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I’m on a teleconference with Royal Canadian Navy commander Vice Admiral Mark Norman. He has brought in changes to alcohol consumption in the RCN:

“The consumption of alcohol will be prohibited while ships are at sea,” Norman announced.

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Alcohol will still continue to be served under highly controlled and certain conditions, (ie, while ships are in port at specific times).

“When there is access to alcohol when you are in port” it is under special circumstances, he added.

Bar prices will also be raised to more closely correspond to the RCN’s shore-based messes, he added.

More to come…….

“Every time our ships are at sea there will not be access to alcohol except in very specific conditions,” Norman said.

And the types of circumstances where alcohol will be served on ships? Special barbques and Christmas – if allowed by the Captain.

Beer dispensing machines will also be removed because under the new policy as there must be a designated server providing alcohol, he added.

“We could have banned it completely and (have) gone down the American model. We choose not to,” Norman said.

“I have no intention of reviewing this decision,” Norman added.

Norman noted that the new rules are being brought in because of a number of incidents on HMCS Whitehorse this summer as well as other incidents over the last several years.