Over 6,400 British troops treated for alcohol abuse in the last four years and 170 developed mental health problems
Since 2012, the equivalent of 10 infantry battalions of soldiers have required medical treatment for drinking too much booze
OVER 6,400 British troops have been treated for alcohol abuse in the last four years.
New government figures show that since 2012 the equivalent of 10 infantry battalions of soldiers have required medical treatment for drinking too much booze.
At least 503 servicewomen have also required medical attention for alcohol abuse, according to figures contained in a Freedom of Information request.
Alcohol abuse was far higher in the Army with 4,562 soldiers requiring medical treatment compared with the 639 RAF personnel and 1,242 members of the Royal Navy, needing attention.
Boozing amongst some troops was so severe that over 170 servicemen and women developed mental health problems from alcohol abuse.
Other troops were described as being “very heavy drinkers” and suffering from a range of life-threatening medical problems.
The conditions included chronic alcoholism, acute alcoholic hepatitis, alcoholic paranoia, cirrhosis and chronic liver disease and chronic alcoholic brain syndrome.
Many senior officers believe that alcohol abuse in the armed forces now poses a greater danger to the military than drugs.
General Lord Dannatt, a former chief of general staff recently said: “Abuse of alcohol has long been a chronic problem in the Army – more so than misuse of drugs which is dealt with very severely.
“The culture of working hard and then playing hard often leads to misuse of alcohol.
“That said, there is a greater awareness in the Army of the dangers of alcohol abuse and of the importance of physical fitness, than 10 or 20 years ago.”
In the FOI the MoD said: “We recognise we can do more and the tri-Service Alcohol Working Group are implementing a screening tool to identify misuse of alcohol as well as investigating the use of an Alcohol Brief Intervention.”
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But Prof Neil Greenberg, an expert on military health at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said educating personnel about dangers did not stop them from excessive drinking.
Prof Greenberg, who is also a former Surgeon Captain in the Royal Navy, said: “For many years the military have relied heavily on alcohol education, so for instance soldiers would have to have a brief every year that tells them drinking is bad for them.
“The problem is we know that alcohol education doesn’t really work at all, and the evidence from the civilian population is that it’s a terribly ineffective way of stopping people from drinking.”
Ex-soldiers also said the Army drinking culture was one of the main causes of alcohol abuse.
Steven Van Derbank, 29, who used to be a non-commissioned officer in The Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, said it was rare to go 24 hours without having a few drinks.
He said: “The drinking culture in the military - literally from when you start - everything you do really is rewarded with alcohol.
“On average on a bad day - where I wasn’t really in the mood - it was probably four to five pints a night.
“On a good day it could be trying to keep up with a lot of people who obviously do drink a lot more, and it could be anything from 10 to 15 pints a night.”
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “All three services work hard to raise awareness of alcohol misuse through education, training and discipline. Any individuals identified as being at risk receive support and if necessary are provided with specialist medical treatment and rehabilitation.”