101 Critical Days of Summer - Alcohol Incident Prevention Published May 25, 2010 By Regina Coffey Air Force Flight Test Center, Ground Safety EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The Air Force has adopted a No-Safe-Limit philosophy when it comes to alcohol consumption. "Most people do not make the decision to drink and drive until they start drinking," said Jon S. Fishman, California Certified Prevention Specialist. "Binge drinking has become a serious problem." Binge drinking means drinking four to five or more alcoholic beverages on the same occasion. Each summer a significant number of alcohol-related injuries are treated in emergency rooms. Among people 44 years old and under, alcohol-related injuries are the second-leading cause of death. "Military personnel, between the ages of 21 through 25, consume more alcohol than any other age group. This behavior is often due to having recently become of legal age, a lack of understanding the consequences, being away from home, a lack of effort to engage in alternative activities and the need for immediate gratification," Mr. Fishman said. Alcohol abuse prevention is not just information dissemination. It is also the proactive two-way communication that can result in actions that reduce the abuse of alcohol and in turn, alcohol-related incidents. It is not only up to individuals but also their wingmen to ensure everyone is acting in a responsible manner. This means that if one chooses to drink, do so legally and responsibly. For more information, call Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment at 277-5291, Drug Demand Reduction at 275-3395 or the Safety Office at 277-4640.