drinking in uniform

[Chris Houston]

I was very surprised to see a crowd of gents dressed in fire service clothing drinking in a nightclub in Stirling this morning. It is illegal to serve police officers in uniform intoxicating liquor, would of not be forbidden for fire service staff to drink and party in uniform?

[kurnal]

Fancy dress?

A few years ago for a local transport show a fire service contractor for special events - you know an old red fire engine and a volunteer crew in old fire service uniform- went out on the town in the appliance, parked it on double yellow lines outside the night club and painted the town red. Gave us local fire guys a real bad name - the organisation could not understand why I complained about it.

[class of mp81]

maybe with the new family friendly shifts that seem to be coming in everywhere,they were having one on the way home from work!

[Chris Houston]

I'm pretty sure it was not fancy dress. The were a few hundred miles from home, so prob not on their way home from work, but either way, youngont see ambulance or police staff drinking in uniform. So is it prohibited? Does seem odd to me. They managed to avoid the long queue at the entrance, as enforcers of legislation you wonder how the club management felt about their visit. Seems unprofessional to me.

[messy]

As far as I know it's not illegal.

My Brigade have a policy than bans staff entering buildings where alcohol is served Except on official business, and drinking alcohol (in any circumstances) whilst wearing 'recognisable LFB uniform'. Seems fair enough to me.

I think this mirror's Police drinking policies as it's not rare to see off duty coppers with jackets or jumpers over their police shirts in boozers whatever the weather. Although everyone in the pub knows they're coppers, it's clear that they are off duty.

However I have been warned by a senior officer that if I have a drink on the way home even wearing my Brigade shoes, as they have LFB stamped into the side, this makes them 'recognisable uniform' and I'd be in contravention of the rules. - Mind you, he is an absolute pillock and jobsworth, so it didn't surprise me he would interpret the rules anally!!

[chappie]

They were in stirling for the extrication challenge, as was i. As the event finished late at Stirling castle and it was pouring with rain i imagine they probably chose to go straight out in uniform rather than delay further a very well earned bit of 'r and r'. Why is this bringing the service into disrepute? Most people drink dont they?
Door staff were making exceptions to dress codes and inviting crews to queue jump, they seemed to want to welcome us for some reason.

[kurnal]

Yeah but I think the Public assume if you're in uniform you are on duty and it weakens the integrity of the role model we expect of public servants.

Yes there are exceptions such as retirement functions where it is clear that it is a special event and someone has to be on duty and will not want to miss it but as a general rule I think it more likely than not to reinforce old stereotypes that the service is keen to distance itself from.

[chappie]

I think thats a fair enough point about old stereotypes but lets not forget that most of the guys up there were doing at least part of it in their own time (not to mention the hours of training they did in their own time to qualify) and they had no choice but wear uniform to the ceremony, only a few of them stayed in uniform for whatever reason.
There was not a bit of trouble in Stirling that night and everyone seemed in no doubt whatsoever about the integrity of hundreds of fire service staff who were letting their hair down after giving so much over the last 3 days, the people of stirling seemed happy to join the party.
I know its about public perception but even if there were complaints, and i doubt there was, whats wrong with an explanation?
I'm sure i would feel differently if there had been ill feeling or problems in Stirling that night but there wasn't, it was a town centre full of some of the best PR money didnt have to buy.

[kurnal]

Good points well made chappie.
How did the challenge go?

[chappie]

It was the first one we have attended and we got through to the final day so we were made up. The organisation, facilities, atmosphere and standards on show were outstanding. Bring on next year.

[Chris Houston]

Aside from skipping the queue, everyone seemed on their best behaviour, I am not suggesting otherwise, but it does seem odd for them to attend an event like this and not bring a shirt to change into, unless of course they made a concious choice to go out in their uniforms, which to me seems surprising.

I've never seen soldiers, police offiers or ambulance staff clubbing, drinking and dancing in their uniforms, I just wonder why the fire service consider it acceptable when the others don't.

[jokar]

I blame the Labour Government and their modernistaion agenda, turning a professional job into something that anyone does.  AND that is said with no disrespect to the serving staff at all, its just that it is a different job now.  I attended a fete today with a fire appliance there and they had all the lockers open.  My first Guv would have died rather than let us out with the equipment in the state they had it.  Fire Safety leaflets were left in a pile on the ground and the crew, some with LS medal ribbons up, sat on the grass drinking tea and coffee and let the public get on with it, climbing in and out of the cab, touching gear and playing with BA sets.

The public and children loved it of course and went away happy, I was saddened though by the issues I saw.

[kurnal]

I've never seen soldiers, police offiers or ambulance staff clubbing, drinking and dancing in their uniforms, I just wonder why the fire service consider it acceptable when the others don't.

Havn't you seen the old war time films on the telly Chris?  If they are a true representation of the time the soldiers and airmen lived in their uniform even when on leave. But you are right about Policemen.

[Midland Retty]

Hi Chris
 
Whilst not illegal it is a disciplinary offence in both the brigades I serve to be seen wearing uniform whilst drinking in a public bar. Private functions are subject to different policies and wearing of uniform is permitted in specific situations.
 
Shopping in the local supermarket in uniform is very much frowned upon - infact as is any public activity when off duty wearing uniform and rightly so in my opinion.
 
I totally agree with you - I simply dont like seeing any member of the uniformed services drinking in uniform. It sends out the wrong message, and to me is totally unproffesional.
 
Furthermore it could be construde as either posing or worse, abuse of authority to some people.
 
Im 100% sure that was not the case with lads up in Scotland, but even still we have to think of the public's perception.

[JC100]

Shopping in the local supermarket in uniform is very much frowned upon - infact as is any public activity when off duty wearing uniform and rightly so in my opinion.
 
Furthermore it could be construde as either posing or worse, abuse of authority to some people.

The government are asking the service men/women of the armed forces to wear their uniforms in public. I agree that they should be able to this and show off the fact that they do a job (that they are proud of) to the public. As long as they are not acting in a way to cause concern or damage the service in any way. If this is seen as posing so be it....they deserve it.

This will definately not cover them going to public bars etc!