Didn’t someone put in a FOI about the HQ kitchen!?
Can confirm that they were indeed all non alcoholic beverages, which I was told the commandant was happy with as it was within regulations 
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But as ever it’s the perception given when seeing a beer bottle 
Looks like the old classic….”I’ll have a bottle of alcohol-free beer and can you stick a whiskey chaser in it for me. And one for yourself barman. Cheers!”
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From what I’ve heard the first event the commandant attended as CAC was the JL graduation dinner before the ruling came in - apparently he was quite embarrassed on how messy it was whilst he was present let alone after he retired for the evening.
At least one good thing that came about in his tenure.
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And this is where I agree with the Zero-Alcohol policy . . . We’ve all heard too many stories of Sqn dinners etc where Staff or 18+ cadets (or <18 cadets. . . ) have had far too much
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But, why should that stop me having a wind down social in the mess bar with other staff after a busy day on camp when I am off duty?
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I would love to get to the point where we can do just that, and most people have been sensible. It’s just ruined by those few that went silly.
isn’t that the prerequisite for a policy being written/updated?
In the Beginning there was Common Sense. And all thought it was good.
But then some turned away from Common Sense and the sky turned black.
So it came to pass that the MOD sent forth Policy to bring all back together.
And Policy was good.
But the roots of Policy began to spread and consume all in its way and soon Common Sense had become entangled and strangled until it was dead…
And Policy now ruled the world.
Here Endeth the Lesson
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FWIW, I actually agree with the policy especially on residentials.
You’re never truly fully off-duty on a residential activity, even if on a rest period. If the excrement hits the fan, you could be called upon quite quickly to get stuff organised and keep cadets safe.
I’ve worked several years of a programme that has multiple, week-long residentials with teenage participants. We were all banned from drinking whilst on these programmes; and I quite liked a drink at the time. But, not being an alcoholic, I sucked it up and got on with the task at hand because I had ultimately chosen to be there.
As it transpired, there were several occasions where I was not on duty but had to step up to attend incidents and, had I been drinking, my ability to do so would have been greatly diminished.
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Several good reasons given above for having a zero tolerance to drunkenness policy and / or a ‘two can’ rule for those on duty. Absolutely no justification for the current policy, with all the problems it’s causing finding venues, preventing cadets from attending certain prestigious events (e.g. Gala dinner at RIAT, garden parties with royalty, civic engagements with Lord Lieutenants, mayors, etc.)
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The current policy doesn’t prevent this. It only prevents us hosting events where alcohol is served.
By all means attack the policy if you believe it to be wrong for us, but let’s ensure accuracy in those attacks.
I stand corrected. This was based on the cadets who are normally on the doors at Patrons Pavilion being replaced with UAS cadets last year.
I disagree: on a residential course, it should be perfectly possible to designate duty staff and for non-duty staff to go for a beer or two.
That said, on summer camp last year the definition of the supervision ratio required plus the need for male and female duty staff didn’t give much time off in the mess. But I did manage a couple of beers during the week by creating and publishing a duty rota. It required a duty officer, duty driver and duty ‘other gender’ officer, IIRC, plus one more for ratios as we had >30 cadets.
(I don’t know why 1:10 still applies during non-working hours: in fact, I suspect it doesn’t. For comparison boarding schools run over night on about a much higher ratio perfectly safely and legally.)
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It was indicated but not specifically mentioned that the supervisions ratios apply 24 hours a day.
I work in a school and know that no extended trips would happen is the RAFAC rules were applied in the education sector.
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Interesting aside to those points, are we also required to allow anyone who is driving to have time ‘off duty’ for hours reasons?
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Yes; and this was a bit of an issue on camps. MT issued us with a form where those who might drive were required to complete working and driving hours every day, and this did need some careful management. Most camp programmes are copy/paste from previous years but some will need revision if they are going to be feasible in future. If I am ever camp comdt again then I may have to push back at the ACLO if the programme doesn’t allow time off for drivers.
(If, because if the VA restrictions rumoured do come to pass, I’m not going to accept nomination as CC in future.)
yes and i had a “heated discussion” about this regarding an air show visit.
As the activity IC and SOV driver I was told I would need additional staff to attend the make the event happen as i had not allowed “off duty” time for the Driver (me) between the drive to the show and the RTU drive.
I questioned how this was determined, and the WSO suggested that I had no allowed for any “rest period”
to which i questioned what he thought i was doing once the Cadets had been “released” to enjoy the air show and the RV at the end of the day - clue, it was sitting down watching the air show
he backed down, accepting that the Cadets were not in my direct supervision, but only reluctantly
(we had 1:10 staff:cadet ratio but he seemed insistent a driver could not be “resting” if watching the airshow, to which I suggested what else should a driver be doing to “rest” at an air show other than sitting down doing nothing between the driving elements?)
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Pretty much exactly what all the coach drivers are doing, and I bet they are clocking it as rest time!
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