Originally Posted by
JamesNoBrakes
If the job is that bad that you have to drink every day you do it, you need to find a new job. I'd go on to say that pilots don't just drink, they are brought up in environments where people drink out of control and binge-drink, and they think it's normal because they spend so much time around this and these people. Many come from the military where drinking and activities centering around alcohol were the norm, and they keep thinking that the norm is to drink every day, whether in excess or not. Sure, very few are drinking to the extent that Denzel's character was, but far more think it's normal to drink at every dinner meal. I enjoy a good beer, a nice scotch, and so on, but on a trip? Not worth it. Never worth it.
I couldn't find the part where ACe said (s)he drank every day because the job was so bad. My experience is crews drink because they are happy or had a rough day. My take was that (s)he's doing what most crews do after a long day....unwind with a couple cold ones, responsibly. There are folks in the business that drink in excess like any other job, I wouldn't assume that "Many" are "out of control and binge-drink". I've flown in the military and now civilian, the one constant remains, you have a small minority that abuse alcohol. Their actions usually catch up with them and careers are ended. That doesn't mean the rest of us should have to pay the price for a few irresponsible folks.
OBTW, the Denzel comparison is not a good one. That Hollywood movie was about an alcoholic/drug attic who just happened to be a pilot (gotta have drama) which by no means represents the norm. If you don't drink on a trip, that's fine and I respect your position, but please don't pass judgement on the rest of us that enjoy a frosty beverage.