Air Force alcohol use under scrutiny

Whenuapai Air Base. Photo / Dean Purcell

The Air Force may come under pressure to restrict drinking hours at its canteens, amid concern about the drinking culture of its pilots and other uniformed personnel.

Two researchers have spent time in the past few months living on Royal New Zealand Air Force bases and closely observing the use of alcohol.

The Alcohol Advisory Council provided $90,000 to research company Empathy Ltd, after the RNZAF asked for support in dealing with the drinking culture.

Pilots and crew are strictly banned from drinking for 12 hours before flying, but the Air Force does not conduct routine breath or blood tests.

The researchers shadowed 11 Air Force members at Whenuapai, Ohakea and Woodbourne bases and when they went off-base. They, in turn, provided access to more personnel.

"Comradeship is built on a lot of egging on and a lot of other practices involving alcohol," said Andrew Galloway from ALAC.

The culture of drinking could be exacerbated by the base canteen setting, he added, and initiation rituals when personnel first joined.

RNZAF Warrant Officer Keith Gell said the research would "give us the ability to put a long-term strategy in place to deal with the effect alcohol has on our culture and people".

Researcher Emma Saunders said one recommendation was likely to look at when personnel could buy beverages at the bases.