Drunk Army Personnel offer cops a sip too

Drunk armymen offer cops a sip too 22/10/2012
It came as quite a shock to Kaushal Mahendrabhai, an on-duty cop, when two drunk army men offered his superior liquor.“Drink this and let us go. Don’t make a fuss” was what they said. They were caught by Mahendrabhai in an inebriated state near the entrance of the Vibrant Navratri festival at GMDC ground in Ahmedabad.
The jawans were identified as Bhomaram Chopal, 30, native of Dhimipur village in Rajasthan and Tanmay Kundu, 28, native of Shivgam in West Bengal. According to Vastrapur police, both of them are deployed in the 11th division at Shahibaug army camp.
Mahendrabhai, a lok rakshak of Vastrapur police, was deployed at GMDC ground. At around 10.30pm, he saw two persons creating a ruckus near the entrance to the ground. “Two jawans were misbehaving with visitors and teasing girls. When I confronted them, they abused me and claimed that they were from the army. However, they were not wearing uniforms and didn’t have any ID cards. Since they were drunk, they were taken to our control room and I called our superior officer, ML Makwana, a police inspector from Rajkot,” said Mahendrabhai.
When Makwana decided to arrest them for consuming liquor, the duo allegedly misbehaved with him as well and offered him liquor in exchange for letting them go. The cops called Vastrapur police and had the miscreants arrested. While searching them, cops found 200ml of liquor on Chopal and 300ml of liquor on Kundu. The liquor was stored in plastic bottles and kept in their pockets. Cops have also seized their army jeep and taken it to the police station.
In addition to being drunk, both gave their wrong name and cadre. They were caught when their superior officer, Subedar Kanwarsinh Chauhan, came to the police station with their ID cards. Apart from the complaint of consuming liquor, cops have filed a case of misleading police by furnishing false information against Chopal and Kundu.
-via DNA.
Drunk armymen offer cops a sip too

Curbs on military canteen booze flow

Curbs on military canteen booze flow
Rajat Pandit, TNN Mar 21, 2012, 01.50AM IST
The move comes in the backdrop of CAG reports and parliamentary committees criticizing the widespread irregularities in the working of the 35 CSD ( canteen stores department) depots, which have a retail network of 3,600 URCs (unit-run canteens) and a turnover of over Rs 8,500 crore.
The new measures include restricting the number of Scotch bottles an officer can draw to 50% of his monthly liquor quota. Major-generals and lieutenant generals will get only seven to eight Scotch bottles in their existing monthly quota of 14-16 bottles.
Similarly, colonels and below will get five to six Scotch bottles in their 10-12 bottle quota. Field Marshals and equivalents and serving and retired Service chiefs, of course, can draw all the liquor they want since they have "no limit".
More importantly, there is a move to "limit" the liquor quota under the "bronze cards" that are used by URCs and others for bulk purchases. "This is the main source of misuse. If the ceiling limit in a bronze card was earlier 10,000 bottles a month, it will be brought down to 1,000," said the source.
Several cases of widespread diversion of the much-cheaper military quota liquor secretly reaching the open market have come to the fore, leading to the court-martial of several senior officers, including a major-general, in recent years.
A performance audit of CSD by CAG had also found that several units were drawing liquor far in excess of what was authorized based on the number of soldiers and ex-servicemen connected with those units.
There is also the move to restrict the sale of cars through CSD, which are about 10%-15% cheaper than market prices. "I recently bought a Honda City through CSD since it cost Rs 1.25 lakh less," said an officer.
If earlier an officer could buy a car through CSD every two years, the new policy restricts it to once in five years. Similarly, JCOs (junior commissioned officers) will be able to buy a car once every 10 years that earlier could be done every five years.
Curbs on military canteen booze flow
Restrictions
Unit Run Canteens management will ensure attractive items are sold only toauthorised personnel as on required basis on not in excess quantity. Strict watch bemaintained where there is large difference in CSD and market rates such as suitcases,watches, pressure cookers, fans and other attractive toiletry and cosmetic items. Profile of customers be strictly watched for spending beyond means.
Monetary limit for all ranks- Purchase of CSD items
Comment: This is a welcome measure. There is gross misuse of CSD facility and the items find its way into the civilian market. Liquor is being openly sold in metro cities. Culprits make around Rs 5000/- (families too get involved in the racket) and more a month profit on one individual canteen card. Liquor is traded and bartared for services. Officers serving and retired must set an example. "Just buy quantum of liquor/ grocery one consumes" only must be the mantra. All Officers who draw their full quota in one go need to be monitored as it is certain that they are selling or bartaring the liquor. Once Officers set an example than JCO's and Jawans will follow the good example. Military personnel and families who have multiple canteen cards and posted in the same station are more prone to misuse the facility. Chennai and Punjab leads in misuse of canteen facilities. Ingenious methods have been evolved to cheat the system. Items are openly traded in civilian shops... and liquor more clandestinely and surreptiously smuggled. In the digital era software can be designed to give the correct picture of those who misuse canteen facility and warnings issued to the offenders electronically with the usage of smart card. This automation will deter offenders from malpractise (no email id no smart card- initially this can be done for Officers and then extended to JCOs and Jawans)). It is important to embed email of all users in the smart card. Once this is done be rest assured that the misuse will reduce tenfold and will vanish in year or so.

