Springboard #9: The Big Drink
Alcoholism is big with law enforcement. Do you drink?
I owned a bar in Baltimore, what do you think?
Look, everyone has their own way of dealing with what we see. Sometimes you drink, sometimes you head down to the gym, or sometimes you find a nice book and turn on Chopin. Just because alcoholism is a common occurrence in law enforcement doesn't mean it has negative connotations every time.
We go out for drinks to celebrate closing a big case, or for someone's birthday. We don't always drink alone and there's nothing wrong with social drinking. Does that mean alcohol isn't a problem in law enforcement? No. It's a big one, but it can be overcome. Two of the best cops I know are alcoholics, but they're recovering alcoholics. Briscoe almost ruined his career over alcohol, but he went to AA and brought his whole life around. Until they day he died, I never saw him drink anything besides club soda with lime.
Alcohol, drinking, it doesn't have to be a bad thing in police work.
I owned a bar in Baltimore, what do you think?
Look, everyone has their own way of dealing with what we see. Sometimes you drink, sometimes you head down to the gym, or sometimes you find a nice book and turn on Chopin. Just because alcoholism is a common occurrence in law enforcement doesn't mean it has negative connotations every time.
We go out for drinks to celebrate closing a big case, or for someone's birthday. We don't always drink alone and there's nothing wrong with social drinking. Does that mean alcohol isn't a problem in law enforcement? No. It's a big one, but it can be overcome. Two of the best cops I know are alcoholics, but they're recovering alcoholics. Briscoe almost ruined his career over alcohol, but he went to AA and brought his whole life around. Until they day he died, I never saw him drink anything besides club soda with lime.
Alcohol, drinking, it doesn't have to be a bad thing in police work.