The bad behaviour of sailors from an Esquimalt-based ship in July has led to a ban on drinking alcohol aboard all Canadian ships at sea, navy commander Vice Admiral Mark Norman announced Friday.
The new policy takes effect immediately and includes a few exceptions, such as permission to have a drink on special occasions such as Christmas or an upper deck barbecue. It includes higher prices for alcohol on board at those events and while the ship is in docked. Self-serve alcohol and vending machines will be replaced by a server to monitor responsible drinking.
“The responsible consumption of alcohol doesn’t lead to misconduct but most misconduct unfortunately involves the misuse of alcohol,” said Norman.
Until the policy change, off-duty sailors could drink at lunch, dinner and after shifts, though it has always been an offence to be drunk. Norman said the choice to restrict drinking might not be popular, but the only other options were to go totally dry (like the U.S. navy) or do nothing. He followed the lead of countries such as New Zealand and chose moderation.
Norman noted that while the actions of the HMCS Whitehorse crew in July were the catalyst for a national review and policy changes, the problem of misconduct and alcohol use has been a growing concern across the navy for the past few years.
HMCS Whitehorse was ordered home from naval exercises off the coast of San Diego after three incidents of misconduct. One sailor, charged with drunkenness, was fined and has returned to duty. Another charged with shoplifting and drunkenness was found guilty and disciplined. And a separate alleged sexual assault, which involved a male sailor in a female dorm, is going through a court martial.
After the ship was recalled, Norman announced a review of all navy policies.
“It’s clear that the vast majority of our officers and sailors know and understand how to represent their country, their service and their ships ... however, the report does recognize that the [Royal Canadian Navy] has relied almost exclusively on informal practices,” he said.
In addition to the changes in alcohol policies, the navy will adopt a “first night protocol” to deter sailors on shore leave from inappropriate behaviour and over-drinking, possibly with a buddy system.
Norman said they will also develop a code of conduct for navy personnel of all ranks and a guidance plan that will be rolled out in coming weeks.
There has been a string of other misconduct allegations involving local sailors in recent months. In September, sailors were part of a fight outside a downtown Victoria pub. In October, a CFB Esquimalt sailor alleged he was badly beaten aboard a ship he worked on while his superiors stood by. And on Dec. 1, Leading Seaman Curtis Thiele was charged with three counts of drug trafficking in Esquimalt. He will face a military tribunal.