Alcoholic Ex Servicemen kills his wife

Retired army officer missing after allegedly killing wife
How did the 'clerk' become an 'officer'! Was he an SL commission officer?
Mumbai: In a shocking incident in surburban Mumbai, a retired army officer, Mahipal Singh, killed his wife at their residence in Kalina Military Camp.
Click here to read more

Man used skills taught in army to strangle wife
By: Saurabh Vaktania Date: 2012-03-16 Place: Mumbai
Autopsy reports state former army man Mahipal Singh choked his spouse by applying pressure with his thumbs -- one of the most basic lessons taught in training
AN army officer who is suspected to have killed his wife and is on the run used the oldest self-defence tactic to murder his spouse, autopsy reports reveal. According to the police, the accused Mahipal Singh choked his wife Anju's throat by applying pressure with his thumbs.
On the lookout: Cops have been combing the local bars in the area as Mahipal Singh is an alcoholic, and is likely to haunt such places.
Authorities say it is the oldest technique in self-defence training and is one of the basic lessons taught during army training. "We have found a thumb impression of the accused on the deceased's throat. It is clear that Singh choked the victim," said an officer from Vakola police station.
On Tuesday evening, army officials from the military camp in Kalina called up the Vakola police to inform them that Anju Kanwar (35), wife of a defence security personnel Singh (40), was found dead at the residential quarters in the campus.
Their 9-year-old son found Anju's body at 6 pm after he returned home from school. The post-mortem report states that the time of death was 2 pm.
The Vakola police have formed a special team to track down Singh. Officials from the Crime Branch and Special squad (west region) are also on the lookout for Singh. One of the officers told MiD DAY that they were looking at all bars around the area, as Singh is a drunkard. Investigators suspect that Singh has fled to Goa.
Meanwhile, Anju's family members arrived from Rajasthan and have taken custody of the body following the post mortem and are also caring for the young son.
A Mid Day Report

Readers responses

Haridas Mandal (13:15:56): And still army issues cheap liquors from it’s 4500 Unit Run Canteens just to earn 1000 crore a year to celebrate 365 days a year in the name of Raising Days, Founder’s dayS, Kargil Days, Bangladesh war days etc etc and end up making its officers as well as jawans permanently addicted to liquors. Will some body from the Medical Council of India will stand up and comment on the very efficacy of issuing freely available cheap liquors to serving troops, to the ex-serving troops and even to their equally addicted widows?

I cannot but agree on this point. I wish all serving/ retired officers take up this point from here. Military service has converted a large percentage of raw recruits to Alcaholics simply through easy and cheap availability of liquor. A few who do not drink, got into the habit of selling their quota to Civilians for a profit. This is true of even very senior officers! Corruption begins right here! What is the logic of a widow of an ESM/ ESO drawing liquor from Canteens? An excellent point to ponder!

