June 2006, Issue 71 [pdf 2.8mb, 40 - Royal New Zealand Air Force

6
W/O OF THE AIR FORCE
KEITH GELL
‘IT’S NOT THE DRINKING, IT’S HOW WE ARE DRINKING’
The Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand (ALAC)
is currently running a national campaign titled ‘it’s just
a drink’. Their objective is for us as New Zealanders to
take a look at ourselves, in particular the way we are
drinking. As a nation we drink to celebrate, we drink
to commiserate, we drink because it is Friday and we
drink because it is the weekend.
In the Air Force we are no different, we like socialising
and we enjoy celebrating. For example pay night is still
a big event in our J/Rs club, as is Friday night in the
Officers and W/Os and SNCOs messes. There is nothing
wrong with this and long may it live, because that is not
the problem. According to the statistics 88% of men and
83% of women claim they are drinkers, again that is
not the problem. We are drinking less alcohol than ever
before and we are ranked 24 internationally.
So what is the problem? The problem is how we are
drinking. We, as New Zealanders, save it up for Friday
night and the weekends, and sometimes we over-indulge
where it affects our behaviour. What I want us to do as
an Air Force, is to ‘pinch ourselves’ and to take stock as
to where we see ourselves within the national campaign
currently being run.
We can have all the rules and regulations in place as
much as we want - however that will have no effect on
how we drink. It is the culture of drinking that we need
to focus on. We all need to do this, not just those in
command positions, but everyone, because at the end
of the day it comes down to you. In saying this it also
comes down to mateship, which is everyone looking
after everyone by providing the necessary support and
guidance. For example saying ‘you have had enough’
takes courage. This is all about mateship, especially
when you are trying to bring about alternative behaviours
for those who need it. It’s not about preaching the evils
of getting drunk, it’s about individuals owning their
behaviour, and it’s about living our values.
We, as a responsible organisation, also need to have
a look at ourselves collectively. We are all parents of
the Air Force and we have an obligation for each other
and those we serve. Your workplace culture is a good
place to start this. To push it along I have spoken with
the three Base Warrant Officers on this subject with the
desire of bringing this topic onto the radar screen at each
Base. The intention, as with the national programme,
is to not discourage people from drinking, but to own
their behaviour when they do have a drink.
So, the next time you watch the TV or read the papers,
take stock at what is being said by ALAC and have a
look at yourself. Celebrating success is important to us
and is part of our ethos. How we celebrate and to what
extent is where we need to look at ourselves. Rules and
regulations is another topic, we’ve already got enough of
them, it’s about our drinking culture. Think about it.
AFN71 JUNE 06 www.airforce.mil.nz