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Drinking in the Fire House
Last week I went to lunch with some co-workers (non-FFs) and the discussion rolled around to my involvement with the FD. One of the guys said "well, you must have guys that just join the department for the drinking". This recalled to mind another comment by someone, some years back, who swore that ALL volunteer FFs drank at the station and "those who say they don't are lying".
In my department you might find a 6-pack or two if you look in every nook and cranny, but we really don't touch the stuff on drill night or after calls, or meetings. There just isn't stuff to touch. In the late 80s we had the converted soda machine that dispensed several brands of beer but we got rid of it because the Jr. FFs were becoming interested in the stuff.
So - what is your department policy or practice regarding alcohol in the firehouse?
NOTE: 10/16/09: I started this thread over two years ago to gather input from other volunteer firefighters on FFN as it was then. The new theme is, what steps can we take to make America's fire houses 100% dry?
In my department you might find a 6-pack or two if you look in every nook and cranny, but we really don't touch the stuff on drill night or after calls, or meetings. There just isn't stuff to touch. In the late 80s we had the converted soda machine that dispensed several brands of beer but we got rid of it because the Jr. FFs were becoming interested in the stuff.
So - what is your department policy or practice regarding alcohol in the firehouse?
NOTE: 10/16/09: I started this thread over two years ago to gather input from other volunteer firefighters on FFN as it was then. The new theme is, what steps can we take to make America's fire houses 100% dry?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Beth on
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We only drink at our annual banquet and now our 1st New Year's Eve. We went from a building with no alcohol allowed on the premises to building our own building. Now we are allowed to drink but only on special occasions (decided by the BOD and 2/3 membership). Once you have had one sip you can't run for 8 hrs or until sober. If I drink in public on my days off I refuse to wear my dept. shirt. I have been the DD for many occasions. We have plenty of people who don't drink and we are the ones that run the calls. If you are found with any alcohol on your breath you are immediatly sent home and suspended for 72 hrs unil the BOD can get together to give you more punishment. I am glad that we take such a harsh stance with drinking. Drinking + emergency equipment = death.
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Permalink Reply by Tiger Schmittendorf on
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Nice attitude. I like it.
We have a very similar policy. The first sip buys you two hours off, finishing the bottle buys you a minimum of four, and two or more buys you 8+.
We actually have instances where people will take a sip just because they're not in the right frame of mind or don't have the right attitude to respond, maybe they had a bad day - but that's OK. We just scratch them off the list of available responders for the appropriate time period. No harm. No foul. No peer pressure not to drink - and no peer pressure to respond.
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Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Bristol on
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they way that i see it is if you have a sip its not response for 24 hrs in my hometown that is how it was and if you where caught or turned in you where kicked out of the deparment with no chance of being voted back in ever again
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That might be a little steep but I don't necessarily disagree with the length of time off.
We also take progressive and appropriate disciplinary action. Check out my blog for a download of our zero tolerance policy. Let me know what you think.
Thanks.
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seems steep but bc of issues that they had many yrs ago they took this step as i see it you shouldnt even think of responding if you are drinking i have personally gotten off appartus bc my partner i knew was drinking and only had a little about half a beer and i refused to go in with him its not worth it to me to know that if something was to happen you dont know the state of mind that he is in
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You're absolutely right and I commend you for having the courage to take a stand against it, protecting yourself and others in doing so.
As I said in my blog, our zero tolerance policy has been a self-correcting problem. We haven't had to exercise it since it was written. While it has been in effect for many years, we just recently formalized it and beefed up the language.
Here's another one for you:
Hey....
In today's "ain't we proud" segment, a New York Firefighter was shot and wounded by another Firefighter who was drunk, in their upstate New York firehouse. FF Tyler Drake, 21, of Alexandria Bay, was accidentally shot in the right arm around 1900 hours Sunday inside the Moyers Corner FD Station. Drake was taken to University Hospital in nearby Syracuse and his injuries were not life-threatening. FF Stanley Memmelaar, 26, of Moyers Corner was charged with first-degree reckless endangerment, second-degree assault and driving while intoxicated. Memmelaar was handling his .45-caliber handgun recklessly when it discharged...although he had a valid pistol license according to the cops.
FF Tyler Drake could have been killed.
Take Care,
BillyG
The Secret List 10-22-07 / 1036 Hours
www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com
I don't know where the firefighter was when he got drunk, but I'm looking to find out. It's very unfortunate as I know that the MCFD is a quality organization. I did some R&R work for them a few years back.
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yeah i know that one for sure bc when that hit close to my hometown of scriba (OSwego county) about 45 mintues north of it you dont know what is going to happen hwo they are going to act or respond when things get heated and i am not the person that wants to know what there reaction is going to be and for someone he is willing to risk others life they shouldnt be in the FD as i can see it
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Permalink Reply by badassdog on
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well we are a vol depatment our department has NO alcohol at the hall if you are dranking [stay at home] if you show up to a call dranking you will be ask to leve
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Permalink Reply by lloyd on
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This is the safest way to go. No alcohol= no problems, no judjment questions, and no injuries!
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Permalink Reply by phinzup911 on
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I also read that article this AM. I was apalled. I have a personal attatchment to Moyers Corners FD, this being the dept I have been around all my life and the reason I am in Fire and EMS today. I have no doubt Chf. Bressette will deal with him appropriately and I am glad FF Drake was not injured any worse than he was.
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yes that is true he was very luck as far as i see it if u drink any amount of alochol you shouldnt respond, for myself i dont drink and faince who also is a FF does we had a bad call that they were paging and paging us out and i refused to let him go i told him flat out that if he responds he WILL NOT be welcomed back here how the hell can you drink and then respond that is not the kind of PR that a FD needs in anyform
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Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on
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Since I am relatively new here, could someone explain to me why an alcohol thread remains open for discussion, but a thread on "some departments don't allow women" is closed?
I don't get it. The discussion wasn't even robust.
And this dead horse has been whipped how many times?
Can someone shed some light?
Art
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