Alcohol Abuse: Military is top liquor guzzler

As reported by Ellavya Atray in dnaindia.com on 07 February 2009: DNA: India
New Delhi: If an adult Indian, on average, consumes a trickle of alcohol in a year, an Indian Jawan guzzles a bucketful.

The military has emerged as the single most organised guzzler of liquor in the country, with an annual consumption of nine litres per head, at least a litre more than the Malayalees, India's biggest alcohol-consuming community.

Though alcohol consumption is still not well documented in the country, the average per capita consumption (for population aged 15 and above) is a little less than a litre, according to World Health Organisation figures.

Reply to a detailed questionnaire on the sale of liquor in military canteens, filed by DNA under the Right To Information (RTI) Act, shows that our soldiers consumed a staggering 1.1 crore bottles of hard liquor -- rum, vodka, whiskey, and brandy -- in 2007, not to mention 1.2 million bottles of beer and sundry wines.

No wonder, then, the recent cut in liquor quota sold in military canteens dampened the spirits of the men and women in uniform.

Rum continues to be the most preferred choice, though it's gradually losing the kick. Vodka sales, on the other hand, have seen a threefold rise in the last four years.

"Many army wives drink, and they prefer vodka," said an officer who looks after a few canteens. "It is light compared to whisky and rum."

Surprisingly, Old Monk, the old favourite of beginners and veterans alike, is not the most sold rum. That crown goes to the military's own Contessa.
Military is top liquor guzzler

Alcohol and Drug Abuse
The role of unit command is to provide well-trained, physically fit and mentally alert Jawans and Officers who can successfully accomplish their assigned duty. Jawans who abuse alcohol and drugs will negatively impact on the successful attainment of this objective. Specifically abusers effect morale, cohesion, performance and unit readiness. Their actions could result in serious injury to civilians, other members and or to themselves. Therefore alcohol and drug abuse should not be tolerated by Unit/ formation Commanders.

Jawans and Officers should not misuse/ consume alcohol under the following conditions:
1. If the member is under the age of 21.
2. Within 12 hours of reporting for duty or while on duty.
3. While in uniform.
4. When the mission requirements dictate.
5. Within 12 hours of operating a motor vehicle or while operating a motor vehicle.
6. When restricted by the commander

Liquor should not used for trading, services or bartering especially with civilians, servants and vendors for favours or used for bribing in lieu of cash. Selling liquor in the civil market for monetary gains is a punishable crime. (There is rampant misuse of liquor in the Military Training Institutions starting from premier Staff College to the lesser ones).

Substance abuse or excessive drinking is considered unbecoming conduct. Members who violate this policy should be subjected to strict disciplinary action under the Army Act. Recent cases as reported by media prove that drunken Officers and Jawans break the rule of the land by committing civil crimes.

Cyber Sex: New challenges for the Indian Military

US Centric
As military personnel return from Iraq and Afghanistan, there is growing concern about how the range of traumatic brain injury, post traumatic stress, depression, anxiety and tobacco and alcohol and drug abuse has increased dramatically. According to research released by RAND, up to 30 percent of returning war veterans report symptoms of cognitive impairment or mental disorders. Military personnel who have been exposed to combat are more likely to engage in binge drinking and smoking. As a result, the Millennium Cohort Study will follow a representative sample of the U.S. military personnel from 2001 to 2022 – making it the largest of its kind in the history of our military.

