War alcohol abuse revealed

ALCOHOL abuse during the Vietnam war was a significant problem for Australian troops, according to the third and final volume of the official history of the Australian army in Vietnam, Fighting to the Finish, which is being published today.

Records cited by the book show that army canteens were supplied with 7.5 million cans of beer in the six months ending in November 1969. With 7,500 Australian troops in Vietnam at the time, that provided a daily average of between five and six cans. “It was a big problem that every Australian task force commander had to confront,” co- author Ashley Ekins said.

But some commanders regarded beer as a lesser evil than the heroin and marijuana that gained popularity with US troops fighting in the conflict.

“A few Australian commanders said the Aussies had a drinking culture and they were safer keeping that under control then allowing them access to what could have been far more damaging,” Mr Ekins said.