Sea shanties, the reference of drinking beer foam in the U.S. Navy’s own Anchors Aweigh hymn, and a culture of drunken sailors all contribute to downplaying the seriousness of alcohol use among Navy sailors. As recently as December 2024, preventable deaths from alcohol use have led to liberty restrictions aboard the USS George Washington according to hip spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Mark Langford.
Yet, restrictions aren’t enough to curb the deep-rooted drinking culture in the Naval Services. In order to curb alcohol abuse rates among service members, the Navy is going to have to use a multipronged approach that includes:
- Education on alcohol addiction
- Efforts to deglamorize heavy binge drinking
- Promoting healthy alternatives to drinking to combat stress
- Encouraging sailors who are engaging in problematic alcohol use to seek treatment as soon as possible
Is Drinking More Common in the Navy?
While Navy sailors don’t actually have the highest rates of alcohol use among service members, the numbers are still staggering. Research on alcohol use in the military shows that:
- Young men in the Army and Navy have similar rates of heavy drinking
- 32.8% of army soldiers and 31.8% of navy sailors say they are heavy drinkers
- Rates of heavy drinking are higher for women in the Marine Corps at 12.9% and Navy at 11.5% compared to the Army and Air Force branches
Alcohol use rates among military members are much higher than regular citizens. Why is this?
Military and Work Culture
It’s hard to define the culture of alcohol use in the military, but there are studies that have attempted to shed light on how military members, including sailors, perceive drinking in the military. By far the biggest reason military members drink heavily is believing that drinking is expected and supported by their peers and leadership. In addition, research has found that other beliefs might contribute to heavy drinking in the military, including beliefs such as:
- It is hard to “fit in” in my command if you do not drink
- Drinking is part of being in my unit
- At parties or gatherings at this installation, everyone is encouraged to drink
- Leadership is tolerant of off-duty alcohol intoxication or drunkenness.
Sure, leadership is encouraged to tell sailors and military members to be safe, not get charged with a DUI or other alcohol-related offense. But often, the message is not received or taken seriously, and empty threats create a culture of alcohol tolerance.
Availability of Alcohol
The military is different than other forms of work, and even more so in the Navy. As recently as 2014, sailors who were underway for more than 45 days were even offered two beers.
Research shows that Navy sailors have ample opportunities to drink while underway and at port, including:
- In Navy Exchange base stores which offer low prices
- Frequent barracks parties
- Bars in surrounding bases that offer drink promotions
- Underage drinking opportunities for sailors on and off base
The rampant availability of alcohol creates both cultural acceptance and expectation for sailors to drink, which can lead to peer pressure and binge drinking.
Additionally, the stressful and often isolating environment of being on a ship for long periods of time can also contribute to increased alcohol consumption as a coping mechanism. Naval service, even when not actively engaged in combat, is inherently dangerous and difficult. Add in adverse weather, incredibly tight and busy operational schedules, long family separations and stresses from home, and it is easy to see how Sailors and Marines turn to alcohol as a coping strategy, especially when they are unaware of healthy alternatives.
Recent Efforts to Change Drinking Culture in the Navy
Denying certain liberties and banning alcohol consumption for sailors in Japan is just one of the many recent efforts made by the Navy to address its drinking culture. Recently, the Navy has started different initiatives and programs to help promote responsible drinking and reduce alcohol-related incidents among sailors.
One such effort is the Navy’s updated Alcohol and Drug Misuse Prevention and Control policies, which highlight:
- Education to effectively manage an alcohol prevention program
- Proactive command involvement, meaning superiors should take the initiative to educate lower petty officers on responsible drinking and intervene if necessary
- A command climate intolerant of any alcohol or drug misuse
- Prevention, education, intervention and medical rehabilitative treatment when appropriate
- Promoting healthy alternatives to cope with stress and allowing Sailors and Marines to seek mental health support when needed
Unfortunately, even if a command follows these guidelines, there may still be instances of alcohol misuse or abuse among service members. Sailors might even hide or deny their issues with alcohol or believe that alcohol treatment will lead to administrative separation.
Breaking Stigma and Encouraging Alcohol Treatment
The Navy’s Own Your Limits campaign aims to break the stigma surrounding alcohol misuse and encourage service members to seek help if they are struggling with alcohol addiction. This is a positive development after years of punitive reactions to soldiers struggling with substance addiction in the military. The campaign emphasizes the importance of getting help and treatment early on, before the issue escalates and negatively impacts one’s career or personal life.
Additionally, command leadership plays a crucial role in promoting a culture that supports mental health and seeking help for substance abuse issues. While services differ by branch, the Navy has several different resources for sailors who need alcohol addiction treatment, including: Drug and Alcohol Program Advisor
- Navy Drug and Alcohol Counselor
- DoD medical personnel
- Approved civilian treatment providers in network with TriCare
- Fleet and Family Support Center counselor
- Your Commanding Officer, Executive Officer
- Command Master Chief
- Chief of the Boat
- Senior Enlisted Advisors, or Leading Chief Petty Officers
- Chaplain
- Marine and Family Substance Misuse Counseling Centers
Remember, it’s better to ask for help for your alcohol use before an incident occurs, like a DUI or other arrest. The sooner you ask for help from your command, the better your chances of recovery.
Scott H. Silverman is an addiction and recovery expert with 40 years of experience. He is the Founder and CEO of Confidential Recovery, a San Diego substance abuse treatment center that specializes in helping active military service members, veterans, and first responders get and stay sober. He is also a founder and board member of The Veterans Navigation Center, a San Diego-based organization that helps veterans transition to civilian life.