But there’s another type of addiction prevalent in the military – sex addiction, especially cybersex addiction. Renowned expert Robert Weiss, founder of the Sexual Recovery Institute in California, consults with the military to spread awareness about this growing concern. Behavioral Health Central spoke with Weiss about this issue.
Read more:
Addressing Sex Addiction in the Military – A Talk with Expert Rob Weiss from the Sexual Recovery Institute

India Centric
Troops who serve in High Altitude areas, Jammu and Kashmir and NE Regions combating terror do suffer from isolation, risk to life, lack of recreation and entertainment. This frustrating living conditions is ideal to develop various addictions like alcohol, drugs and cyber sex. JCOs, NCOs and Sepoy's are more prone to various addictions as they mingle freely with civil population and the Military needs to be aware of it to constantly strive and evolve mechanisms to combat such diseases which can reduce the combat potential of a unit/ individual. The Officer community too with increasing purchasing power after the SCPC do succumb to addictions if they are not kept busy in professional work. ASC, Ordnance, EME and AMC officers are more prone to porn addiction and it is essential that there is inbuilt checks to ensure such addiction does not degrade the the Military in its Conduct, Morale and Leadership. Lessons need to be learnt from UN Peace Keeping ops in Africa where child sex and smuggling were dominant features of the Peace Keepers. click here for child sex and smuggling report by UNO
Condom machines at borders for PMF

"Kick the Bottle" sane advise by Pranab Mukherjee

Press Trust of India, Tuesday July 28, 2009, New Delhi
Kick the bottle, was the advice of Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee to senior BJP leader Jaswant Singh in the Lok Sabha on Monday, leading to much mirth in the House.

The advice to Singh on the ill-effects of consuming alcohol at his age was given by Mukherjee when he was winding up a discussion on the Finance Bill.

While participating in the discussion, 71-year-old Singh had said in a jocular vein that the increase in exemption limit by Rs 10,000 for Income Tax was so meagre that it was not enough to buy even a bottle of whisky.

"I will advise him (Singh) that at this age it is not wise to have whisky as I have myself given up the habit of smoking pipe," Mukherjee said while replying to the debate over the Finance Bill in the Lok Sabha.
Kick the bottle at this age, Pranab tells Jaswant

Alcohol addiction
The Armed Forces and ESM organisations should fight this malady which afflicts a large percentage of Jawans and ESM whose life is ruined by addiction. Consumption of alcohol has increased manifold as revealed from CSD liquor sale statistics. This social evil needs to be curbed. Sadly the NCC Unit personnel who are looked upon by students for moral standards are more alcohol- dependent than the average military personnel. The NCC units dispense liquor to all in greater percentage than other CSD outfits.

क्या भूतपूर्व सैनिक विधवाओं और शराब पीने की आवश्यकता है? इसके लिए लिए किसने कहा था?

बाद छठे केन्द्रीय वेतन आयोग पेंशन दुख अब विधवाओं शराब के अतिरिक्त झपकी के साथ उनकी आत्माओं को बढ़ावा कर सकते हैं

मैं इस मुद्दे मई अनुरोध है कि पिछले 27 वर्षों के लिए PBORs दिग्गजों के साथ अपने अनुभव के रूप में लिया पर चर्चा की है. शराब के मुद्दे पर उनकी सोच की क्षमता और जीवन की गुणवत्ता खराब था. वे एक साथ किसी भी अन्य असैनिक कर्मचारियों की तरह एक एकीकृत संघर्ष के लिए शामिल नहीं है. मैं इस विषय बहुत नाजुक है.
सी Muthukrishnan, (पूर्व सार्जेंट)
सक्रिय सदस्य IESM

मेरे प्रिय दिग्गजों (नीचे श्रेणी कार्मिकों अधिकारी) इस पर विचार कृपया
मुझे पूरा विश्वास है कि इस विषय एक नाजुक एक है वाकिफ हूँ. लेकिन फिर, मैं अपने समुदाय के कुछ बुरा इच्छाशक्ति नौकरशाहों की बदसूरत डिजाइनों में बर्बाद नहीं करना चाहता. हाँ. समय हमारे लिए बहस करने के लिए आ गया है. हमें स्पष्ट बोलते हैं. हम शराब की ज़रूरत है? आप हमारे दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण भाइयों की विधवाओं चाहते हैं और हो शराबियों को शराब की कैंटीन द्वारा जारी पेय? या आप उन्हें किसी और को अपनी आजीविका के लिए एक उच्च कीमत पर शराब बेचने के लिए अच्छा लगता है? आपको प्रोत्साहित करते हैं और हमारे भाइयों और बहनों के लिए इस तरह के एक जीवन की सदस्यता? अगर हम सब दिल से इन सवालों का जवाब, जवाब होगा एक बड़ा 'नहीं'. हम सब में शराब की जरूरत नहीं है. हम इसके लिए कभी नहीं पूछा.

