Combating alcohol abuse in the armed forces

The government's strategy for combating alcohol abuse in the armed forces has to be changed, a top psychiatrist said.

Professor Neil Greenberg, an expert in military health at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said the strategy, which includes health fairs and awareness campaigns, didn’t stop military personnel from drinking excessively.

“For many years the military have relied heavily on alcohol education, so for instance soldiers would have to have a brief every year that tells them drinking is bad for them,” Professor Greenberg told the BBC.

“The problem is we know that alcohol education doesn't really work at all, and the evidence from the civilian population is that it's a terribly ineffective way of stopping people from drinking.”

Military culture of alcohol abuse ‘has to be changed’ – UK psychiatrist