Alcohol Summary

I was looking for advice about handling a difficult situation involving (in
this case) alcohol use. The 34 or so private e-mail messages were (mostly)
responses in this vein. Thank you for your input - you know who you are.

It was never my intent to create an alcohol use vs. abuse tangent - I
watched in amusement as the thread went from advice on how to handle the
behavior (my question) to opinions about alcohol use in general and by
Scouters in specific. So I though I might make a summary of the various
responses given me privately - you all read (or deleted) the "public" posts.

Responses on handling the situation.
1. Most were concerned - the depth of concern and therefore the response to
the behavior varied.
2. Most believed that the Leader should be approached in a private and
non-hostile manner (at the event) to simply state policy.
3. Most believed that if the Leader had at that point poured out his beer
and complied with BSA Policy that no further action needed to be taken.
4. Most believed that the Leader should be asked to leave the event if he
refused to comply by stopping the behavior upon request.
5. Some felt that the behavior should be addressed again at a later time.
Responses here varied - from another private talk to discussion or censure
in Pack Committee or by the Unit Commissioner or Chartered Organization
Representative, to bringing in the professional Scouters and top Volunteers
at Council level.
6. A few advocated his removal from Scouting. Period.
7. A few thought that I was making too big a deal about a few beers.

Responses to Alcohol use by Scouters.
1. Nearly everyone believes in strict adherence to the BSA Policy on alcohol
use at Scouting events, property etc.
2. Most believe that the Leader not only flagrantly defied the BSA Policy
but also endangered others (assuming that he was driving).
3. Most pointed out that while the policy on tobacco/smoking is "use it out
of sight" the policy on alcohol and drugs is "no use at all".
4. Most said that we should never drink while in uniform, and one said that
we should not drink if even one Scouter at an event is in uniform (i.e. a
training dinner, awards banquet or a Leaders' meeting at a restaurant etc.)
5. A few believed that we are Scouters even out of uniform and did not
condone even "reasonable" or "social drinking" while in the presence of
Scouts - even if not a Scouting event.
6. A few believed that Scouts can benefit from seeing reasonable alcohol use
by adults in the home - helping them realize that they do not have to drink
to excess to have fun (referencing almost unanimously the
drink-to-get-drunk-as-fast-as-you-can parties so dangerously common at
colleges today)
7. One or two said that the Leader couldn't have gotten intoxicated with
2 -3 beers. Others said that becoming legally drunk depends less on the
quantity of alcohol than the body size, time and food consumption
involved....

To update you all - this Leader has not repeated the behavior. The Policy on
Tobacco/Drugs and Alcohol has been discussed in Committee (along with other
Youth Protection and Safety policies).

Thanks for all the positive and helpful comments and suggestions on
*handling* this situation. Thanks also for your comments and thoughts on
this particular BSA Policy.

Keep your mind open and something can be learned - even if it is just that
other people think differently than we do. We can always gain insight into
how others perceive us and our actions.

Bernadette Moran Curry
Committee Chairman, Pack 995
Acting Tiger Coach, Pack 995
Springfield VA
Old Dominion Popcorn Chairman
National Capital Area Council

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