इसके बजाय, हम सब की ज़रूरत है बेहतर पुनः है हमारे बच्चों, चावल, आटा जैसी आवश्यक वस्तुओं की आपूर्ति, तेल खाना पकाने के लिए रोजगार के अवसर, बेहतर पेंशन, अच्छे स्वास्थ्य की देखभाल, बेहतर शिक्षा, तो आगे उचित मूल्य पर गैस पकाने. तो फिर क्यों में सब सरकार ने पूर्व सैनिकों और उनकी विधवाओं को शराब बेच रहा है?

आप सभी जानते करने के लिए आश्चर्य होगा कि जब हजारों और पूर्व पिछले 60 वर्षों के लिए भारत के पूर्व सैनिकों आंदोलन के इतिहास में कई सेवानिवृत्त जनरल सहित सैनिकों, कभी नहीं, और उनके परिवारों को 16.12 से एक रिले भूख हड़ताल पर बैठे हैं हजारों. 2008 Jantar Mantar, नई दिल्ली में (आज 110. दिन की जा रही) एक रैंक एक पेंशन, पूर्व सैनिकों (canteens) कैन्टीन अचानक समान रूप से सभी विधवाओं के लिए 2 इकाइयों से 3 इकाइयों को 1.1.2009 से शराब कोटा में वृद्धि की मांग की. यह एक कैंटीन प्रबंधक से खबर की पुष्टि की है. अब आप कल्पना कर सकते हैं इसलिए मैं अब इस मुद्दे को बाहर ले गया? हालाँकि हम सभी बेहतर पेंशन की मांग कर रहे हैं, वे विधवाओं के लिए और अधिक शराब कोटा, पेशकश कर रहे हैं वह भी सैनिकों की सेवा का कोटा कम करने से. अब तुम इस के पीछे की मंशा की कल्पना कर सकते हैं? यह रूप में एक मास्टर एक कुत्ते के भौंकने की मीठी रोटी फेंकने के रूप में जब वह अपने घर को बचाने की कोशिश करता है अच्छा है. इसमें निहित स्वार्थों द्वारा एक विचार प्रयास इन 2 लाख पूर्व सैनिकों को गुमराह करने के लिए है. मेरे प्यारे दिग्गजों इस पर विचार कीजिए. इन समुद्री डाकू का शिकार गिर मत करो.

हम एक साथ एक बैनर अर्थात् भारतीय पूर्व तहत कर्मियों आंदोलन में शामिल हो और या तो स्वीकार करना या हमारे भविष्य की भलाई के लिए शराब के इस प्रस्ताव को अस्वीकार कर एक निर्णय लेते हैं. के लिए अच्छी तरह से एक समुदाय के होने के नाते, बहुमत के निर्णय पर राज करेंगे. इसलिए, यह हमारी महान संगठन के लिए इस मामले में अपने लक्ष्यों की प्राप्ति के लिए कुछ कठोर निर्णय लेने का समय है. यह विचार इस मेल में व्यक्त मुख्यतः के बारे में 20 लाख PBORs और कौन शराब दुरुपयोग और दुरुपयोग के शिकार बनने की संभावना है उनके परिवारों के लिए लागू कर रहे हैं. "शराब निर्भरता" एक बढ़ती बेचैनी और कई पूर्व सैनिकों परिवारों को बर्बाद कर रही है और आगे के सम्मान और सैनिकों की स्थिति कम. जय हिन्द, लंबे समय तक रहना सैनिकों एकता IESM में.
वेतन दुख के बाद, शराब कटौती सशस्त्र बलों को मारा

