It’s a sad fact that soldiers returning home from war as alcoholics. loneliness and pressure on the battlefield makes soldiers resort to drinking heavily,this not only causea a dependence on alcohol but often drugs as well.

Soldiers should be educated to realise that alcohol and drug abuse can have far-reaching implications and they are  more likely to indulge in pub brawls, abuse their partners, end up being destitute and even die early.

Soldiers like everybody else need to ensure that they eat a good meal before drinking and by eating foods that are rich in protein and starch they can minimise the effects of the alcohol.

Make a point of drinking slowly as drinking quickly will make the person far more intoxicated. It is advisable to drink no more than one drink within an hour .

Try alternating your drinking between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks as this will lessen the effects of the alcohol on the system.

There is an acronym “HALT” which stands for never drink if you are hungry, angry, lonely or tired and this should be used as a rule of thumb.

Remember to never drive whilst drinking and always ensure that there is a sober individual available to drive, or take a cab at the end of the night.

It’s a fact that soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder are at great risk of developing alcoholism and findings have indicated that approximately 80% of war veterans have a problem with alcoholism. There are strong indications that these people are likely to commit suicide if they become depressed and over the age of 65. Binge drinking is also an apparent problem with soldiers and veterans as they use it to block out the trauma of war.

Alcoholism is likely to disrupt your relationship with your partner and you are far more likely to be violent and alcoholism is a major factor of abuse within the families of soldiers. Alcoholism has also been shown to increase the effect of post-traumatic stress disorder and treatment of PTSD will not be as effective if the soldier is an alcoholic. Soldiers need to learn to be responsible drinkers not only for their own safety but for the safety of their loved ones and the people who they seek to protect.