It seems like every year or two someone comes up with some clever slogan that spawns a new campaign set on “deglamorizing” alcohol. Usually in response to an increase in alcohol-related incident (ARIs)s or DUIs, the local community gets blanketed with posters, banners, brochures and other propaganda aiming to get you to try a bunch of other recreational activities that don’t involve booze. Now, I understand that alcohol is a contributing factor to many of the incidents that happen on and off base, but these deglamorization initiatives always annoy the hell out me.
It’s not that I don’t think there are better things to do than drink, it’s just I find these initiatives completely useless and a complete waste of time. Originally, it was the “Right Spirit” campaign which told you that drinking didn’t make you cool. Then Yokosuka came up with the “None for the Road” program that told you that drunk driving didn’t make you cool. Now we have the “Clear Vision” campaign, which again aims to show you that you don’t have to be drunk to be cool.
My first question is, is there any statistical data to show that any of these programs actually work? I only say this because I’m a pretty average guy, and I’ve never had any of these campaigns affect me in any way, positive or not. I’ve never stopped myself from drunkenly getting behind the wheel because I was reminded of how “None for the Road” was a pretty good pun. No, in fact I’ve never driven drunk because I didn’t want to die or kill someone else. And I’ve certainly never had an experience where a hot girl came up to compliment me on how cool I look with a beer in my hand, so the “Right Spirit” didn’t tell me anything I didn’t already know.
The new Clear Vision has some good intentions, trying to get Sailors to participate in MWR events instead of drinking, but it’s going to be a real hard sell. First, the MWR in Japan kind of sucks. I know it’s a little taboo to say something like that, as it’s something offered for our benefit, but seriously, I’m not a fan. I know we’re in Japan and all, and we should be experiencing the culture, but I really don’t care all that much about it. I don’t want to waste a day “climbing” Mt. Fuji with a bunch of other tourists. I don’t want to see some cherry blossoms, nor do I want to go to a hot spring. Maybe when I’m going through my mid-life crisis I’ll take all those things up, but right now, screw it. What do I think would be some good MWR events? I’m not sure, but then again, that’s not my job. I will say this however, Subase Bangor in Silverdale had the greatest MWR events I’ve ever attended. They had real white water rafting, paintball, sky-diving, all kinds of cool shit.
The truth is, drinking is a way of life for Sailors…as in those on ships! Sure some may not drink, but I assure you it’s only a handful. When you’re underway for two months and finally pull into a port or back home, all you and your buddies want to do is find the nearest bar and let the good times flow. Alcohol may not be what it takes to have fun, but it sure as helps. And as long as Sailors are on ships, and those ships are at sea, booze will be heavily consumed.
But what about the junior guys? Let them learn from their mistakes. When I started drinking, I thought I was a badass and I could handle this and that, but a few times waking up naked somewhere, or doing something embarrassing and finding the pictures of said event were mailed to everyone in your shop, I wised up. We need to stop acting like people don’t know what alcohol does to their mind and body, we’re all aware of it. People will continue to make stupid mistakes, and they’ll have to pay for those mistakes. “Deglamorization” campaigns do little more than help the person who started it with getting a higher evaluation score come eval time.
Comments 6
true statement that all this alco-deglam is nothing more than annoying. they should let us sailors be sailors. nowadays, we’re a bunch of pussies compared to the Royal Navy
Posted 08 Feb 2008 at 9:39 pm ¶Back in the 80’s I was a paid extra in a t.v. movie called “The Winds of War.” I was on active duty at the time and on leave. We were filming in Yugoslavia and the scene called for “drunken sailors to escort bar ladies down the pier before the submarine leaves port.” The director, Dan Curtis, would get mad when we weren’t acting “drunk enough” for the scenes. Quite a few times he would get his bullhorn, muster us together and scream in the pouring rain - “Come on you guys - you’re all in the Navy - you should know how to act drunk by now!”
Art does imitate life ….
Posted 09 Feb 2008 at 3:21 pm ¶Well, the posters do brighten up some of the walls so there is some accidental benefit, but yes, unless there is an alternative offered, “boys WILL be boys” and in America drinking is associated with having a good time, like it or not!
Posted 21 Feb 2008 at 2:04 am ¶As far as the MWR programs… they really do suck here. Whatever they got at the Fleet rec is cool, but as for the rest? What is there?
You want sailors to use MWR programs? Offer stuff they would want. Skydiving would be cool, bunjee jumping, sailing (I think they have ONE class every year… I certainly haven’t been able to learn how to sail for the 3 years I’ve been here despite going over there and calling. They seem to never have an instructor).
I see morale sinking deeper and deeper every day. There seems to be a competition to see who can get the most people in trouble. What happened to being one big family?
And I agree completely with the author of this blog. Japan is the most racist country I have ever seen and they do not want us here. We are definitely made to feel unwelcomed here, so let’s get out. Let them deal with the enemies they have created for themselves. What interests do we have here? Toyotas and Hondas? How many US cars do you see on the streets here? It’s a one sided trade situation anyway.
Every time I see a “Japanese Only” sign, my blood boils.
Alcohol Deglamorization- yeah we know it doesn’t work. But it’s better than the truth, which is the fact that the Captain of the base would rather everyone sit in their barracks room and drink themselves into oblivion, than deal with the Japanese. Because it would make his job of sitting on his ever widening… seem a little bit easier. He, I would imagine is tired of having these stupid times of reflection also. I know that people get drunk and do stupid things. But here nothing really happens. The occasional person gets drunk forgets their keys and tries to climb the escape ladder so they can get into their apartment. Good idea. I would have done it even if I wasn’t drunk. Second part, guy opens a window and soon figures it’s not his apartment. Can I tell you that I would totally do that even if I wasn’t drunk. It was an accident. And if it were in the states it really would have been no big deal. But because it involved alcohol its like the end of the World as we know it. And thus goes on for stupid things done. Not everyone can cope with the stress of being over here. Nor can they deal with the fact that there is absolutely nothing to do or worth the effort of going out and doing. Hard Rock gets a little old after a while as well as Ueno zoo. Everything else you would want to do you can do on base and for a lot cheaper. Dollar movie night and Subway seems like a good deal to me.
Posted 04 Mar 2008 at 11:21 am ¶So- I guess for my ramblings the only frustration that I have with drinking is the fact that some dumb guy got screwed over by his buddies and they weren’t looking after him and that I have to pay the reprocussions of wasting my day. But at least I’m not alone. And even know that there are many drinkers who feel the same way. Because it only takes one person to screw it up for the bunch. So my motto is drink responsibly and have a buddy cause they both go a long way.
They can use any deglamourization scheme, the bottom line is………The NEX has the biggest selection of liquor anywhere. Wether its here or in the states. We have the access to the biggest selection fo booze, its so easy for any dumdshit to go and buy massive amounts of liquor without being questioned.
Posted 24 Mar 2008 at 10:30 pm ¶Alcohol Deglamorization–when I hear that, I think of the great line in ‘Master and Commander’ where the Doc is telling the CO that it would be a good idea to cut the grog ration for the crew and the CO responds in shock: “And eliminate over 300 years of tradition!?”
Posted 22 May 2008 at 8:58 pm ¶Post a Comment
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