सैन्य ऊपर शराब शराबी है
नई दिल्ली: यदि एक वयस्क भारतीय, औसत पर, एक वर्ष में एक भारतीय सैनिक एक पेय 20 लिटर-और शराब की एक काम में लाना एक टपकना. सेना ने देश में शराब की सबसे आयोजित शराबी के रूप में, सिर नौ प्रति लीटर की एक वार्षिक खपत के साथ है, (Malayalees) है । दक्षिण-भारत , भारत की सबसे बड़ी शराब वाली समुदाय के कम से कम एक लीटर में अधिक उभरा है. यद्यपि शराब की खपत अभी भी ठीक नहीं कि देश में प्रलेखित है, प्रति व्यक्ति औसत खपत (जनसंख्या के लिए 15 और इससे अधिक आयु वर्ग) एक छोटे से एक लीटर से कम है, विश्व स्वास्थ्य संगठन के आंकड़ों के अनुसार है.

उत्तर सैन्य canteens में शराब की बिक्री पर एक विस्तृत प्रश्नावली, डीएनए द्वारा के तहत दायर करने के लिए सूचना के अधिकार (आरटीआई के लिए) अधिनियम, जो हमारे सैनिकों, हार्ड शराब का एक चक्कर 1.1 करोड़ बोतलें - रम, वोदका, व्हिस्की खपत और ब्रांडी शो 2007 - नहीं, बीयर और विविध मदिरा के 1.2 लाख बोतलों का उल्लेख करने के लिए. 2008 में एक विचलता 2.5 लाख बोतलों मुश्किल और विविध मदिरा.

कोई आश्चर्य नहीं है, फिर, शराब कोटा सैन्य कैन्टीन में बेचे में हाल की कटौती के पुरुषों और महिलाओं वर्दी में की आत्माओं लड़खड़ा. यद्यपि यह धीरे धीरे को किक खोने के रम सबसे पसंद हो, जारी है. दूसरी ओर वोदका की बिक्री,, एक तिगुना पिछले चार वर्षों में वृद्धि देखी है. "बहुत से सेना पत्नियों पीना, और वे वोद्का पसंद करते हैं," जो दिखता है एक अधिकारी कुछ कैन्टीन के बाद कहा था. "यह व्हिस्की और रम की तुलना में प्रकाश है." ताज्जुब की बात है कि पुराने भिक्षु, का और दिग्गजों के पुराने मनपसंद एक जैसा, सबसे ज्यादा बेचा रम नहीं है. यह मुकुट सेना का अपना Contessa को जाता है.

टिप्पणी: शराब निर्भरता, दुरुपयोग और मौद्रिक लाभ के लिए दुरुपयोग निश्चित रूप से दोनों और ESM सेवा की सशस्त्र सेना की छवि खराब कर रहे हैं. अपराधियों ने सीएसडी कैन्टीन सशस्त्र बल और एनसीसी यूनिटों द्वारा चलाए जा रहे हैं. इस सीएसडी डिपो में असैनिक कर्मचारियों / यूनिट कैन्टीन कैंटीन के अधिकारियों के साथ मिलीभगत (में कैन्टीन अधिकारियों के साथ सांठ-गांठ) में है, शराब के नागरिक बाजार में लगाना और सशस्त्र बलों की छवि को आम में एक बुरा नाम लाने की खोज कर पाने में असमर्थ और सुरक्षित तरीके खोजना.

Do Ex- Servicemen and widows need liquor? Who asked for it?

After Sixth Central Pay Commission Pension Sorrows now widows can boost their spirits with extra doze of booze

I think the issue discussed may kindly taken as my experience with the PBORs veterans for the past 27 years. The issue of liquor had deteriorated their thinking ability and quality of life. They don't join together for a unified struggle like any other civilian employees. I know the subject is very delicate.
C Muthukrishnan, (Ex Sgt)
Active Member IESM

MY DEAR VETERANS (PBORs) PLEASE IT THINK OVER
I am fully aware that the subject is a delicate one. But then, I don’t want my community to get ruined in the ugly designs of a few ill- willed bureaucrats. Yes. Time has come for us to debate. Let us frankly speak. Do we need liquor? Do you wish the widows of our unfortunate brothers drink the liquor issued by the Canteen and become alcoholics? Or do you like them to sell the liquor to someone else at a higher price for their livelihood? Do you encourage and subscribe to such a life for our brothers and sisters? If we all sincerely answer these questions, the answer will be a big ‘NO’. We don’t need the liquor at all. We never asked for it.

