---
title: "5 militaries still allowed to drink in a war zone"
description: "Here are five militaries with service members still allowed to drink in a war zone, as long as the mission and security situation permits it."
date: "2021-03-23"
modified: "2021-03-23"
authors:
  - name: "Logan Nye"
    job_title: "Senior Contributor, Army Veteran"
    link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/logan-nye.md"
url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/lists/military-drink-war-zone/"
categories:
  - "Military News"
---

# 5 militaries still allowed to drink in a war zone

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17291092/origin.jpg>)

While the U.S. has ordered its soldiers to remain sober in every major deployment since the 1990s, not all militaries have jumped on the temperance convoy.

---

Here are five militaries with service members still allowed to drink in a war zone, as long as the mission and security situation permits it.

### 1. Germany

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17291093/origin.jpg>)
*Photo: Petty Officer First Class Ryan Tabios*

Germany is famous for its beer, so it's not surprising that it allows its soldiers to imbibe a little while deployed. The soldiers are limited [two beers a day while at larger bases](<https://www.heraldnet.com/article/20120317/NEWS02/703179904>). The sheer [size of the alcohol shipments](<https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/booze-imports-to-afghanistan-over-a-million-liters-of-alcohol-for-thirsty-soldiers-a-590016.html>) caused a debate in Germany early in Operation Enduring Freedom, but the booze kept flowing.

### 2. Canada

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17291094/origin.jpg>)
*Canadian Army soldiers disembark a U.S. Navy landing craft April 25, 2009 during exercises with the U.S. Marine Corps. Photo: US Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer 2 Keith A. Stevenson*

Before Canada pulled out of Afghanistan, they offered their troops t[wo beers and a half bottle of wine](<https://www.deseretnews.com/article/765560581/No-alcohol-for-troops-in-Afghanistan.html?pg=all>) while at well-secured locations.

### 3. Italy

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17291095/origin.jpg>)
*Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Italian Army*

Italians receive small quantities of [alcohol in their ration packs](<https://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/afghanistan/090603/the-party%E2%80%99s-over>) and also deployed so much other wine that it [flooded the black market near some bases in Afghanistan](<https://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/afghanistan/090603/the-party%E2%80%99s-over>).

### 4. France

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17291096/origin.jpg>)
*Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Adrian Pingstone*

French soldiers on well-defended bases were sometimes allowed to drink during "[Happy Hours](<https://books.google.com/books?id=nFhXZ9RcsbYCpg=PT87lpg=PT87dq=french+and+romanian+soldiers+have+regular+beer+and+wine+happy+hourssource=blots=Up2ph7zcvhsig=fuufBzm0CZ3iJ5cOy7y-W6oLFochl=ensa=Xved=0CB0Q6AEwAGoVChMI5fmlwISiyAIVCo8NCh3oyABE#v=onepageq=french%20and%20romanian%20soldiers%20have%20regular%20beer%20and%20wine%20happy%20hoursf=false>)" and other command-approved events.

### 5. Romania

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17291097/origin.jpg>)
*Photo: US Army Sgt. Daniel Cole*

Like their French counterparts, Romanian soldiers could drink during specified periods provided they weren't on duty and didn't get themselves in trouble.

## Author
Logan was an Army journalist and paratrooper in the 82nd. Now, he's a freelance writer covering military history, culture, and technology. He has two upcoming podcasts and a Twitch channel focused on basic military literacy.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/JustLoganNye>)  
[Facebook](<https://www.facebook.com/ProfHarlequin-111921498198749>)

## More

- [Drink ’em if you got ’em: 5 alcoholic beverages with military health benefits](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/drink-em-if-you-got-em-5-alcoholic-beverages-with-military-health-benefits.md>)
- [This is why wine was a warrior’s drink for most of history](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/wine-military-history.md>)
- [5 military leaders that would make great drinking buddies](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/5-military-leaders-that-would-make-great-drinking-buddies.md>)
- [The use of alcohol in the British military is amazing](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-culture/british-military-alcohol-use.md>)
- [Top 4 historical alcoholic beverages consumed by troops in history](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/top-4-historical-alcoholic-beverages-consumed-by-troops-in-history.md>)
- [Grape juice was once the unofficial drink of the Navy](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/history/welchs-grape-juice-navy-drink.md>)
- [4 battles brought to you by booze](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/battles-alcohol-in-war.md>)
- [In 1866, 80 men went to war — this is why 81 came home](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/liechtenstein-army-81-men-returned.md>)