December 2023 — MHCE Newsletter

WWW.MHCE.US Monthly Newsletter | 17
indicated that the change would have little
impact on sales for that time frame.
"Alcohol sales after 2200 and before 0600
at the 161 stores impacted accounted for
less than 1% of total alcohol sales last
year," he said.
Stars and Stripes reported that 25% of
AAFES outlets sell alcohol in the soon-tobe-banned
time frame. The publication also
reported that the NavyExchange stopped
selling alcohol between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
at more than 100 locations a decade ago as
a way to stop sexual assault and alcoholrelated
offenses.
"Junior enlisted service members spoke
openly about their own excessive use,
including how they recognized their own
drinking was problematic," according to
the report with the final recommendations
of the Suicide Prevention and Response
Independent Review Committee.
"Other service members spoke about past
alcohol-related convictions, especially
driving under the influence (DUI) charges,
and military law enforcement at every
installation told us that excessive alcohol
use is involved in most of the on-base
incidents to which they respond," it added.
The study by the committee, which was
an independent panel, said that 18% of
service members who died by suicide in
2021 were diagnosed with an alcohol-use
disorder. Other findings said that 10% of
troops engaged in heavy drinking or binge
drinking at least once per week over the
month the study measured.
Outside of limited hours and banning
alcohol promotion, the study recommended
that additional training be implemented to
prevent abusive alcohol consumption.
"Revised training should include modules
and information about alcohol use and
misuse, the alcohol content of drinks,
what constitutes healthy versus unhealthy
and excessive drinking, how alcohol
impairs judgment and performance as
well as increases risk for suicide and
perpetrating sexual violence, and strategies
for recognizing and addressing harmful
drinking in oneself and others," it said.
Merry
Christmas
From our family to yours,
Happy Holidays and a
Happy New Year!