Alcohol Use

SeaMars

5-Year Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2010
Messages
89
Can anyone tell me the rules regarding alcohol use by cadets? On post? On pass? On leave?
 
Can anyone tell me the rules regarding alcohol use by cadets? On post? On pass? On leave?

Yes, many of us can. A good rule of thumb is 21 AND a second class cadet for on post consumption.

My question would be why you're concerned about it. It's not something that should play into your decision.
 
I am not an applicant; I'm a parent. Can anyone answer the question about alcohol use on pass and on leave?
 
What if an under-21 cadet drinks while on pass? On leave? There may be legal consequences, or not, outside; I am familiar with those. Are there any consequences from West Point?
 
What if an under-21 cadet drinks while on pass? On leave? There may be legal consequences, or not, outside; I am familiar with those. Are there any consequences from West Point?

I am not a USMA rep however I'm thinking the same rules would apply to a USMA cadet as would apply to a USAFA cadet, which unless its changed says roughly that: "...the MILITARY drinking age is the legal age of the location where the individual is based."

Now...in the USA that is 21: period. On/off base. In Okinawa and perhaps in Japan I know it had been lowered to 20 but I don't know if it still is. There were others as well. Commanders can also restrict this, or they could.

In truth this is something that almost never comes into my discussions because the law of the US says: 21. And I've not had any cadets/airmen overseas that asked me (I think the grade scares them :wink: )

Now...if they VIOLATE this, then they could be considered to have willfully violated an order. Or put another way:

Article 92—Failure to obey order or regulation

Yes, that's the UCMJ. And the punishment for this is:

"...shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.

NOW...I'm no JAG but I'm willing to bet the WORST that a cadet would receive for this would be, if it were taken to a UCMJ offense level, punishment under Article 15. STILL A BAD THING...but no court martial will sit for underage drinking, IMHO.

But I could be wrong.

The answer is: DON'T DO IT!

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
What if an under-21 cadet drinks while on pass? On leave? There may be legal consequences, or not, outside; I am familiar with those. Are there any consequences from West Point?

If they were to get caught, the general result would be a Brigade Board resulting in roughly 120 hours and 60 days of room restriction/lost privileges. A DUI can result in a "Regs USMA" board, which often leads to expulsion.

Something tells ms someone drank something this weekend that they should not have...
 
Something tells ms someone drank something this weekend that they should not have...
Or someone is getting ready to warn someone else that they shouldn't drink while on pass. Or perhaps tell someone "I told you so". Could be a number of different reasons. Lets hope it is not already a problem for some cadet.
 
Straight from SOP:

Firsties and Cows can drink anywhere on post (in authorized areas), in Highland falls and NYC.

Yuks and Plebes can only drink if they are 21 or over, only off-post (IE not within Fort Montgomery).

No one is allowed to drink at 8 hours or less than that before any formation.
 
What if an under-21 cadet drinks while on pass? On leave? There may be legal consequences, or not, outside; I am familiar with those. Are there any consequences from West Point?


That results in a Brigade board that could result in any number of punishments. At the very least, the Cadet would get a lot of hours. Not to mention dealing with any consequences that arise from the civilian side of things.

Under-21=Do not drink. If you do, you get in trouble by USMA regs, UCMJ, and whatever local laws at the place where you drank.
 
That results in a Brigade board that could result in any number of punishments. At the very least, the Cadet would get a lot of hours. Not to mention dealing with any consequences that arise from the civilian side of things.

Under-21=Do not drink. If you do, you get in trouble by USMA regs, UCMJ, and whatever local laws at the place where you drank.

It's like there's an echo in here...
 
It's reassuring to get confirmation from a current cadet, even if it is an "echo"; I appreciate all help.
 
If they were to get caught, the general result would be a Brigade Board resulting in roughly 120 hours and 60 days of room restriction/lost privileges. A DUI can result in a "Regs USMA" board, which often leads to expulsion.

Something tells ms someone drank something this weekend that they should not have...

Would like to add: a cadet that has hours cannot take pass or leave until they are walked. With this many hours, it usually means the cadet will lose the next closest holiday(s) (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring Break, etc).
 
Would like to add: a cadet that has hours cannot take pass or leave until they are walked. With this many hours, it usually means the cadet will lose the next closest holiday(s) (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring Break, etc).

It's almost the worst thing you can do to yourself, short of sex in the barracks.
 
I am betting you did not mean that the way it reads.

Um, nope, meant it just as it reads. A drinking slug is the worst fate short of a sex-in-the-barracks slug. That's the expressway out of the Corps for most people.
 
Back
Top