 |
| Maj.
(Dr.) William Brim, of the 48th Medical Group at RAF
Lakenheath, England, is the architect of a new program
at the base that promotes responsible drinking.
(Courtesy photo)
|
By
Ron Jensen
Stars and Stripes European Edition
RAF
LAKENHEATH, England -- A new program designed to promote
responsible drinking has begun at RAF Lakenheath. Known
as ZOT, the idea’s architect said the program gives airmen
who drink a way of measuring their consumption.
“If
you ask 10 people, ‘What’s responsible drinking?’, you’ll
get 10 different answers,” said Maj. (Dr.) William Brim.
“One of the goals of this program is to set a standard.”
The
standard is in the name. ZOT stands for zero alcohol-related
incidents, one drink an hour, and three units of alcohol
a night.
Brim
is a member of the 48th Medical Group and director of the
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment (ADAPT)
program. He said the idea was spawned at Shaw Air Force
Base, S.C., which got the idea from colleges, where binge
drinking was identified as a problem.
“Transferring
that from the college campus to the base is not that far
of a leap,” he said.
Brim
said it is not possible to stop people from drinking, but
those that do should understand the consequences. Alcohol-related
incidents are the number one cause of death for people ages
18 to 21.
“Nearly
all of those cases occur because of binge drinking,” he
said.
Brim
said the frequency of alcohol-related incidents spike after
a few drinks.
“From
your first drink, your likelihood goes up,” he said. “It
significantly increases after your third or fourth drink.”
But,
he said, most people do not drink to excess, putting the
percentage of those who do at 20 percent.
“It’s
a misperception that everybody drinks and everybody drinks
a lot,” he said.
The
base newspaper, “Jet48,” kicked off the program last week
with a cover montage of a few hundred people on the base.
“I
am Airman ZOT,” is the program’s catchphrase.
Over
the next few weeks, publicity will increase. Posters may
be displayed at off-base pubs and clubs where airmen drink
on weekends.
Some
have suggested movies be shown late a night to pull people
from the bar. Midnight basketball may show up.
Airmen
interviewed said the program has a chance to succeed.
“It
gives people an idea of what the Air Force expects from
you,” said Airman 1st Class Andrew Brammeier of the 48th
Medical Support Squadron.
“Not
everybody knows what responsible drinking is.”
Airman
Natacia Flick of the 48th Fighter Wing, who can go months
between drinks, said alcohol is impossible to avoid.
“The
English culture is ... going to the pub and eating,” she
said.
Brim
said the standard is simply that. It is not a hard and fast
rule, applicable to everyone. A large man, for example,
can drink more than a small woman and still behave responsibly.
“We’re
trying to begin a culture change,” he said.
