Marines to get random BAC tests

I recently reported that different branches of the military are getting tougher on consuming alcohol. Now, the marines are set to implement a policy of random alcohol tests.

http://news.yahoo.com/us-marines-face-random-blood-alcohol-tests-223711344.html

" Marines and sailors will be subject to random blood-alcohol tests twice a year in what is billed as the toughest anti-drinking policy in the U.S. military.

Starting Jan. 1, any Marine or sailor with a blood-alcohol level of 0.01 percent or higher may be referred for counseling. Anyone who tests at 0.04 percent or higher will be referred to medical personnel to determine fitness for duty."

Remember, while .08 is the per se DWI limit if you are over 21, you still can be convicted of DWI if you are under that limit and alcohol impairs your ability to drive to any degree in New Hampshire.

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A study in September by the Institute of Medicine, sponsored by the Department of Defense, found that binge drinking, often called "sport drinking," is increasing among military personnel in all branches, according to the Los Angeles Times (http://lat.ms/U6d6Xe ).

In 1998, 35 percent of personnel admitted to binge drinking in the previous year. In 2008, the last year for which statistics were available, that figure had risen to 47percent. Twenty percent of personnel classified themselves as "heavy" drinkers."