: external events. What about recruiting at public events where there’s a pub nearby or heaven forbid a mobile bar?
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Surely the alcohol has to be opened in the raffle case?
Isn’t it the Defence Smoke Free Working Environment policy? Basically, IIRC, aside from authorised areas by accommodation blocks, there is a no smoking rule for everyone, anywhere on any part of the defence estate.
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Sorry, I meant the latest announcement on the alcohol policy.
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I could put up with all.of this…
Except the whole Port for the Toasts…
Are we really going to have to use Ribenna… its very babyish.
Surely everyone (O18 not cadets) could be allowed 10ml of Port just for the loyal toast!
Total HQAC overstep.
All HQAC will say is that the Loyal Toast can be taken using water as happens for Air Force duty officers or those who don’t drink etc
We use Ribena for the cadets, and just don’t tell them it’s not port. Quite funny to see how many think they’re getting drunk.
A meeting room at Cranwell…
CoS - “Ok, we need to address the issue of retention. Since Apr 2020, the number of Adult Volunteers has dropped from 11,500 to just under 9,500. We have lost over 17% of our ‘workforce’ in 2 years!”
Comdt - “17%…haven’t I heard that figure elsewhere recently?”
CoS - “Probably, it also happens to be the percentage of RAF personnel that have confidence in the senior management!”
Comdt - “Ok…back to the retention issue. We need a new policy to make all the adults volunteers feel worthwhile. I think I’m going to stop them having a glass of wine at dining in nights. That should do the trick!”
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A fellow volunteer at my unit (who is a highly decorated retired regular Sqn Ldr, who is sober) said something similar; the policy is fine but demonstrates a lack of trust in CFAVs by big wigs.
Trust is one of the 5 Dysfunction of a Team, the one on which all else relies, so I understand from that perspective how it’d be unpopular.
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TBH I cannot imagine a situation where the head of my school is interested in what HQAC thinks about alcohol policy for an event taking place at school, under our school’s existing alcohol policy, funded by the school and where he has 100% responsibility for safeguarding under the Education Act.
Young people over 16 are allowed to drink alcohol in licensed premises when eating a meal with an adult, and we apply the same rule (actually we say sixth form only, which is a touch more restrictive). Adult staff are merely required to be ‘not drunk’ when in the presence of pupils.
I think we do a good job of providing socialisation and promoting responsible drinking among young people who are already likely to be drinking anyway. But it must be said I discovered visiting another school for their annual CCF dinner that our policy is seen as quite liberal nowadays: they did not allow pupils to drink alcohol at the dinner and one of their senior management pointed out to me that the research evidence does not back up the contention that drinking in social settings like this reduces teen drinking - on the contrary, it encourages it. So he said: I have not reviewed the evidence either way.
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I assume your sqn canteen only sells fruit and nuts? Although if you eat enough* bananas the radiation will kill you
*several tens of thousands
Nuts, dangerous thing nuts, nut allergy to anaphylactic shock and airways obstruction due or an errant nut getting away. Dangerous things nuts.
Don’t go giving HQAC reasons for banning anything else.
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With any such research, you have to know who commissioned the research , who paid for it, and were there any pre-determined outcomes to prove the commissioners point.
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Most schools do now
Ours does Caramels too
Soooo, if it now aligns with defence policy I assume that there will be a ban on drinking on any military establishment where there are under 18s.
But there isn’t. Anyone living there can still smoke there, in designated areas just as before. It also applies to CFAV staff accommodated on service establishments.