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Down Under
Vietnam War History Records Aussie Alcohol Abuse
2012-03-06
[An Nahar] An official history of the Australian military in the Vietnam War says alcohol abuse was a significant problem for troops who at times were supplied with the equivalent of more than five cans of beer per soldier daily.
Five cans of beer? Breakfast, lunch, tea time, dinner and a midnight snack. Wossamotta dat?... Oh. I see. It was only "at times."
Some Australian commanders regarded beer as a lesser evil than the illicit heroin and marijuana gaining popularity with allied U.S. troops fighting in the conflict.
Beer=a lesser evil than heroin addiction. Really.
That's according to the third and final volume of the official history of the Australian Army in Vietnam. It will be published Tuesday.
Probably to gales of laughter within Australian vets' circles...
Australian troops were barred from drinking during combat operations.
We were all barred from drinking during combat operations. Which isn't to say it didn't happen...
But binge drinking was a popular form of relaxation when troops returned to bases at Nui Dat and Vung Tau.
Define "binge."
Posted by:Fred

#13  I'm not sure about the 'Nam Era Aussie peasant swill, but the "33" on a bottle of "Rolling Rock" from Latrobe, PA, signified the year that Prohibition was repealed; 1933. They had such an acute awareness of where they stood in US history in those days. I adored at least being perched on the buffeting trailing edge of that sublime airfoil, just prior to the electronic desensitization of human-kind. Everything sucks now.
Posted by: Thosh Omugum4787   2012-03-06 23:09  

#12  Aussie beer cans are only coke-can sized! 5 would be a light warm-up for the stronger stuff. 5+ pints of "stella" and a few chasers might make it a night.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles   2012-03-06 18:41  

#11  Many of us have fond memories of Carling. It would sit on the dock for months before finally being distributed. When opened it could be drunk from the can for one of the most unique beer flavors ever invented. Or you could pour it into a glass and watch the oil puddle on top, where the foam was supposed to be.

Truly a taste treat that couldn't be beat.

But the Vietnamese beer gold standard was "33" (ba muoi ba) drunk over ice. It didn't get any better than that.

Really.
Posted by: Fred   2012-03-06 16:19  

#10  #8 Or a bottle of warm Soju on a January night after standing the perimeter at a ROK Air Base for 12 hours.
Posted by retired LEO

Downtown "Soju" much, much better. Drinking helpers on your right and left, much, much better also :-)
Posted by: Besoeker   2012-03-06 11:04  

#9  Sometimes the binge was the only way, to getaway.
Posted by: Skidmark   2012-03-06 10:57  

#8  Or a bottle of warm Soju on a January night after standing the perimeter at a ROK Air Base for 12 hours.
Posted by: retired LEO   2012-03-06 10:49  

#7  Ick! That crap should be illegal bman.
I used to buy a case of it for $6.00
Posted by: Sligum Hatrack9236   2012-03-06 10:38  

#6  Ahh, the memories, there is nothing like a hot Carling Black Label after a nice hike in the Ah Sha.
Posted by: bman   2012-03-06 10:26  

#5  If the troops (and contractors) could have had a beer ration in Iraq and Afghanistan and could let off a little steam, laugh a bit, perhaps the suicide rate might have been lower. I'd appreciate Dr. White's comments on this.
Posted by: Besoeker   2012-03-06 09:56  

#4  My father's division was originally assigned to the Canadian Corps when they went into the line in Holland, which was part of Montgomery's army. My dad met a lot of Brits and Imperial troops. Respected them greatly.
A US sergeant was reputed to have said his ideal replacement was a hung over Aussie with the clap and an empty rifle.
But drink? Are we all shocked?
Posted by: Richard Aubrey   2012-03-06 07:46  

#3  Vietnam is a bit of a trap. Nothing like sitting on the wide, French themed footpaths of New Cholon in Ho Chi Minh city and drinking Heineken at 80c a bottle and being waited upon by beautiful ao dai clad waitresses.
Posted by: tipper   2012-03-06 06:59  

#2  Wait Johnson, hold the presses. Who knew soldiers drink?
Posted by: Procopius2k   2012-03-06 05:19  

#1  Aussies drink? Who knew?
Posted by: tipover   2012-03-06 02:46  

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