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Alcohol in the Stations
I looked for a thread, didn't find one, if I missed it, my sincere apologies.
In the fire district that I currently live in, there's an issue that drives me up the wall. They serve Beer in the Stations, there is an open wet bar, that the Firefighters can use anytime they please. I've heard from a few FF's that I met, they do it, but have rules about going on the calls. One certain rule is, they wont be able to respond, if they are "TOO DRUNK" to drive. I have also seen them on calls, oddly enough, they were "Toasted" in my opinion, they broke down the wrong door in a neighboring building,, let me rephrase that, 5 doors were torn apart, even after I told them the fire was over here.
I was also told, the drinking will stay, it's supported by a board of "The old guys", they are all retired volly's, the upper command staff take part, so who do you talk now. 
My question is, how many other departments allow this type of behavior.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Patti Walz on
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We have zero tolerance policy. No on the property or in the hall. If you do go out drinking you must wait at least 12 hours before responding.
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Permalink Reply by Lt. Shane Peterson on
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Alcohol has no place in the station at all.
We have a local pub where we do are socializing and thats fine with us.
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Permalink Reply by Phoenix on
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My dept. is all Vollie. No Alcohol allowed, won't even rent the hall to someone if alcohol is involved. We also have a reg. that if you've had a drink or are on a prescribed med that is a controlled substance, don't come near the station or a call for 24 hours after last drink or meds.
I dropped at the station after a call one time...Low blood sugar from not eating. Got sent for a urine screen just in case. Zero Tolerance.
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Permalink Reply by John Dobson on
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Yes its nice to have your chief show up reaking of beer. To go in the new second station aka the "Officers club Thats what the chief named it" and find empty beer cases or the drunk ass neighbors filling there coolers with ice. I ask for training props and we can't afford that because we had to buy two new ice machines so the chief and his buddies can fill there coolers and now we need tables and chairs so the drunks that can't stand can sit.
If you can tell I am getting fed up with the BS from my dept. The good ol boys can just about have it.
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Permalink Reply by 55 TRUCK on
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If you go to Europe some fire depts. there allow there firemen X ammount of beer or wine with meals. We see it as a problem here because our culture is diffrent. Here in the states when anyone says beer in the fire house, we automaticly think of some guy who's dead drunk trying to get on a fire truck and drive or respond to a call.
I know of one old Dept. in Indiana that has a bar upstaires. in a private club area for the firemen. I'm not sure what there policy is about responding after drinking. I do believe it is very strict, if you drink you can't respond.
If the guys are going on calls in a state where there knocking down the wrong doors, then there is a problem that needs to be adressed by everyone. A strict guidline needs to be set up to insure people who've been drinking don't go on a call.
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Permalink Reply by WestPhilly on
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The public seems not to mind in this case.
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Permalink Reply by capcityff on
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It shouldn't matter that you drink outside the fire house. We wear our class A's in DC to march in the St Pattys day parade every year. It's tradition. We will go out for drinks after in that same uniform. There's nothing irresponsible about it if we are off duty. If you're a volly then don't respond on runs, but for us you're either working or you're not.
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Permalink Reply by Aaron Mandel on
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My Dept. started as "three drunks and a duece and a half" and since then we have struggled hard to overcome that image. We have a zero tolence policy and as a line officer I have thrown people off fires and even had a firefighter arrested. He was charged with a felony for indangering the welfare of a emergancy worker all for packing up drunk. He didn't even get interior but the fact that he was on scene under the influnce was enough. We all like to have a cold one now and then but we use the eight hour rule. Even one beer that pager is off for eight hours. Another interesting thing we have been dealing with is the new medical pot laws in my state. We are very underfunded so testing is cost prohibited and what will we do when we have are first stoner with a script apply. Will we legaly be able to turn him down for a "medicine" that he takes?
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Permalink Reply by Chris Severa on
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Our policy is, if you've had a beer stay home. We take volunteers for things like New Years to stay sober so we have a crew ready.
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You're representing the department but we are still human. We drink and there's nothing wrong with that. If you do something stupid then that's different, but drinking alone isn't so bad.
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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on
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but drinking alone isn't so bad.
Sure it is.....you need to find some friends. :-)
If you look in the picture, you don't see the FF's drinking, nor even holding a drink, instead you have a few FF's posing for a picture.
I can also see where Capcity is coming from here, because if you are off duty, then what is the issue? You are not drinking at the firehouse, nor are you responding to calls. The key is just not doing anything stupid. I know of depts that will change out of their uniforms or carry a sweartshirt or something if they do have some drinks, but there is a difference of being on duty and off. Besides, we see members of the military in their dress uniforms having some drinks all the time too, where is the difference really?
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Permalink Reply by Wade Seely on
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We used to have a wet station, but no more. Now the only time that it's allowed is at our firefighters ball, where we have outside bartenders brought in, the on duty crews don't drink, and if you do drink at the function or anytime you are not allowed to respond to calls for 8 hrs.
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