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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 Joel C Kelley on
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Okay, So now that we have some idea how the deck is stacked, how do we begin to effect positive change? I think we all agree that there is no place for ETOH in a fire station, so how do we get the message to those departments that still condone this behavior. How do we get the message across that we don't want to work around those who are compromised, that we don't want to prohibit drinking just prevent it in our departments. How do we set an example to not only other departments but the public that we serve, that as a matter of policy, we do not condone the excessive use or the inappropriate use of alcohol?
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Permalink Reply by Elizabeth on
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No alcohol is allowed in the ambulance and firehall, also we are not allowed to drink a time period before going on duty and while on duty.
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Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on
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Well, for starters; anyone who has ever applied for and received FIRE Act funding signs a ZERO TOLERANCE DRUG POLICY in order to even be considered for a grant. PSOB says that if you are LODD and have drugs/alcohol in your system at the time of death, benefits could be denied.
More and more insurance companies are cancelling customers with a track record of alcohol offenses.
I know many of us aren't bucking for sainthood, but I don't think that we want to be viewed as the anti-christ either.
When word on your streets are that a department is populated "by a bunch of drunks", you have a problem that is going to take quite some time to fix. Because it is a CULTURE. You can kick ONE off for doing it, but when half of the department are doing it, then you REALLY HAVE TO FIX IT. And it won't be pretty. And departments like that can say "hey; we have been doing it for years and we haven't had any problems".
They always forget to add the word "YET"!
It is still a national dilemma and for some, a national disgrace.
Who's next?
Art
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Permalink Reply by Joe Stoltz on
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I believe that the requirement for Fire Act funding is that a department have in place a Drug-Free Workplace policy conforming to the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988. This is not a zero-tolerance policy which I take to mean that one offense and you're gone.
I wrote our drug policy a few years ago and while some of the members were concerned that it had to include alcohol, I could not find any place where alcohol was mentioned in the act.
So if a particular department has a zero tolerance policy on alcohol - a policy I support heartily - it is because that department chose to implement it as such.
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Permalink Reply by ENGINECREW CAPT. aka Pres.FHMC on
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I dunno,I kinda like being viewed as the anti-christ and whiskey and weed don't have a damn thing to do with it.
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Permalink Reply by Joe Brooks on
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I understand that tradition is different, east coast/ west coast, and I respect everyones house and the decisions they might make about alchohol. BUT in our department, drinking at the station NEVER happens. You would be fired for having one open beer in the station. Anyone responding under the influence whould be fired on the spot. As it should be; firefighting/EMS work is not the kind of work that can be done right while altered.
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Permalink Reply by Danny on
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The department that i am on now has 0 tollerance for alcohol in the stations or on dist property. Responding to calls under the influence is discouraged. If i know someone has been drinking and shows up, i send them back out the door they came in.
The department that i was on prior to 2000 they use to have beer in the fridge and it was ok to have a beer while at training or when ya got back from a call. I believe it was in the mid 90's the city said no more take it out. So they did and that was the last of having beer in the fridge. Most people that i remember never drank in excess, they had a couple and went home. It also was not something that was bragged about either.
There is no room for alcohol in the fire service. We are there to provide a service to the community and its not runnen a beer truck to there emergency.
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Permalink Reply by mike on
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we have a simple rule its a 1 drink rule , if u had one dont come .stay home any thing at the fire house is keep under lock n key . only one person has key. as for jr ffs in our company they have strict rules , dont never get caught drinking they have to keep good grades in school , n they 're not allowed at the station after 10pm
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Permalink Reply by Brad Dietlin on
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My department has an 8 hour rule, no responding to anything within eight hours of drinking. It's adheared to. Somebody found out first hand, he came to a fire drunk and got a three month vaction right there on the spot. Sure, after drill we'll go out and have some drinks but we don't have FD shirts on and the pager goes off. Usually after drill you'll find a bunch of us going for pie(yes, pie)after drill. Our annual banquet and dance are the times when everyone knows that we can cut loose a little, that's because we have the other departments in the area covering our stations. We do the same for them every year.
Sure 20-25 years ago(I've heard the stories) the person who was the most sober was the one who drove. But not any more. Why take the chance of injuring or killing another FF, not to mention the people who's lives we swore to protect and save? Doesn't make sense to me.
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Permalink Reply by Travis on
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My dept is just alittle volunteer dept and we have a " You Drink Don't Show Up " policy. You show up with just a hint you've been drinking, the chief or ass chief gets you a ride back home. You do it a second time, you might as well turn your gear in. So far we haven't lost anyone.
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Permalink Reply by Billy 2118 on
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I just want to say that I partake in some drinking now and then, but no-one should ever go on a call or be at the firehouse when drinking or have been drinking. There is enough to danger already ---- Safety and Judgement,gets you back home!!!!
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Well, now that we have 13 pages of folks who say its bad, what do we, as an industry do to make sure it doesn't continue? How do we create the climate for change?
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