Instead, we all need is better re-employment opportunities, better pension, good health care, better education for our children, supply of essential commodities like rice, atta, cooking oil, cooking gas so forth at reasonable prices. Then why at all the Government is selling liquor to the ex-servicemen and their widows?

You all will be surprised to know that while thousands and thousands of ex-servicemen including many retired Generals, never in the history of Indian ex-servicemen movement for the last 60 years, and their families are sitting on a relay hunger strike from 16.12.2008 at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi (today being the 110th day) demanding One Rank One Pension, the ex-servicemen canteens suddenly increased the liquor quota uniformly to all the widows from 2 units to 3 units from 1.1.2009. This is confirmed news from one Canteen Manager. Now can you imagine why I took out the issue now? While we all are demanding better pension, they are offering more liquor quota for widows, that too by reducing the quota of serving soldiers. Can you now imagine the intention behind this? This is as good as a master throwing sweetened bread to a barking dog when it tries to protect his own house. There is a deliberate attempt by vested interests to mislead these 2 million ex-servicemen. My dear veterans please think it over. Don’t fall prey to these pirates.

Let us join together under one banner i.e. Indian Ex-servicemen Movement and take a decision either to accept or reject this offer of liquor for our future well being. For the well being of a community, the decision of the majority will rule. Therefore, it is the time for our great organization to take some tough decision in this matter for the achievement of our goals. The views expressed in this mail are mainly applicable to about 20 lakh PBORs and their families who are likely to become victims of alcohol abuse and misuse. "Alcohol dependency" a growing malaise is ruining many Ex Servicemen families and further lowering the honour and status of Soldiers. Jai Hind, Long Live Soldiers Unity in IESM.
After pay sorrow, booze cuts hit armed forces

Military is top liquor guzzler
New Delhi: If an adult Indian, on average, consumes a trickle of alcohol in a year, an Indian soldier guzzles a bucketful. The military has emerged as the single most organised guzzler of liquor in the country, with an annual consumption of nine litres per head, at least a litre more than the Malayalees, India's biggest alcohol-consuming community. Though alcohol consumption is still not well documented in the country, the average per capita consumption (for population aged 15 and above) is a little less than a litre, according to World Health Organisation figures.

Reply to a detailed questionnaire on the sale of liquor in military canteens, filed by DNA under the Right To Information (RTI) Act, shows that our soldiers consumed a staggering 1.1 crore bottles of hard liquor-- rum, vodka, whiskey, and brandy-- in 2007, not to mention 1.2 million bottles of beer and sundry wines. In 2008 a staggering 2.5 million bottles hard and sundry wines.

No wonder, then, the recent cut in liquor quota sold in military canteens dampened the spirits of the men and women in uniform. Rum continues to be the most preferred choice, though it's gradually losing the kick. Vodka sales, on the other hand, have seen a threefold rise in the last four years. "Many army wives drink, and they prefer vodka," said an officer who looks after a few canteens. "It is light compared to whisky and rum." Surprisingly, Old Monk, the old favourite of beginners and veterans alike, is not the most sold rum. That crown goes to the military's own Contessa.

Comment: Alcohol dependency, abuse and misuse for monetary gains are certainly ruining the image of the armed forces of both serving and ESM. The culprits are the CSD Canteens run by Armed Forces and NCC units. The civilian staff in the CSD depots/ Unit Canteens find undetectable and safe ways (in connivance with canteen officials), of disposing of liquor in the civilian markets and bringing a bad name to the image of the Armed Forces in general.