RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas– April is Alcohol Awareness Month and the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Program offers alcohol use and abuse information to educate Team Randolph on responsible drinking.
Drinking incidents, especially underage drinking and members driving under the influence, have become a steadily increasing trend within the Air Force and officials want to educate Airmen on how to drink more responsibly to avoid alcohol related incidents.
Staff Sgt. Brett Abbas, Randolph ADAPTNCO in charge, explained that a root cause of alcohol related incidents is binge drinking, which is defined as consuming five or more drinks per sitting.
The Air Force developed, and implemented, a new education program using the 0-0-1-3 concept to counter binge drinking and other alcohol related incidents. This concept is explained by the rule, zero drinks if you're under 21, zero DUIs, one drink per hour, and no more than three drinks per sitting.
"By following the 0-0-1-3 policy, you minimize the risks involved with drinking," Sergeant Abbas said. "This policy is only a part of the whole picture the ADAPT office is trying to convey. Responsible drinking is a necessity for all Air Force personnel."
Sergeant Abbas recommends having a back up plan when drinking. A second plan is also good in case the first plan fails. Always have a designated driver when planning to drink. Always have a friend, supervisor, first sergeant or commander's phone number in case of an emergency.
The following suggestions can help to ensure people are drinking responsibly:
- Pace your drinking. Allow time to pass between drinks.
- Don't drink on an empty stomach.
- Set a limit on how much to drink, as well as how much others in the group are drinking.
- Avoid carbonated beverages with alcohol. The carbonation increases the absorption ofalcohol into the bloodstream.
"This program is meant for every Air Force member to use and abide by," Sergeant Abbas said. "Most people automatically assume that we're only talking about those in the Airman tier of our rank structure. But, we have a large population of young officers that fall into this category as well. Alcohol abuse can affect us all."
"The ADAPT program is here as a resource for commanders, as a program to educate, prevent, and treat alcohol misuse and abuse," he said.
For more information on alcohol awareness programs, alcohol and drug abuse treatment options or help, contact the ADAPT office at 652-2448. The office is located in the Life Skills Support Center, Building 860.
